Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 September 2026
258. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Transport whether his Department has a strategy for the purchase of additional train carriages over the next number of years; and if such a strategy exists to outline the number of carriages expected to be delivered by year, in tabular form. [68178/26]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including, in conjunction with Iarnród Éireann, the purchase of rolling stock.
As such I have forwarded the Deputy's questions to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.
Pending a more detailed response I note that my Department has funded the NTA for three orders comprising a total of 285 new electric and battery-electric carries to date under the DART+ Fleet project. This first order of 95 carriages is currently undergoing testing and will start rolling out on the Northern Rail Line to Drogheda next year. The second order of 90 battery-electric carriages is planned to start entering service in 2028 and will help facilitate the extension of the DART to Wicklow around 2029. A third of 100 electric carriages was placed in December 2025, to replace the existing DART fleet.
I also note that the NTA and Iarnród Éireann are developing a national rail fleet replacement programme which will inform the purchase of replacement rolling stock for intercity and commuter rail fleet currently in operation on the network.
