NI Railways (NIR) - NI Railways New Trains Fleet Replacement - D

NI Railways (NIR) - D

NI Railways "New Trains" Fleet Replacement

In 2004/2005, NIR received 23 Class 3000 diesel multiple units from CAF of Spain in a £80 million order. The final unit, 3023, arrived in Belfast Harbour on Monday 18 July 2005. All units had entered service by 24 September 2005. A maintenance contract with CAF for these vehicles was extended in May 2020 for another 15 years.

In 2007, NIR announced plans to purchase up to 20 trains under its "New Trains 2010" proposal following the confirmation of its expected budget. This fleet replaced the remaining Class 80 and Class 450 trains by March 2012. Renamed as "New Trains Two", this project went out to tender in late 2007. In March 2009 it was announced that CAF had been selected to build the new fleet, named Class 4000. The first units were delivered in March 2011, with entry into service in September 2011

In December 2018, NIR, announced that 21 additional carriages would be purchased from CAF at the cost of £50 million, via an option in the existing Class 4000 train procurement contract. The first of the new carriages arrived in Belfast in March 2021, they were integrated onto Unit 4017 and tested throughout the summer, until being put into service on 29 September 2021.

NI Railways Past Fleet

Class Z Steam Locomotive

Ex-SLNCR Lough class.

1949 1969

Class WT

2-6-4 tank engines nicknamed "Jeeps" due to their general purpose traffic ability.

Used for Spoil trains from Magheramorne to shores of Belfast Lough as well as shunting, passenger and freight.

1946-1950 1969-1971

Arguably the last steam locomotives in mainline operation in the British Isles.

AEC Diesel Multiple Unit

Inherited from the UTA.

1948-1950 1972

BUT

Nine vehicles converted to hauled stock over the 1970s, these lasted until 1980.

1956-1958 1975-1980

MED

Intended for local services around Belfast.

1952-1954 1973-1978

MPD

Intended for longer distance former NCC routes and Enterprise.

1957-1962 1981-1984

70 Class

Passenger DEMU. Engines recovered for use in 450 Class units. One intermediate is preserved at the Downpatrick and County Down Railway. One driving trailer was also preserved, but was destroyed

1966-1968 1985-1986

80 Class

Passenger DEMU affectionately nicknamed 'Thumpers'.

Operated on all routes. Also used for Sandite until 2017.

1974-1979 2011-2017

101 Class Diesel Locomotive

Intended for loco hauled Enterprise services.

1970 2002

104 Class

Originally operated under CIÉ, six transferred to NIR in 1986.

1956-1957 1997

450 Class Diesel Multiple Unit

Passenger DEMU nicknamed the Castle Class by enthusiasts.

Power cars named after Northern Ireland castles.

1985-1987 2011-2012

Initially designed for commuter or branch line traffic but could be found over the entire network.

One example is preserved on the Downpatrick and County Down Railway.

RB3 Diesel Railcar

Prototype built for British Rail, transferred to NIR in 1983. Preserved at the Downpatrick and County Down Railway.

1980-1990

Class 1 Diesel Locomotive

Shunters. Since withdrawal two have been rebuilt for work in Sri Lanka, one is in storage in Wales.

1969-1989

NI Railways Overview

NI Railways Main Region(s): Northern Ireland

NI Railways Fleet Size: 47

NI Railways Stations Called At: 54

NI Railways Parent Company: NITHCo (Translink)

NI Railways Dates of Operation: 1967-

NI Railways Predecessor: Ulster Transport Authority

NI Railways Track Gauge: 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) Irish gauge

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