EUROPE: The €698m contract for Stadler to supply a fleet of eight Flirt inter-city trainsets for the Belfast – Dublin cross-border Enterprise service which is jointly operated by Northern Ireland’s Translink and the Republic of Ireland’s Iarnród Éireann was formally signed at Belfast Grand Central Station on May 7.
The trainsets and associated infrastructure upgrades are being jointly funded by the Northern Ireland Executive’s Department for Infrastructure and the Republic of Ireland’s Department of Transport, supported with €165m through the PEACEPLUS programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body.
Stadler had been selected as preferred bidder in September 2025, but the award process was delayed when rival bidder CAF launched a legal challenge during the standstill period. The injunction sought by CAF was lifted at the High Court in Dublin on November 26, with the court noting the time-critical importance of securing EU funding contributions and also accepting that there was an urgent need to address emissions and improve accessibility.
Purpose-designed
The trainsets are scheduled for delivery in late 2028, enabling the withdrawal of the existing Class 201 locomotives and De Dietrich coaches. They will be purpose-designed for the Enterprise route, based on the Swiss manufacturer’s proven Flirt family.
Translink said they would be amongst the most accessible Intercity fleets in Europe, with step-free interiors and 100% unaided boarding at every exterior door. They will have about 400 seats in Economy and Enterprise Plus classes, digital information systems, power sockets and USB charging points, improved luggage and bike storage. They will include a ‘spacious’ dining and bar area.
The trains will be capable of operating on on the 1.5 kV DC electrification from Dublin and diesel power elsewhere. Two diesel engines will be installed in the driving vehicle at one end of a unit, creating a power car and avoiding the use of underfloor engines. Whilst both engines will normally provide power, it is expected that a single engine will be sufficient to maintain performance in the event of any failures.
Onboard traction batteries will be capable of powering the trains for short distances. These are expected to be used around Belfast’s Grand Central station and to York Road depot, which will be the principal maintenance facility.
The design of the power car will allow for the future replacement of the diesel engines and fuel tank with pantographs and a transformer in the event of the Northern Irish network being electrified at 25 kV 50 Hz.
Improved acceleration and performance compared with the current loco-hauled fleet and associated infrastructure developments will support a target express journey time of under 2 hours. The fleet will also support expansion to up to 16 services per direction per day.
‘A true flagship service’
Chris Conway, Group Chief Executive at Translink, said the investment would deliver ‘a modern, high-quality journey that puts accessibility, comfort and passengers at the heart of this vital cross-border service.’
Iarnród Éireann Chief Executive Mary Considine said ‘the new Stadler Enterprise fleet will allow ourselves and Translink to deliver a true flagship service for current and future customers, a seamless cross-border operation delivering the highest standards of customer service, and a new era in accessibility and sustainability’.
Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill said ‘we are already seeing more people choosing the Belfast to Dublin rail service, helping to grow our thriving all-island economy, and strengthen connections between communities.’
Irish Deputy Prime Minister Simon Harris pointed out that ‘the Dublin to Belfast corridor is the largest economic area on the island, home to over 2.2 million people and linking the two largest cities and several of the largest towns on the island’. ‘The government is committed to supporting and developing the economic potential of the corridor. Delivery of this project will allow for the sustainable growth of cities and towns along the corridor by providing ease of access and thereby increasing attractiveness for residency and work.’
Minister of State at the Department of Transport Séan Canney said ‘this project reflects the ambition set out in the All-Island Strategic Rail Review and the Rail Project Prioritisation Strategy. It shows what can be achieved when both jurisdictions work together with a shared vision for a better-connected island. This collaboration is laying the foundations for a rail network that truly serves the whole island, now and into the future.’