Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail, the bilingual national carrier for freight and passenger services, has gone abroad for a large freight rolling stock order. The state-operated railway has signed an agreement for 150 freight wagons, with scope for up to 400 over a 10-year term. The supplier will be the only independent manufacturer left in Britain, WH Davis.
Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail has today (5 May) agreed a framework with UK-based supplier WH Davis for freight wagons for their expanding network. An initial order for 150 wagons is to be placed to replace ageing wagons. There is scope under the framework for further wagons to expand rail freight services, subject to funding and relevant approvals.
Ireland’s future freight transport system
The total value of the initial contract is in the region of €44 million (£37m) for the first 150 wagons of the order. Iarnród Éireann say that the order will soon go into production. The Irish national carrier is engaged in a programme of rail expansion, including reinstating some freight routes – notably the 42 kilometres (26 miles) Limerick to Foynes Railway, a mothballed line in the midwest.
Sources in Ireland say that freight rolling stock is in need of renewal. Iarnród Éireann’s current freight wagon fleet is approximately fifty years old and approaching the end of its operational life. As part of its freight strategy, the company says it aims to enhance sustainable transport by expanding rail freight capacity, supporting a more balanced and environmentally friendly freight network in line with national climate action targets.
Brexit and a strategy for freight
Unlike Northern Ireland (part of the United Kingdom), Ireland never abandoned rail freight. In recent years, the effects of the UK Brexit has seen more freight sailing directly to Ireland, rather than arriving via the UK and the short sea routes. That has encouraged Irish authorities to look again at rail freight provision at ports (see “The Irish Question” on our sister service WorldCargo News).
There is a broad spectrum of cargo carried on the Irish-gauge lines – which are equally broad. The 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) width is only found elsewhere in the world in Australia, where, historically, many railways were designed and built by Irish engineers. Nevertheless, the freight division of Iarnród Éireann has already published a “Rail Freight 2040 Strategy”. The ambitious document doesn’t propose to change gauge, but it does position rail at the centre of Ireland’s freight transport system in future. That future includes an expanded network of operations, with a modernised fleet of freight wagons.
A mix of designs
Ireland has traditionally turned to American industrial allies for renewals. The mainline locomotive fleet was procured from General Motors in the USA and later Canada. However, some interim passenger rolling stock was purchased second-hand from the UK, and a more recent re-equipping has come from a variety of international manufacturers from Europe and Asia. The contract win for WH Davis is significant for both parties.
Manufacturing capacity no longer exists at the main Inchicore Works in the southwest of Dublin. However, the site is still the main location for maintaining the entire Irish fleet. The new wagons will be manufactured at WH Davis at their Shirebrook works near Mansfield in Nottinghamshire, UK. Technical details are sparse, but the order appears to be for a mix of designs of around 17-20 tonnes, with a bulk payload capacity 62-65 tonnes. That’s an increase of 33% on the current wagon fleet.
Over one hundred new freight services
“The new wagons will see operational maximum speed increase from 80kmh to 110kmh,” say Iarnród Éireann. “It sets out the pathway for a significant increase in operation, raising traffic to over one hundred new freight services weekly, should the full 400 wagons ultimately be ordered. The first of these 150 wagons is expected to be delivered in Summer 2026. After a period of testing, commissioning and external safety validation, it is expected that the wagons will go into service during 2027.”
“We are delighted to have the opportunity to partner with Iarnród Éireann on this project,” said Andy Houghton, Managing Director of WH Davis, which became part of the Buckland Rail Group a year ago. “[We will] support them to deliver their ambitious freight strategy. I very much look forward to seeing our latest wagon designs in traffic in Ireland.” Don’t forget that Irish gauge, Andy.