IÉ 29500 Class

Iarnród Éireann 29500 Class
29409 departing from platform 4 at Dublin Connolly in July 2016
Interior
In service	30 June 2003 – present
Manufacturer	CAF
Family name	CxK
Constructed	2002 – 2005
Number built	29 trainsets
Formation	4 cars per trainset
Fleet numbers	29001–29029
Capacity	185 seated 634 standing
Operators	Commuter
Depots	Drogheda Depot
Lines served	Dublin - Rosslare Newry - Dublin Dublin – Longford
Specifications
Train length	81.46 m (267 ft 3 in)
Width	2.9 m (9 ft 6 in)
Height	3.985 m (13 ft 0.9 in)
Maximum speed	120 km/h (75 mph)
Weight	43,520 kg (43.52 t)
Prime mover(s)	MAN D 2876 LUH01, 400 hp
Braking system(s)	Air, 2 brake discs per axle
Track gauge	1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) see Rail gauge in Ireland

The 29500 Class is a type of four-car Diesel Multiple Unit operated by Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail). The units were built in Spain by CAF in two batches between 2002 and 2005.

Description

The cab of a 29500 Class unit

Each set comprises two driving end cars (DM1 and DM2) and two intermediate cars (MDT and MT) They are capable of operation as two sets of their own class or in formations of up to 10 cars with either 2600 Class or 2800 Class DMUs. Each car is fitted with a 294 kW (394 hp) MAN traction engine and a Cummins generator engine, both mounted underfloor. Each 4-car set is 81.46 m (267 ft 3.1 in) long, 3.985 m (13 ft 0.9 in) high and 2.9 m (9 ft 6.2 in) wide. They have a maximum permitted speed of 120 km/h (75 mph). Passenger capacity is 185 seated and 634 standing.

The original delivery of twenty sets were numbered 2901-2980. However, when the 2005 batch were ordered, making a total of 116 vehicles, the existing sets were renumbered so that all vehicles would begin with 29: for example, the first set, which had vehicles 2901-2904 was renumbered 29101, 29201, 29301 and 29401; set 2905-2908 was renumbered 29102, 29202, 29302, and 29402.

This also avoided conflict with the existing numbering system of the NIR 3000 Class. The 2005 batch of nine sets were numbered 29x21-29x29 from new.

The railcars were the first to be shipped with the new Commuter branding rather than the "Arrow" branding previously used, and as such were the first Iarnród Éireann rolling stock (other than DART EMUs and Enterprise stock) not to feature the company's traditional orange and black livery, which was phased out from passenger service in 2006. The Commuter brand was also extended to the 2600, 2700 and 2800 Class railcars. It has since been replaced by the InterCity livery on these DMUs.

In 2014, a new all-over two-tone green livery nicknamed "Green Goddess" was introduced for the class. This was applied to all vehicles by September 2022.

Deployment

29420 on a Western Commuter service in 2005

29129 departing Drumcondra in February 2008

For a brief period of time from June 2005 to December 2006, a 29500 railcar operated two journeys on a Sunday to Belfast, departing Dublin Connolly at 15.00 and calling at Drogheda, Dundalk, Newry, Portadown, Botanic and Belfast Central arriving at 17.14 departing at 18.15 for Dublin. They work most Northern Commuter, South Eastern Commuter and Western Commuter services. They have proven to be a very reliable unit despite operating a variety of demanding services including Dublin - Sligo services. They were largely returned to their intended Commuter services since deliveries of 22000 Class DMUs commenced in 2007, which displaced them from Sligo line workings in 2008, though there are still a few services to and from Rosslare Europort with the 29500 Class DMUs. However, they remained in their "Commuter" livery when working this long-distance line.

The November 2009 timetable change finally saw the end of the 29500s running West of Dublin from Heuston to Newbridge/Kildare and Carlow. The services have been operated by 22000 Class DMUs since 2009.

Fleet details

Class	Operator	Number	Year Built	Cars per Set	Unit nos.	Notes
29500 Class	Commuter	20	2002–2003	4	29001 – 29020
		9	2005		29021 – 29029	29022 fitted with in-cab signalling

Routes

Current services

InterCity

• Dublin Connolly to Rosslare Europort

Commuter

• Grand Canal Dock/Dublin Connolly/Docklands to M3 Parkway/Maynooth/Longford (Western Commuter)
• Grand Canal Dock/Dublin Connolly to Drogheda MacBride/Dundalk Clarke/Newry (Northern Commuter)

In addition, these trains occasionally operate services from Dublin Connolly to Belfast Lanyon Place and Sligo MacDiarmada.

Former services

InterCity

• Dublin Connolly to Sligo

Commuter

• Dublin Heuston to Newbridge/Kildare

In popular culture

A 29500 Class unit features in the intro to RTÉ’s Fair City.

Accidents and incidents

• On Monday 16 November 2009, unit 29026 was derailed near Wicklow when it collided with a landslip obstructing the line.
• On Tuesday 7 June 2016, one unidentified unit caught fire whilst operating the 09:40 Drogheda to Dublin Pearse service.

See also

• Multiple Units of Ireland
• NIR 3000 Class

External links

• Irish Rail Fleet Information website Archived 2018-09-28 at the Wayback Machine