A wide variety of diesel and electric multiple units have been used on Ireland's railways. This page lists all those that have been used. Except with the NIR Class 3000, the numbers given by each class in the lists below are those allocated to the coaches that make up the units in that class, otherwise, unit numbers are not used in Ireland.
Republic of Ireland Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ), which controlled the Republic's railways between 1945 and 1987, mainly used locomotives and hauled stock for its passenger trains. What diesel multiple unit cars it did have were numbered in the 26xx series. Since 1987, Iarnród Éireann (IÉ) has been increasing the use of this type of train, to replace older locomotives and carriages. The only electrified railway network in Ireland is the Dublin Area Rapid Transit (DART) system, in addition to the Luas which runs on a separate network. Its fleet of electric multiple units are numbered in the 8xxx series.
Despite appearing to be a DMU (especially the Driving Van-Trailer end), the Dublin Cork service Mark 4 is an 8-car Push–pull train.
Diesel multiple units ClassManufacturerDate BuiltNumber BuiltWithdrawnImageScrappedAEC Class Initial OrderAEC 1951–1956 66 198765GNR Order1951–1956101975AllBulleid OrderInchicore Works19561975BUT Class BUT 1956–1957 12 1972–1975 80 Class BREL 1974 (Hired from NIR)31990192600 Class (II) Tokyu Car Corporation 199317still in use12700 Class GEC Alsthom 1997–1998 12 2012All2750 Class 212800 Class Tokyu Car Corporation 2000 10 still in use029000 Class CAF 2002–2005 29 022000 Class Hyundai Rotem 2007–2011 2019–63
Electric multiple units ClassManufacturerYear builtNumber BuiltWithdrawnImageScrappedDrumm Battery TrainsInchicore Works1931193841949 All8100 Class Linke-Hofmann-Busch 1983–1984 40 still in use28200 Class Alstom 1999–2000 5 2007–200898500 Class Tokyu Car Corporation 2000 4 still in use08510 Class 2001 3 8520 Class 2003–2004 10
Northern Ireland The majority of passenger services in Northern Ireland have been operated by diesel multiple units since the mid-1950s (the major exception being the locomotive-hauled Enterprise service between Belfast and Dublin), under the tenure of both the Ulster Transport Authority (1948–1966) and Northern Ireland Railways (since 1967). From 2001, all items of rolling stock in use on NIR had 8000 added to their number so as to be part of the Translink number series, which incorporates their road vehicles. The 3000 Class stock are the first multiple units to be numbered from new in the Translink series. NIR purchased an additional 20 Class 4000 DMUs which entered service in 2011 and 2012.
NIR purchased a Windhoff Multi-Purpose Vehicle for use as the Rail Head Treatment Train, equipped to lay sandite and high-pressure water. The MPV was procured to replace a converted Class 80 unit. ClassManufacturerNumber BuiltIn serviceWithdrawnImageAEC Class GNR SetsGNR Works, Dundalk 20 Power Cars
(10 After 1958)1950–1972 1972 UTA 6 & 7UTA Works2 Power Cars1951–1972BUT ClassGNR Works, Dundalk24 Cars1957–19801980MED Class NIR Works 14 x 3-car sets 1952–1978 1978 MPD Class NIR Works 2 x 5-car sets10 × 3 car sets 1958–1981 1981 70 Class NIR Works 8 x 3-car sets 1966–1986 1986 Class 80 BREL 2, 3, 4 or 6 cars per set 1975-2017 2011 (passenger use)2017 (departmental use)RB3 BREL/Leyland 1 x single car 1981–1990 1990 Class 450 BREL 9 x 3-car sets 1985–2012 2012 Class 3000 CAF 23 x 3-car sets2005-present still in useClass 4000 CAF 13 x 3-car sets7 x 4-car sets 2011-present still in use
Great Northern Railway (Ireland) The Great Northern Railway (Ireland) straddled the border between the Republic and Northern Ireland, and so was not incorporated in either the CIE or UTA. However, mounting losses saw the network purchased jointly by the Irish and British governments on Tuesday 1 September 1953. It was run as a joint board, independent of the CIE and UTA, until Tuesday 30 September 1958 when it was dissolved and the remaining stock split equally between the 2 railways. AEC Class BUT Class
Railcars in preservation NumberOriginal companyIn servicePreserved byLocationBSligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway1947–1971Downpatrick & Co. Down RailwayDownpatrick6111CIÉ1952–1987450 Class458Northern Ireland Railways1987–2012798788Two–car 80 Class691978–2017749907521979–201770 Class7281966-198671380 Class991979-2017East Lancashire RailwayBury70 Class5501966-1986Railway Preservation Society of IrelandWhiteheadRailcar 1Northern Counties Committee (LMS)1933–1965Railbus EGreat Northern Railway1921–1965Ulster Folk and Transport MuseumsCultra1County Donegal Railways1906–1956101932–1959121934–1959Foyle Valley Railway MuseumDerry151936–1959Donegal Railway Heritage CentreDonegal181940–1959Fintown RailwayFintown191951–1959Isle of Man RailwayIsle of Man20RB002British Rail1984–1990Riverstown Old MillRiverstown, Louth1498767731970–1993Quirky GlampingEnniscrone6241176844
See also Coaching stock of Ireland Diesel locomotives of Ireland Rail freight stock of Ireland Steam locomotives of Ireland Steam railmotors of Ireland
External links Irish Rail DART Fleet Information webpage Irish Rail Commuter Fleet Information webpage Japan Transport Engineering Company webpage