In service 30 June 2003 - present Family name CxK Number built 29 trainsets | Manufacturer CAF Constructed 2002 - 2005 Formation 4 cars per trainset | |
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The 29000 Class is a type of four-car Diesel Multiple Unit operated by Iarnród Éireann. The units were built in Spain by CAF in two batches between 2002 and 2005.
Contents
Description
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 MAN traction engine and a Cummins generator engine, both mounted underfloor. Each 4-car set is 81.46 m (267 ft 3 in) long, 3.985 m (13 ft 0.9 in) high and 2.9 m (9 ft 6 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, to avoid conflict with the existing numbering system of the NIR 3000 Class, all cars were renumbered e.g. set 2901-04 becoming 29101-401. The 2005 batch of nine sets are numbered 29021-29029.
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 Classes 2600, 2700 and 2800 railcars. It has since been replaced by the InterCity livery on these DMUs.
In 2014, a new all-over two-tone green livery was introduced for the class.
Deployment
They work most Northern Commuter and Western Commuter services. They have proven to be a very reliable unit despite operating a variety of demanding services including Sligo. They were returned to their intended Commuter service since deliveries of 22000 Class DMUs commenced in 2007, which displaced them from Sligo line workings in 2008. However, they remained in their "Commuter" livery when working this long-distance line
The November 2009 timetable change finally saw the end of the 29000s running West of Dublin from Heuston Station to Newbridge/Kildare and Carlow. The services have been covered by 22000 Class DMUs since 2009.