Ireland’s first train installed with Alstom's ETCS OBU
posted on 18th Sep 2025 14:32
In early September 2025, Alstom has successfully completed the installation and assessment body certification of the ETCS Level 1 on the Head of Series (HoS) for the IÉ Class 22000, marking a significant milestone in Ireland’s rail modernisation.
The unit 22001 has received Assessment Body (AsBo), Notified Body (NoBo) and Designated Body (DeBo) certificates from the Independent Safety Assessor (RINA), providing independent validation of the safety and compliance of the design developed by Alstom and its partners.
Earlier this year, Alstom also installed trackside infrastructure - spanning approximately 120 km - for the ETCS installation. This system overlay integrates new safety features and enhanced interoperability across the entire Dublin Area Rapid Transit (DART) commuter network and beyond, from Dundalk in the north to Greystones in the south.
The primary objective of the HoS project is to demonstrate that Alstom’s European Vital Computer (EVC) serves as the central safety component within the ETCS solution. This system is intended to become the main train protection system, replacing the legacy Automatic Train Protection (ATP) and Continuous Automatic Warning System (CAWS). This advancement will support the roll-out of Ireland’s new Alstom-built DART+ fleet, which will be delivered with ETCS installed as standard.
The project has supported more than 50 Alstom roles globally, from the design stage to site testing in Ireland. It has been delivered in partnership with Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail) and represents one of Europe’s largest Level 1 ETCS installations.
“Availability of the first ETCS fitted train in Ireland delivered by the Head of Series project has enabled early trackside and trainborne integration testing ahead of the entry to service of the new DART+ fleet. This is an important milestone for both projects. ETCS retrofit projects have proven to be challenging across Europe, however through collaborative working with both teams, the HoS project has reached a significant milestone,” said Peter Smyth, Chief Mechanical Engineer at Iarnród Éireann.
Alstom has a ten-year framework agreement with Irish Rail for up to 750 new commuter cars as part of the DART+ programme, with firm orders for 37 five-car X’trapolis trains (including a 15-year support services contract). Currently being manufactured at Alstom’s Chorzów facility, 31 of the ordered trains are BEMUs - a first for Ireland - while six are EMUs. The first train from the fleet arrived in Dublin in 2024, where it is undergoing testing before entering service next year.
DART+ is the transformative programme that will ensure train travel is at the heart of Ireland’s sustainable transport network. Funded under the National Development Plan by the National Transport Authority, DART+ is an investment that will double the capacity and treble the electrification of the Greater Dublin network – Ireland’s most populous suburban area – facilitating sustainable mobility and development to enhance quality of life in the capital and its surrounding counties.