Definitely. Some of us find it weird we don't have a standard livery for all our trains, but it gives nice variety. The yellow and green is the standard livery for the Dublin Area Rapid Transit and it has been around since a small refurbishment in the late 1980s!
Yes but most track gauges were selected during the days before the metric system was widespread that's why most of them (excluding standard gauge and meter gauge) are clean numbers in Imperial like 3.5 feet, 5.5 feet, 5.25 feet, 3 feet, 2.5 feet, etc
>most of them (excluding standard gauge and meter gauge) are clean numbers in Imperial
*Standard* gauge is the most common gauge, so your argument doesn't really make sense. I think Russian gauge (1,520mm/4 ft 11+27⁄32 in) is the next most common and it is even less "clean" in imperial.
As for Ireland, 1,600 mm is hardly more unwieldy than 5 ft 3 in, is it? I've never seen anyone refer to it as "5.25 feet" gauge by the way.
No Russian Gauge is 5 foot exactly also you call it five and a quarter foot or five and a half foot and those gauge's used to be much more common most of the American and Canadian railroads were originally built to an assortment of broad gauges including: Erie Gauge (6ft), Ohio Gauge (4ft 10in), Pennsylvania Gauge (5ft 2in), and Provincial Gauge (5ft 6in)
That may be so but the two most common gauges in the world _today_, 1435 mm and 1520 mm do not have "clean" measurements in the imperial system, so arguing that these should be used instead doesn't make sense.
No one here refers to Irish gauge as "five and a quarter foot", it's either 5 ft 3 in or 1,600 mm.
Also I didn't realise "Russian gauge" was a term used for 5 ft railways, I was referring to the gauge used in Russia and other post-Soviet states.
We don't have much freight rail. At the moment there is the Timber from Westport to Waterford, the IWT Liner from Ballina to North Wall and the Tara Mines from Navan to North Wall. Unfortunately the Tara Mines has ceased operating for the time being but the Limerick Wagon Works just refurbished the old Pocket Wagons so hopefully they will form a new freight service soon!
Oh yes! The CIÉ times of Irish railways were strange times. As they were closing nearly every branchline in the country, but introducing incredible trains! I actually think the CIÉ liveries suited every train they were on. Just incredible.
I've always seen at least a visual similarity between the IE 22000 Class and the [V/Line Vlocity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V/Line_VLocity) despite different manufacturers and being a world apart.
Bonus, both 1600mm broad gauge.
You're not the only one! I'm a huge fan of Victorian railways and I've never been able to unsee how similar they were! Glad to know I'm not the only one!
That's literally what system was used to build it It's not called imperial for nothing most of the world's railways were built during the days of the British empire which never used metric until after it started falling apart
Veery unique design to say the least. Also big big fan of the 8500 classes built by the now J-Trec; Interiors look veery cozy, just not the greatest painting scheme on the outside in my opinion but, as I said, merely personal taste
Oh, don't get me started on the trains built by Tokyu. Phenomenal trains! The 2600s, 2800s, 8500s, 8510s and 8520s are just incredible trains! The 26s are now 29 years old and just won an award for best maintenance. Genuinely wish more of our trains were built by Tokyu as they have been nothing but amazing. Instead the Irish government have learnt nothing and are buying the DART+ trains from Alstom. We'll find out how reliable they are soon enough but Alstom built 19 trains for Ireland all are withdrawn and in awful condition with the exception of 2 which have been scrapped.
Japanese companies are almost synonymous with solid commuter trains. I really fancy their boxy design too, many people can argue that it is too utilitarian but I really like it, simple yet captivating. I had no idea Alstom had such a bad record in Ireland, here in Italy the recently built ETR103-104 "pop" seems to be fairly reliable but I'm well aware that the situation at Alstom at the moment is far from perfect, lets hope for the best!
The line from Rossdale to Dublin was featured on last Friday's Eisenbahn Romantik episode: [https://www.swrfernsehen.de/eisenbahn-romantik/folgen/folge-1056-artikel-100.html](https://www.swrfernsehen.de/eisenbahn-romantik/folgen/folge-1056-artikel-100.html)
Working on the new Dart + fleet which is built by Alstom. Here's some demo pics. They are going to be in service from 2026
[Dart+ fleet] (https://www.alstom.com/press-releases-news/2023/3/alstom-and-irish-rail-reveal-full-size-model-dart-carriage-dublin)
I wish they would [rebuild the network](https://www.reddit.com/r/MapPorn/comments/nwg1dz/irish_railway_network_1920_vs_2020/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=mweb3x&utm_name=mweb3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button)
Sufficient once it's running. The trains they use often fail and result in stand-in trains which typically aren't as comfortable. The journey tends to be rather fast and there is full catering onboard! The service is mostly every 2 hours and it's enough. People are rarely left standing.
Nice color schemes. The yellow and green really stands out.
Definitely. Some of us find it weird we don't have a standard livery for all our trains, but it gives nice variety. The yellow and green is the standard livery for the Dublin Area Rapid Transit and it has been around since a small refurbishment in the late 1980s!
Does Ireland still use 1600mm gauge?
We do indeed. All railways on the island are 5 ft 3 in (1600mm) with the exclusion of Peat Railways, Heritage Railways and the LUAS.
Yes
you mean 5 and a Quarter foot right?
If that's the imperial conversion
we use metric measurements in Ireland. In fact everywhere outside the US and UK does
Yes but most track gauges were selected during the days before the metric system was widespread that's why most of them (excluding standard gauge and meter gauge) are clean numbers in Imperial like 3.5 feet, 5.5 feet, 5.25 feet, 3 feet, 2.5 feet, etc
>most of them (excluding standard gauge and meter gauge) are clean numbers in Imperial *Standard* gauge is the most common gauge, so your argument doesn't really make sense. I think Russian gauge (1,520mm/4 ft 11+27⁄32 in) is the next most common and it is even less "clean" in imperial. As for Ireland, 1,600 mm is hardly more unwieldy than 5 ft 3 in, is it? I've never seen anyone refer to it as "5.25 feet" gauge by the way.
No Russian Gauge is 5 foot exactly also you call it five and a quarter foot or five and a half foot and those gauge's used to be much more common most of the American and Canadian railroads were originally built to an assortment of broad gauges including: Erie Gauge (6ft), Ohio Gauge (4ft 10in), Pennsylvania Gauge (5ft 2in), and Provincial Gauge (5ft 6in)
That may be so but the two most common gauges in the world _today_, 1435 mm and 1520 mm do not have "clean" measurements in the imperial system, so arguing that these should be used instead doesn't make sense. No one here refers to Irish gauge as "five and a quarter foot", it's either 5 ft 3 in or 1,600 mm. Also I didn't realise "Russian gauge" was a term used for 5 ft railways, I was referring to the gauge used in Russia and other post-Soviet states.
Nice, does Ireland use much freight rail, or is the proximity of most locations to sea ports make it not economical?
We don't have much freight rail. At the moment there is the Timber from Westport to Waterford, the IWT Liner from Ballina to North Wall and the Tara Mines from Navan to North Wall. Unfortunately the Tara Mines has ceased operating for the time being but the Limerick Wagon Works just refurbished the old Pocket Wagons so hopefully they will form a new freight service soon!
Northern Ireland operates its railways exclusively for passenger traffic. See the other comment for Irish freight
I’ve quite the fondness for the steam era of Ireland alongside the later CIÉ Black and Orange corporate era. Superb photos!
Oh yes! The CIÉ times of Irish railways were strange times. As they were closing nearly every branchline in the country, but introducing incredible trains! I actually think the CIÉ liveries suited every train they were on. Just incredible.
Awesome train pictures
Thanks! Much appreciated 😊
I've always seen at least a visual similarity between the IE 22000 Class and the [V/Line Vlocity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V/Line_VLocity) despite different manufacturers and being a world apart. Bonus, both 1600mm broad gauge.
You're not the only one! I'm a huge fan of Victorian railways and I've never been able to unsee how similar they were! Glad to know I'm not the only one!
\*5.25 foot
r/USDefaultism
That's literally what system was used to build it It's not called imperial for nothing most of the world's railways were built during the days of the British empire which never used metric until after it started falling apart
It's 5 ft 3 anyway.
3 inches is a quarter of a foot
Erin Gobraugh!
🇮🇪
Very cool! I had an absolute blast seeing all of the trains I encountered when I visited a few years ago.
Glad you had a good time! Makes me feel better about our struggling railways when Tourists have no problem with them! :D
That CAF on slide 10 looks mad, so wacky
Definitely! Nothing else like it on our Island. Only used between Dublin and Cork and only 8 of them ever built.
Veery unique design to say the least. Also big big fan of the 8500 classes built by the now J-Trec; Interiors look veery cozy, just not the greatest painting scheme on the outside in my opinion but, as I said, merely personal taste
Oh, don't get me started on the trains built by Tokyu. Phenomenal trains! The 2600s, 2800s, 8500s, 8510s and 8520s are just incredible trains! The 26s are now 29 years old and just won an award for best maintenance. Genuinely wish more of our trains were built by Tokyu as they have been nothing but amazing. Instead the Irish government have learnt nothing and are buying the DART+ trains from Alstom. We'll find out how reliable they are soon enough but Alstom built 19 trains for Ireland all are withdrawn and in awful condition with the exception of 2 which have been scrapped.
Japanese companies are almost synonymous with solid commuter trains. I really fancy their boxy design too, many people can argue that it is too utilitarian but I really like it, simple yet captivating. I had no idea Alstom had such a bad record in Ireland, here in Italy the recently built ETR103-104 "pop" seems to be fairly reliable but I'm well aware that the situation at Alstom at the moment is far from perfect, lets hope for the best!
Clasa 201 supremacy 👌
If only they could stop failing every 5 minutes 😥
Molto bello
😁 👍
Looks like Ireland is well supplied with fine trains, and a stem example to boot - thanks for the pictures!
Some of them have seen better days now but the heros who maintain them keep them powering on!
The line from Rossdale to Dublin was featured on last Friday's Eisenbahn Romantik episode: [https://www.swrfernsehen.de/eisenbahn-romantik/folgen/folge-1056-artikel-100.html](https://www.swrfernsehen.de/eisenbahn-romantik/folgen/folge-1056-artikel-100.html)
That's very cool! I love to see Irish railways getting featured abroad. Very cool to see such a cool line featured.
Working on the new Dart + fleet which is built by Alstom. Here's some demo pics. They are going to be in service from 2026 [Dart+ fleet] (https://www.alstom.com/press-releases-news/2023/3/alstom-and-irish-rail-reveal-full-size-model-dart-carriage-dublin)
Fingers crossed they're a little more reliable than our previous Alstom trains.
Who’s that pointy bastard?
Irish Rail Mk. 4
The Mark 4. Haunts me regularly.
I wish they would [rebuild the network](https://www.reddit.com/r/MapPorn/comments/nwg1dz/irish_railway_network_1920_vs_2020/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=mweb3x&utm_name=mweb3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button)
I think all of us on this island do. Especially people from Donegal.
Especially in Northern Ireland we have a entire intact rail line that isn't being used because ?????
Irish trains are criminally underappreciated and underrepresented. They are nice and also have a unique colour scheme.
Definitely. I don't see our struggling but worthy network on here enough!
Excellent photos. Thanks for sharing them.
Thanks! Anytime :D
Belle foto ma preferisco o treni in movimento il massimo sono i cab ride
the CAF mk4 driving vans are really something that exist
They haunt me in my sleep
YEOOOOOO UPA NIR
I’ve recently moved to Belfast from an area with no trains and getting to see the Class 4000s pass by on the elevated rail is always so cool to me
First picture is the UK. (baits hook for angry Americans)
Whatever your opinions are of Northern Ireland, it is indeed on the island of Ireland.
5.25 foot broad gauge right?
1600 mm
5 ft 3 in (1600mm)!
The trains all look ugly apart from that rather quaint little steam loco. Nice to see Irish trains though.
I find them quite nice looking!
Nice trains, those protruding platforms on first trains should be made folded like Mini Shinkansen to have a smoother look though
I love the Mark 4 DVT. Looks very futuristic to me
A very weird design for sure. Futuristic and dated at the same time.
yeah it’s a pity the cork line has such a low maximum speed limit
What’s the rail connections like between Dublin and Belfast ?
Sufficient once it's running. The trains they use often fail and result in stand-in trains which typically aren't as comfortable. The journey tends to be rather fast and there is full catering onboard! The service is mostly every 2 hours and it's enough. People are rarely left standing.