Dublin to Belfast speed and frequency enhancements

[AmtrakMaineiac]

https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/...un-hourly-after-multimillion-euro-investment/

Ireland's only international train service, the Enterprise between Dublin and Belfast in Northern Ireland is due to get an increase to hourly service and speed increases. The plan is to eventually electrify the corridor. Currently the plan as I understand it is to extend DART 1500 volt DC electrification north of its current terminus at Malahide to Drogheda. NIR is also planning to electrify some of its service. The gap between would initially be handled via battery electric operation.The new NIR electrification would likely be 25kv AC.

 

[JWM]

Good news and hope they keep the catering going as the rest of Irish trains may get the 2024 edition of Southern Pacific's "Automatic Buffet Car".

 

[AmtrakMaineiac]

Ireland and Northern Ireland seem to share one thing in common with the US, that of studying and planning non-highway transportation projects to death but never pulling the trigger because there's "no money". This one does seem to have some momentum due to the EU driven need to reduce fossil fuel usage. There is also an ongoing project to replace the Great Victoria Street terminus in Belfast with an 8 platform new terminus which will also host the Enterprise trains from Dublin as well as local NIR services. Currently the Enterprise uses Lanyon Place which is small and rather poorly located with respect to the downtown area.