IE 2600 Class

Infobox DMU
name = Ianród Éireann 2600 Class


imagesize = 300px
caption =
background = #00A550
Manufacturer = Tokyu Car
Formation = 2 cars per trainset
Built = 8 trainsets
InService = 1993 - Present
Weight =
Capacity =
MaxSpeed = 70mph
Gauge = 1600mm
Brakes =
Engine =
Operator = Iarnród Éireann|The 2600 Class is a type of Diesel Multiple Unit operated on the Irish railway network by Iarnród Éireann, used mainly for short-haul Commuter services.

Description

The 2600 Class were the first modern set of diesel railcars purchased by Iarnród Éireann, who for several years had only ran multiple units on the electrified DART service. A total of seventeen individual railcars were constructed by the Tokyu Car Corporation in Japan and delivered between 1993 and 1994 for use on the commuter service between Dublin and Kildare. The stock were the first rolling stock to be delivered in "Arrow" livery, initially used to refer solely to the Dublin-Kildare commuter service upon which they were deployed, although they were rebranded in 2003 to the new Commuter livery. They were the very last Iarnród Éireann rolling stock to ship branded with the firm's original "IR" logo, though this was replaced with the "IÉ" version shortly after the trains entered service.

Deployment

Class 2600 were initially deployed on the brand new Dublin-Kildare Arrow service (now rebranded South Western Commuter). Although purchased for the new service, which began in 1994, they were also to be seen up until the early 2000s supplementing the locomotive hauled "Craven" coaching stock on Western Suburban (now Western Commuter) services, and occasionally on other lines also. Since the introduction of the Class 2900 they no longer work Western Commuter services on a regular basis, though they can be still be seen on the Kildare and other Commuter lines.

External links

* [http://www.iarnrodeireann.ie/about_us/our_fleet.asp Irish Rail Fleet Information page]