Irish Government Signs €700M Contract for New Dublin-Belfast Train Fleet

The Irish government has signed a €700 million contract for a new fleet of trains for the cross-border rail service between Dublin and Belfast. Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris attended the signing event at Belfast's Grand Central Station.

Swiss company Stadler will build the new Enterprise fleet for Translink and Iarnród Éireann, with delivery expected from late 2028. The Irish Government and Stormont Executive are each contributing approximately €250 million, with the remaining funds sourced from an EU-supported peace fund. Since October 2024, the service has seen over 2 million passenger journeys, following the introduction of 15 daily departures each way.

Taoiseach Martin highlighted that the new fleet will increase train frequency and reduce journey times between the two cities. Tánaiste Harris emphasized the upgrade as tangible evidence of the Good Friday Agreement's impact, fostering better links between people. Martin also met with Northern Ireland's political parties, business leaders, and Women's Aid, and will deliver the Lord David Trimble Lecture 2026 at Queen's University Belfast, honoring Trimble's role in the Good Friday Agreement. Both leaders will attend the North-South Ministerial Council meeting in Armagh tomorrow.