Fast-charging facilities for new battery-electric DART+ fleet in Drogheda Station

The objective of the investment is to enable sustainable rail transport through the installation of a train battery charging infrastructure in Drogheda, enabling the deployment of battery-electric trains in replacement of diesel carriages on the route from the Dublin City Centre to Drogheda.

The measure consists of the installation of the train battery charging infrastructure in Drogheda to cater for the battery-electric train carriages. It shall include the charging infrastructure with a charging capacity of [3.5 megawatt-hours (MWh)] and its installation, as well as stabling works.

All 3 Construction Contracts have been awarded. Implementation is ongoing. The installation of the substation equipment is complete, and commissioning of the substation has commenced. The installation of the platform overhead charging equipment was completed in the August Bank Holiday possession. 

Commission for Rail Regulation (CRR) Stage 5 approval for interim operation of the system charging one train is planned for Q2 2026. Signalling and stabling road works are complete. The planned completion of the depot modifications has been extended to December 2025. Completion of implementation is expected by June 2026.

The implementation of the Fast-charging facilities in Drogheda will benefit from grant funding of EUR 56 million from the REPowerEU chapter.

Additional link:

• https://www.irishrail.ie/en-ie/news/fast-charging-facilities-for-new-dart-trains-for-d