| CxK (train) | |
|---|---|
A Class 3000 at Belfast Central. |
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| In service | 2002 - present |
| Manufacturer | CAF |
| Number built | 72 trainsets |
| Operator | NI Railways Iarnród Éireann |
| Specifications | |
| Maximum speed | 75–90 mph (121–140 km/h) |
| Gauge | 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) |
CxK is an unofficial name given to a family of related multiple unit trains produced by CAF and in operation on the Irish railway network. At present there are a total of three types either in operation or under construction, which are used by train operators on both sides of the border. The CAF produced trains are now the main suburban and commuter train types in use on the island of Ireland. The name derives from NI Railways, the operator in Northern Ireland, from using the shorthand "C3K" and "C4K" for its units.
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NI Railways, the state owned rail operator in Northern Ireland, has almost totally replaced its existing fleet of DEMUs with new CxK type.
The Class 3000 was the first new train type purchased by NI Railways for two decades, and was obtained to replace the increasingly obsolete NIR Class 80 units that had been in service since the mid-1970s.[1] The £80m order, the largest outlay for rolling stock in NI Railways' history at that point, was signed in 2002, with the first unit delivered in 2004. A total of 23 3-car trains were procured, enabling NI Railways to withdraw most of its Class 80 units. The C3K is the main passenger train in Northern Ireland, and operates on most of the network's remaining routes. The first six units are also fitted with CAWS to allow operation in the Republic of Ireland.
The Class 4000 is a follow on type from the C3K. Purchased in 2009, with the first unit delivered in 2011, these are intended to replace the remaining Class 80 and Class 450 trains; the 20 C4K units will replace 13 existing trains, allowing for major service enhancements as well.[2] Purchased as 3-car units, NI Railways has an option to purchase 20 additional trailer vehicles so that these trains can be extended to 4-cars.
The 29000 Class is the primary commuter train operated by Iarnród Éireann, the state rail operator in the Republic of Ireland. Originally classed as 2900, these are 4-car sets that were purchased in two batches and are primarily used on commuter services around Dublin. The first batch of 20 sets were delivered in 2002-2003, while a further 9 were delivered in 2005.
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