IE 2600 Class

Not to be confused with Jersey Arrows, a type of EMU in New Jersey commuter service.
Iarnród Éireann 2600 Class

2601 at Dublin Heuston in June 1995
In service 1993 - present
Manufacturer Tokyu Car Corporation
Family name Tokyu Commuter
Constructed 1993 - 1994
Number built 17 trainsets
Number scrapped 9 trainsets
Formation 2 cars per trainset
Fleet numbers 2601/2602 - 2617/2618
Operator Commuter
Specifications
Maximum speed 110 km/h (70 mph)
Track gauge 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in)
See Rail gauge in Ireland

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. At present the entire class is based in Cork, and is used on local services to Mallow, Midleton, Cobh and on token services to Tralee. The hybrid unit was based in Limerick until it was withdrawn in 2012 and is now stored in Cork.

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 January 2010, all 2600 class railcars have been moved to Kent Station, Cork, where they work Cork-Cobh, Cork-Midleton and Cork-Mallow services. The Hybrid set 2609/2716 has been withdrawn and is now stored in Cork Shed. All 2600 sets now carry the new Silver irishrail.ie/Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail logo as of August 2013. 2613/2610 was the last 2600 to carry the Commuter livery.

Fleet details

Class Operator Number Year Built Cars per Set Unit nos. Notes
2600 Class Commuter 8 1993-1994 2 2601/2602 2603/2604 2605/2616 2606/2615
2607/2608 2610/2613 2611/2612 2614/2617		 2609 operated as a hybrid 2-car unit with 2716 (Now withdrawn)

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