Iarnrod Éireann says that the Dart line should be extended to commuter towns, BreakingNews.ie reports.

 

These towns include Maynooth, Co Kildare and Drogheda, Co Louth.

 

This would be achievable with hybrid trains, which would be fuelled by diesel engines or run on overhead electric wires.

 

However, capital investment is required for this extension to go forward, according to Iarnrod Éireann Spokesman Barry Kenny.

 

 

"We need to start investing in new trains, but obviously we've got electrification coming down the line," Barry said to BreakingNews.ie.

 

"So while we wait for electrification to proceed, in order to build the capacity of our train fleet, we are looking at hybrid trains, that can operate on both diesel and electric power," he continued.

 

He said that the hybrid trains would help to deal with the growth in passenger numbers that Irish Rail has experienced in recent years. 

 

As well, Barry noted, the hybrid trains pose an advantage because they will not become a 'redundant fleet' once electrification of the Dart line commences.

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