CIÉ 8100 Class

{{short description|Electric multiple unit train used in Ireland}}

{{Infobox Train

| background = #6CE08F

| name = Córas Iompair Éireann 8100 Class

| image = SEAPOINT RAILWAY STATION (ON THE OLD DUBLIN AND KINGSTON LINE)-126937 (cropped).jpg

| imagesize = 300px

| caption = Refurbished unit 8317 at Seapoint railway station in April 2017.

| interiorimage = DART train interior - 26351591770.jpg

| interiorcaption = Refurbished interior

| stocktype =

| service = 23 July 1984 – present

| manufacturer = Linke-Hofmann-Busch{{cite book |title=Irish Railways: Traction & Travel |last=Jones |first=Peter |edition=First |publisher=Metro Enterprises |year=1987 |isbn=0947773088 |page=33 |url=https://archive.org/details/irishrailwaystra0000jone |access-date=12 January 2025 |url-access=registration}}

| factory =

| family =

| replaced = 2600 Class

| yearservice =

| refurbishment = 2005 – 2007 (at Siemens, Leipzig, Germany)

| yearscrapped = 2001 (2)

| numberconstruction =

| numberbuilt = 40 sets (80 cars)

| numberservice = 38 sets

| numberpreserved =

| numberscrapped = 2 sets

| formation = 2 cars per trainset: DM-DT

| yearconstruction = 1983 – 1984

| fleetnumbers = {{unbulleted list|

DM: 8101 – 8140|

DT: 8301 – 8340}}

| capacity = 128 seated

| operator = DART

| depots = Fairview DART depot

| lines = {{unbulleted list|

Howth – Bray|

Malahide – Greystones}}

| carbody = Steel

| trainlength =

| carlength = {{convert|20.49|m|abbr=on}}

| width = {{convert|2.9|m|abbr=on}}

| height =

| floorheight =

| platformheight =

| entrylevelorstep =

| art-sections =

| doors =

| maxspeed = {{convert|100|km/h|abbr=on}}

| weight =

| acceleration = 0.92 m/s^2

| deceleration = 0.78 m/s^2

| traction = GEC Traction Thyristor Control

| engine =

| traction motors = GEC Traction G314BY DC Motor

| poweroutput = 130 kW (continuous)

| transmission =

| aux =

| powersupply =

| hvac =

| electricsystem = 1,500 V DC Overhead lines

| collectionmethod = Pantograph

| uicclass =

| aarwheels =

| bogies = LHB

| brakes =

| safety =

| coupling = Scharfenberg

| multipleworking = 3 sets (2 sets or 4 sets (at peak times))

| gauge = {{RailGauge|5ft3in|lk=on}}

}}

The CIÉ 8100 class (also known as the 8300 class) were the first electric multiple units used on the Dublin Area Rapid Transit (DART) system. Built by GEC and Linke-Hofmann-Busch in 1983, they are two-car units, and were the only units used on the DART before the arrival of the 8200 Class. 40 two-car sets were delivered, numbered 8101/8301 to 8140/8340. 81XX units are power cars while 83XX units are unpowered driving trailers. The driving cabs are full width, with the inner ends of the cars connected by gangways. The power cars are always at the northern end of the train, while the driving trailers are always at the southern end.

History

File:Dart-8306-00.jpg|left]]

File:Door 1834 at S&C Traction.jpg

The original seating layout consisted of 72 seats per coach with 16 tip up seats at the doors, giving 176 seats in total. With increasing passenger numbers and the heavy spring in the tip up seats becoming a possible source of injury, the tip seats were removed in the late 1980s.{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}} As a result of ever continuing passenger demand in the late 1990s extra standing room was provided through the removal of 16 seats from the 83XX unpowered driving trailers, reducing seating capacity to 56 giving a 2 car unit a total of 128 seats.

When the 8600 Class units entered service from 2001, a number of 8100 Class units were modified to make up six car sets with them. Since the refurbishment detailed below this is no longer possible. The units concerned were 8101, 8102, 8108, 8114 to 8118, 8120, 8122, 8123, 8126, 8135 and 8137.

All of the remaining units returned to service in 2007 and 2008 following refurbishment by Siemens. This included the installation of modified marker lights, removal of some seats to add more standing space giving all coaches 64 seats and space for a wheelchair, installation of an electronic passenger information system, new wheel slide protection equipment and digital traction control to replace the outdated analogue system and installation of a door closing warning beeper. The units were originally limited to running in sets of up to six cars and the refurbishment was also supposedly intended to allow the units to operate in 8-car sets, although some unmodified LHB sets had operated in 8-car formations during 2007.{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}}

As with other DART units, they are maintained at Fairview depot, as well as being stabled at Bray. By January 2013, as reported in the ITG Magazine "Irish Mail" sets 8103, 8105, 8113 and 8138 were temporarily stored out of service. All these units were returned to revenue service except 8103–8303, which remained in storage not having run since 18 August 2010, however this unit returned to revenue service on 20 September 2018.

In 2023, Irish Rail issued a tender to investigate the option of extending the service life of the class until 2034, 50 years since their introduction in to service,{{cite web |url=https://irl.eu-supply.com/ctm/Supplier/PublicPurchase/234333/1/0 |title=DART Class 8100 EMU extended operation review |publisher=Irish Rail |date=20 February 2023}} however the costs of keeping the trains in service was judged to be prohibitive and in 2024 Irish Rail sought approval to purchase 100 carriages of new 90000 class trains to replace the 8100 class.{{cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/transport/2024/11/21/irish-rail-seeks-approval-to-replace-original-dart-fleet-with-electric-carriages/ |title=Irish Rail seeks approval to replace Dart fleet with 100 new carriages |last=O'Brien |first=Tim |date=21 November 2024 |newspaper=The Irish Times |access-date=12 January 2025}}

Accidents and incidents

Four cars (8110-8310 and 8136-8336{{Citation needed|reason=I have a source for four carriages being destroyed, but not their numbers|date=January 2025}}) were scrapped after suffering serious damage in a fire at Fairview depot on 14 July 2001.{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/mystery-dart-fire-worsens-commuter-crowding/26080367.html |title=Mystery DART fire worsens commuter crowding |last=O'Keeffe |first=Alan |date=16 July 2001 |work=Irish Independent |access-date=12 January 2025}}

On 13 September 2017 the 16:45 service from Howth to Bray, formed of a six-car 8100 Class unit was derailed on a set of points at Dún Laoghaire station. The leading bogie of the first car, 8308, derailed. Two passengers received medical attention but there were no injuries.{{cite report |url=https://www.raiu.ie/assets/files/pdf/170913_ie_a_dart_derailment_dun_laoghaire.pdf |title=Investigation Report: Derailment of DART passenger service at Points DL115, Dun Laoghire, 13th September 2017 |publisher=Railway Accident Investigation Unit |id=RAIU Report No: R2018-001 |date=15 August 2018 |access-date=12 January 2025}} There was widespread criticism on social media over Irish Rail's response to the incident both from passengers delayed on other services and the derailed train itself due to the lack of information and the time it took to evacuate the derailed train.{{citation needed|date=January 2025}}

Fleet details

class="wikitable"

!Class

!Operator

!Number

!Year Built

!Cars per Set

!Unit nos.

!Notes

align=center|8100 Class

|DART

|align=center|38 (formerly 40)

|align=center|1983-1984

|align=center|2

|8101 – 8109
8111 – 8135
8137 – 8140

|8110 and 8136 scrapped

References

External links

[https://www.irishrail.ie/en-ie/about-us/iarnrod-eireann-fleet/dart-fleet Irish Rail Fleet Information webpage]

Category:Iarnród Éireann multiple units

Category:Train-related introductions in 1983

Category:1500 V DC multiple units