Train carriages made in Japan for Iarnród Éireann arrive at Dublin Port.
Arriving in Dublin Port after a six week journey from Japan, the new rail cars were lifted by a four hundred tonne crane from ship to dockside. Two land based cranes were used to place the carriages on rail lines, to be linked to a locomotive and towed to the Iarnród Éireann Inchicore railway works.
Built by the Tokyu Car Corporation, these rail carriages were part funded by the European Union, and are
The first Japanese trains to come into service in the European Union.
One of the changes immediately apparent to passengers will be accessible toilets on board.
Ten cars will go into service from May on the new Dublin Heuston to Kildare route. Existing stations on this line are being upgraded, and new ones are under construction. The remaining seven carriages will become part of existing rail services.
This is the beginning of a modernisation programme, and Iarnród Éireann chairman Paul Conlon hopes it will deliver,
A fast, frequent, reliable and safe service.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 14 February 1994. The reporter is Eoin Ronayne.
