Iarnród Éireann has signalled a major step forward in its long‑term infrastructure strategy with a fresh order for 68 new infrastructure maintenance wagons from UK manufacturer W.H. Davis. The investment will replace the operator’s ageing fleet—much of which dates back more than half a century—and support the delivery of essential renewals and maintenance across Ireland’s 2,400km rail network.
The new wagons will take on critical duties including the movement of rails, sleepers and full track panels, supporting thousands of hours of planned maintenance carried out annually. The existing fleet, built at the historic Inchicore Works in Dublin over 50 years ago, is approaching end of life, prompting the need for modern, higher‑capacity replacements.
This latest order follows Iarnród Éireann’s purchase last year of 150 intermodal freight wagons from the same procurement framework with W.H. Davis. Those wagons are now in prototype production, with first deliveries scheduled for summer 2027. After testing and commissioning, they are expected to enter operational service from late summer 2027 onwards.
Manufacturing of the new maintenance wagons will take place at W.H. Davis’ Nottinghamshire facility—the last remaining independent wagon builder in the UK. Valued at approximately €23 million, the order represents a significant investment in the future resilience of Ireland’s rail infrastructure. Each wagon will have an estimated design weight of 18–20 tonnes and a payload capacity of around 60 tonnes, marking a 33% increase over the current LX and LP wagon types.
Speaking at the contract signing, Éamonn Ballance, Director of Infrastructure at Iarnród Éireann, said:
"This order for maintenance wagons will future proof our maintenance programme for generations to come and will ensure efficiency and reliability for my teams who work right across our network to ensure that our infrastructure is safe and well maintained.”
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