Railcars 168

Irish Railway Record Society

JOURNAL 168 DIESEL RAILCARS

22000-Class ICR The first 6-car InterCity Railcar (ICR), 22033, entered service on Saturday 18 October 2008, working the 08:20 Dublin-Westport. The set vehicles were 22333 + 22433 + 22533 + 22633 + 22733 + 22133.

A second 6-car ICR, 22032, entered service on Tuesday 28 October on the 06:30 Portlaoise-Dublin Heuston and then the 08:20 Dublin-Westport, making both Westport line sets 6-car from this date. Next day, the two displaced 3-car ICRs commenced working the 16:25 Dublin-Waterford instead of a locomotive hauled Mk III set.

Six-car ICR 22034 entered passenger service on Monday 17 November on the 16:50 Dublin-Galway and the 07:15 Galway-Dublin next day. Driving-catering car 22134 has now been branded ‘Premier Class’ internally and externally. This was the first set to enter traffic with an advertised meal service.

Six-car ICR 22031 entered service on the 06:30 Portlaoise-Dublin Heuston on Thursday 27 November. It then worked the 08:20 Dublin-Westport, 13:10 Westport-Dublin and 17:45 Dublin-Westport.

The 17:05 Dublin-Limerick became a 6-car ICR from Wednesday 3 December, with the 07:35 Limerick-Dublin becoming railcar next morning. Set 22037 entered service on 10 December on the 17:05 Dublin Heuston–Limerick. Set 22035 entered service on Monday 5 January working the 16:25 Dublin Heuston-Waterford. Set 22038 entered service on Thursday 15 January, the first railcar working of the 18:30 Dublin-Tralee.

Standard class 6-car set 22042 and the final three-car set 22046 were delivered to Waterford Port on Thursday 08 January.

Three-car ICR 22008 was used for driver training on the Mallow-Tralee line in October and November. It entered commercial service on Wednesday 19 November on the 13:10 Kildare – Dublin Heuston. Two 3-car sets, 22010 and 22011, remained in Korea for warranty repairs at the end of 2008.

Trials of 9-car (one 6-car + one 3-car) took place in December on the Dublin-Cork line. Sets 22020+22036 worked a trial from Laois Traincare Depot to Limerick on Tuesday 2 December.

A modification has been made to increase the bicycle capacity of 3-car sets. A new luggage rack and bicycle space is being fitted to the 223xx driving cars. Seating capacity is reduced from 54 to 52.

The ‘Golf Ball’ two-digit set numbering on the yellow front of each driving trailer is being replaced by five-digit numbers in black lettering showing the number of the vehicle i.e. 25 is replaced by 22225 on one end and 22325 on the other end. Numbers are now also displayed low down on the side of each carriage. Six-car sets entered service with the five-digit numbers. However, for space reasons, this JOURNAL will continue to use set numbers indicated by (typically) 22025, even though this is not painted on the set

The remainder of this article appears in IRRS Journal number 168, published February 2009.