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Dunnlow to Deliver New Trains for Gaelic Railways
By Briana MacCorrie
Gaelic Railways (GR), the national railway, announced yesterday that it has entered into a contract with train manufacturer Dunnlow for the purchase of fourteen new electric trains. The decision by GR's management came after a test run from Rexford to Donnebrook revealed that the new trains can cover the 45 kilometers separating the two towns in half the time it takes GR's current trains.
The new trains will gradually replace those currently in service, introduced by GR 25 years ago. The railway company had originally intended to complete the project in a 5-year span so as to let the last phase of the transition coincide with the end of the 30-year life expectancy of GR's current fleet.
However, company officials were so excited by the performance of the Dunnlow trains that the decision was made to pull all current trains from the tracks within 3 years. They plan to upgrade the longest routes first, beginning with the distances longer than 100 kilometers.
Negotiations between GR and Dunnlow have been going on for nearly 2 years. The lengthy duration of the talks was mostly due to reluctance on the part of the government to help fund the project. Says Shane O'Farrel, GR's spokesperson, "We had difficulty convincing the authorities that buying new, faster trains, while expensive, was a worthwhile investment. Gradually, however, the government realized that adequate transportation is indispensable for the continued development and prosperity of the region."
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GAELIC RAILWAYS |
Service |
Distance |
Former Duration |
New Length of Trip |
Rossmoor — Kilbarney
Weston — Barlow
Southford — Kirke
Rexford — Donnebrook |
74 km
162 km
80 km
45 km |
1 hour and 30 minutes
2 hours and 30 minutes
1 hour and 40 minutes
1 hour and 8 minutes |
44 minutes
1 hour and 25 minutes
53 minutes
34 minutes |