The £150million New Trains Programme will include the introduction of the new Class 4000 trains and the construction of a new train maintenance facility at Adelaide as well as the extension of some platforms to accommodate the new trains.
Arriving in Belfast, the Minister addressed a gathered audience at Central Station to mark the introduction of the new train and said: "When all 20 new trains are introduced into service railway passengers will experience a step-change in service reliability and improved accessibility. Importantly, these new trains will replace all the old fleet currently operating on the network, delivering an overall improved quality of railway services.”
Danny Kennedy added: "Equally I am aware that this is not an end in itself and while I have a limited budget, I am committed to providing a high quality rail service which promotes a sustainable and attractive alternative to the private car.”
John Trethowan, Chairman of Translink commented: “We are delighted to be launching the first of the new Class 4000 trains into passenger service today and are confident that they will help us in our commitment to providing our passengers with modern, reliable and good value travel solutions.
We would like to extend a big thank you to the DRD Minister, Danny Kennedy and officials for providing funding to purchase these new trains which will even further improve the service for passengers.
“Modernisation of Northern Ireland rail services, including the introduction of the first C3k train fleet in 2005 supported by a programme of service enhancements, has resulted in over 60% growth in passenger numbers in the last 10 years, culminating in a record 10.4m journeys last year - the highest since the 1960’s. As the new fleet is rolled out we hope that even greater numbers of people choose the train.”
To date, three of the new Class 4000 trains which Translink took delivery of earlier this year have completed the extensive testing programme that is required under European regulations and are now available for passenger service with a further two trains approaching final testing. Translink expects that all 20 of the trains will be fully commissioned and in service during 2012.
The Class 4000 trains boast enhanced facilities including new on-board multipurpose areas to better accommodate parents with buggies, increased seating capacity which has risen to 212 and additional room for bicycles with a maximum of eight now possible to be carried on-board. Facilities contained within the current C3k fleet such as state of the art visual and audible passenger information systems, digital CCTV and toilet and baby changing are also available on the new trains.
The new trains are also highly eco-friendly; they are more fuel efficient with reduced carbon emissions and have an eco driving meter to assist drivers in managing their fuel efficiency. The Class 4000 train is recognised as being amongst the ‘cleanest’ diesel train in the UK.