View source for IÉ 2600 Class

{{distinguish|text=[[Arrow (railcar)|Jersey Arrows]], a type of EMU in New Jersey commuter service}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox DMU
| name = Iarnród Éireann 2600 Class
| image = Fota 1.jpg
| caption = 2601 at {{rws|Fota}} in August 2013
| interiorimage = Interior of Iarnród Éireann railcar 2605 - geograph.org.uk - 6330332.jpg
| imagesize = 300px
| background = #6CE08F
| manufacturer = [[Japan Transport Engineering Company|Tokyu Car Corporation]]
| family = Tokyu Commuter
| replaced = Separate locomotives and carriages
| formation = 2 cars per trainset
| yearconstruction = 1993<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishrail.ie/en-ie/about-us/iarnrod-eireann-fleet/commuter-fleet|title=Iarnród Éireann Commuter Fleet Information|website=Irish Rail|access-date=2025-02-07}}</ref>
| fleetnumbers = 2601 – 2617
| numberbuilt = 17 railcars
| numberservice = 16 railcars (8 2-car sets)
| numberscrapped = 
| interiorcaption = Interior
| stocktype = 
| service = 16 May 1994 – present
| weight = {{cvt|42|tonnes}}
| capacity = 130 seated
| maxspeed = {{cvt|75|mph|km/h|sigfig=2}}
| gauge = {{RailGauge|1600mm|allk=on}} <br />See [[Rail gauge in Ireland]] <!-- [[Rail gauge#Ireland|1600mm]]-->
| brakes = [[Railway air brake|Air]], 2 [[Railway disc brake|brake discs]] per [[axle]]
| engine = One Cummins NTA-855-R1 of {{cvt|260|kW|0}} per car
| operator = [[Commuter (Iarnród Éireann)|Commuter]]
| depots = Cork
| lines = Cork Commuter routes
| transmission = Hydraulic
}}
The '''2600 Class''' is a type of [[diesel multiple unit]] operated on the [[Rail transport in Ireland|Irish railway network]] by [[Iarnród Éireann]], used mainly for short-haul [[Commuter (Irish Rail)|Commuter]] services. At present the entire class is based in [[Cork (city)|Cork]], and is used on local services to [[Mallow, County Cork|Mallow]], [[Midleton]], [[Cobh]] and on token services to [[Tralee]]. A hybrid unit was based in [[Limerick]] until it was withdrawn in 2012 and is now stored in Cork.
[[File:16.06.95 Dublin Heuston 2601 (5957580489).jpg|thumbnail|2601 at [[Heuston railway station|Dublin Heuston]] in June 1995]]
[[File:Cobh Station August 2011.JPG|thumb|left|2607 at Cobh in June 2011]]

==Description==
The 2600 Class were the first set of diesel railcars purchased by Iarnród Éireann, who for several years had only run multiple units on the electrified [[Dublin Area Rapid Transit|DART]] service. A IR£19.5 million (around €47M in 2023) order for a total of seventeen railcars was constructed by the [[Japan Transport Engineering Company|Tokyu Car Corporation]] in Japan in 1993 and arrived in Dublin on 14 February 1994 for use on the commuter service between [[Dublin]] and [[Kildare]]. The stock were the first rolling stock to be delivered in ''Arrow'' livery, initially used to refer solely to the Dublin-Kildare commuter service upon which they were deployed, although they were rebranded in the 2000s to the new [[Commuter (Iarnród Éireann)|Commuter]] livery. They were the very last Iarnród Éireann rolling stock to be shipped with the firm's original ''IR'' logo, though this was replaced with the ''IÉ'' version shortly after the trains entered service.<ref name="tailte">{{cite web|url=https://www.tailtetours.com/post/the-2600-class-the-railcars-that-keep-on-going|title=The 2600 class: the railcars that keep on going|website=Táilte Tours|date=2023-03-06|access-date=2025-02-07}}</ref>

==Deployment==
The 2600 Class trains were initially deployed on the brand new Dublin-Kildare Arrow service, starting on 16 May 1994 (now rebranded [[Dublin Suburban Rail#South Western Commuter|South Western Commuter]]). Although purchased for the new service, which began in 1994, they were also to be seen up until the early 2000s supplementing the locomotive hauled [[Coaching stock of Ireland#Cravens (1963–2006)|"Craven"]] coaching stock on Western Suburban (now [[Dublin Suburban Rail#Western Commuter|Western Commuter]]) services, and occasionally on other lines also. Since the delivery of the [[IÉ 22000 Class]], all 2600 class railcars have been moved to Cork, where they work the [[Cork Suburban Rail]] services. Eight trainsets are formed with two railcars each.<ref name="tailte"></ref>

Due to the odd total number of vehicles, a hybrid set 2609/2716 had been formed. This has been withdrawn with the rest of the [[IE 2700 Class|2700s]] and is now stored in a shed in Cork station. All 2600 Class sets carry the new ''Iarnród Éireann-Irish Rail'' logo and silver InterCity livery since August 2013. 2613/2610 was the last 2600 Class DMU to carry the Commuter livery. Sometimes when these units go to Limerick for servicing, a 2800 Class unit is sent as a replacement. When this happens, the two types of train can operate attached, although this is a rare occurrence.<ref name="tailte"></ref>

The sets 2610/2613 and 2611/2612 and 2607 had their front gangway connections removed in November 2022 and in summer 2023 respectively, similar to the 2800 class units.

In 2024, the units 2601/2602 were repainted in the original Arrow livery to mark the 2600 Class' 30th anniversary. The unit travelled to areas that the 2600 Class used to operate in on 18 and 19 May 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://irrs.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/240518_Booking_Form_Times_Arrow_Railtour.pdf|title=The “Time’s Arrow” Railtour|website=Irish Railway Record Society|date=2024|access-date=2025-02-07}}</ref>

On 5 April 2025, gangway-less 2613/2610 & arrow livered 2601/2602 were both coupled together to operate a special service from Cork Kent to Galway Ceannt and back on the [[Táilte Tours]] "Eyre Lee Byrd" tour.

== Fleet details ==
[[File:D51B 0803.jpg|thumb|2610/13 without gangways, 2611/12 with gangways in Kent Station Cork]]
{| class="wikitable"
!Class
!Operator
!Number
!Year Built
!Cars per Set
!Unit nos.
!Notes
|-
|'''2600 Class'''
|Commuter
|align=center|16 (formerly 17)
|align=center|1993-1994
|align=center|2
|2601/2602 2603/2604 2605/2616 2606/2615<br />2607/2608 2610/2613 2611/2612 2614/2617
|2609 operated as a hybrid 2-car unit with [[IE 2700 and 2750 Classes|2716]] (Now withdrawn)
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons-inline}}

{{Ireland Multiple Units}}

[[Category:Iarnród Éireann multiple units]]
[[Category:Tokyu Car multiple units]]