View source for IÉ 29000 Class

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox DMU
| name = Iarnród Éireann 29000 Class
| image = Dublin 1.jpg
| caption = 29409 departing from platform 4 at [[Dublin Connolly railway station|Dublin Connolly]] in July 2016
| interiorimage = Inside Carriage Of Train Serving Maynooth.jpg
| background = #6CE08F
| imagesize = 300px
| family = [[CxK]]
| manufacturer = [[Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles|CAF]]
| formation = 4 cars per trainset
| fleetnumbers = 29001–29029
| numberbuilt = 29 trainsets
| interiorcaption = Interior
| stocktype = 
| service = 30 June 2003 – present
| yearconstruction = 2002 – 2005
| weight = {{convert|43520|kg|t|abbr=on}}
| capacity = 185 seated<br />634 standing
| maxspeed = 120 km/h (75 mph)
| gauge = {{RailGauge|1600mm|lk=on}} <br />see [[Rail gauge in Ireland]]
| trainlength = {{convert|81.46|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| width = {{convert|2.9|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| height = {{convert|3.985|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| brakes = [[Railway air brake|Air]], 2 [[Railway disc brake|brake discs]] per [[axle]]
| engine = [[MAN SE|MAN D 2876 LUH01, 400 hp]]
| operator = [[Commuter (Iarnród Éireann)|Commuter]]
| depots = Drogheda Depot
| lines = Dublin - Rosslare<br />Dundalk Clarke - Dublin<br />Dublin – Longford|
}}

The '''29000 Class''' is a type of four-car [[Diesel Multiple Unit]] operated by [[Iarnród Éireann|Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail)]]. The units were built in [[Spain]] by [[Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles|CAF]] in two batches between 2002 and 2005.

==Description==
{{Unreferenced section|date=April 2024}}[[File:IE 29000 Class Drivers Cabin.jpg|250px|The cab of a 29000 Class unit|alt=The Drivers Cabin of a 29000 Class unit|thumb]]

Each set comprises two driving end cars (DM1 and DM2) and two intermediate cars (MDT and MT) They are capable of operation as two sets of their own class or in formations of up to 10 cars with either 2600 Class or 2800 Class DMUs. Each car is fitted with a {{Cvt|294|kW}} [[MAN SE|MAN]] traction engine and a [[Cummins]] generator engine, both mounted underfloor. Each 4-car set is {{convert|81.46|m|ftin|1|abbr=on}} long, {{convert|3.985|m|ftin|abbr=on}} high and {{convert|2.9|m|ftin|1|abbr=on}} wide. They have a maximum permitted speed of {{Cvt|120|km/h}}. Passenger capacity is 185 seated and 634 standing.

The original delivery of twenty sets were numbered 2901-2980. However, when the 2005 batch were ordered, making a total of 116 vehicles, the existing sets were renumbered so that all vehicles would begin with 29: for example, the first set,  which had vehicles 2901-2904 was renumbered 29101, 29201, 29301 and 29401; set 2905-2908 was renumbered 29102, 29202, 29302, and 29402.

This also avoided conflict with the existing numbering system of the [[NIR 3000 Class]]. The 2005 batch of nine sets were numbered 29x21-29x29 from new.

The railcars were the first to be shipped with the new [[Commuter (Iarnród Éireann)|Commuter]]  branding rather than the "Arrow" branding  previously  used, and as such were the first Iarnród Éireann rolling stock (other than [[Dublin Area Rapid Transit|DART]] EMUs and [[Enterprise (train service)|Enterprise]] stock) not to feature the company's traditional orange and black livery, which was phased out from passenger service in 2006. The Commuter brand was also extended to the [[IE 2600 Class|2600]], [[IE 2700 and 2750 Classes|2700]] and [[IE 2800 Class|2800]] Class railcars. It has since been replaced by the InterCity livery on these DMUs.

In 2014, a new all-over two-tone green livery nicknamed "Green Goddess" was introduced for the class. This was applied to all vehicles by September 2022.{{fact|date=March 2025}}

==Deployment==
{{Unreferenced section|date=April 2024}}[[Image:29420 Ireland.png|right|thumb|250px|29420 on a Western Commuter service in 2005]]
[[Image: 29129 Drumcondra 2008-02-03.jpg|right|thumb|250px|29129 departing Drumcondra in February 2008]] 
For a brief period of time from June 2005 to December 2006, a 29000 railcar operated two journeys on a Sunday to Belfast, departing Dublin Connolly at 15.00 and calling at Drogheda MacBride, Dundalk Clarke, Newry, Portadown, Botanic and Belfast Central (now [[Lanyon Place railway station|Belfast Lanyon Place]]) arriving at 17.14 departing at 18.15 for Dublin. They work most [[Dublin Suburban Rail|Northern Commuter, South Eastern Commuter and Western Commuter]] services. They have proven to be a very reliable unit despite operating a variety of demanding services including [[Connolly station|Dublin]] - [[Sligo Mac Diarmada railway station|Sligo]] services. They were largely returned to their intended [[Commuter (Iarnród Éireann)|Commuter]] services since deliveries of [[IE 22000 Class|22000 Class]] [[Diesel multiple unit|DMUs]] commenced in 2007, which displaced them from [[Dublin–Sligo railway line|Sligo line]] workings in 2008, though there are still a few services to and from [[Rosslare Europort railway station|Rosslare Europort]] with the 29000 Class DMUs. However, they remained in their "Commuter" livery when working this long-distance line.

The November 2009 timetable change finally saw the end of the 29000s running West of Dublin from [[Heuston railway station|Heuston]] to [[Newbridge railway station (Ireland)|Newbridge]]/[[Kildare railway station|Kildare]] and [[Carlow railway station|Carlow]]. The services have been operated by [[IE 22000 Class|22000 Class]] [[Diesel multiple unit|DMUs]] since 2009.

== Fleet details ==
{{Unreferenced section|date=April 2024}}
{| class="wikitable"
!Class
!Operator
!Number
!Year Built
!Cars per Set
!Unit nos.
!Notes
|-
|rowspan=2|'''29000 Class'''
|rowspan=2|Commuter
|align=center|20
|align=center|2002–2003
|rowspan=2 align=center|4
|29001 – 29020
|
|-
|align=center|9
|align=center|2005
|29021 – 29029
|29022 fitted with in-cab signalling
|}
==Routes==
{{Unreferenced section|date=April 2024}}

===Current services===
====[[InterCity (Iarnród Éireann)|InterCity]]====
*[[Connolly station|Dublin Connolly]] to [[Rosslare Europort railway station|Rosslare Europort]] 

====[[Commuter (Iarnród Éireann)|Commuter]]====
*[[Grand Canal Dock railway station|Grand Canal Dock]]/[[Connolly station|Dublin Connolly]]/[[Docklands railway station|Docklands]] to [[M3 Parkway railway station|M3 Parkway]]/[[Maynooth railway station|Maynooth]]/[[Longford railway station|Longford]] (Western Commuter)
*[[Grand Canal Dock railway station|Grand Canal Dock]]/[[Connolly station|Dublin Connolly]] to [[Drogheda railway station|Drogheda MacBride]]/[[Dundalk railway station|Dundalk Clarke]] (Northern Commuter)
In addition, these trains occasionally operate services from [[Connolly station|Dublin Connolly]] to [[Belfast Grand Central station|Belfast Grand Central]] and [[Sligo Mac Diarmada railway station|Sligo MacDiarmada]].

===Former services===

====InterCity====
*[[Connolly station|Dublin Connolly]] to [[Sligo Mac Diarmada railway station|Sligo Mac Diarmada]]
====Commuter====
*[[Heuston railway station|Dublin Heuston]] to [[Newbridge railway station (Ireland)|Newbridge]]/[[Kildare railway station|Kildare]]

== In popular culture ==
A 29000 Class unit features in the intro to [[RTÉ]]’s [[Fair City]].<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=4DUCjqziinK0-d5N&v=QH42QEy6Ktw&feature=youtu.be |title=Fair City (3rd January 2021) |date=2021-06-06 |last=carrigstown89 |access-date=2024-12-06 |via=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiMRMSz6XqA |title=Fair City Titles 2008 |date=2010-12-24 |last=faircityfan |access-date=2024-12-06 |via=YouTube}}</ref>

==Accidents and incidents==
*On Friday, 21st August 2009, at 6:30 pm a 20m section of the Malahide viaduct collapsed into the Broadmeadow estuary, seconds before a Balbriggan to Dublin Pearce 29000 commuter ran over the section soon to fall into the estuary. More info on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadmeadow_Viaduct#cite_note-bt-3. <ref>McCreary, Matthew (24 August 2009). "Collapse of Belfast-Dublin line will affect thousands of commuters". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 26 August 2009.</ref> 
*On Monday,16 November 2009, unit 29026 was derailed near {{rws|Wicklow}} when it collided with a landslip obstructing the line.<ref name=Wicklow>{{cite web |url=http://www.raiu.ie/download/pdf/accident_wicklow.pdf |title=Investigation Report 2010-R006 |publisher=Rail Accident Investigation Unit |location=Dublin |date=15 November 2010 |access-date=17 May 2014}}</ref>
*On Tuesday, 7 June 2016, one unidentified unit caught fire whilst operating the 09:40 Drogheda to Dublin Pearse service.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/commuters-evacuated-from-train-after-engine-catches-fire-738809.html|title = Latest: Investigation launched after train after engine catches fire|date = 7 June 2016}}</ref>

*On Friday, 14 May 2021 an unidentified unit caught fire while working a train from Maynooth to Dublin Connolly.

*On Saturday, 29 April 2023, unit 29013 was involved in an incident while working the 13.20 Dublin to Belfast Enterprise service.

*On Friday, 9 August 2024, an unidentified unit caught fire at Broombridge on a Connolly to Maynooth train.

==See also==
*[[Multiple Units of Ireland]]
*[[NIR 3000 Class]]
*[[NIR Class 4000|NIR 4000 Class]]
*[[IÉ 22000 Class|IÉ Class 22000]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|IÉ 29000 Class}}
*[http://www.irishrail.ie/about-us/commuter Irish Rail Fleet Information website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928235307/http://www.irishrail.ie/about-us/services/commuter-fleet |date=2018-09-28 }}
{{CAF CxK}}
{{Ireland Multiple Units}}

[[Category:Iarnród Éireann multiple units]]
[[Category:Train-related introductions in 2002]]
[[Category:CAF multiple units]]