View source for NIR Class 3000

{{short description|Class of 23 three-car diesel multiple units}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{More citations needed|date=April 2024}}
{{Use Irish English|date=July 2017}}
{{Infobox train
| name = <span style="color:white;">Northern Ireland Railways<br />Class 3000 "C3K"</span>
| background = #0000FF
| image = Seahill (1) (cropped).jpg
| imagesize = 300px
| caption = 3000 Class DMU 3014 at [[Seahill railway station|Seahill]] in 2015
| interiorimage = NIR C3K 3009 interior.jpg
| manufacturer = [[Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles|CAF]]
| family = [[CxK]]
| interiorcaption = Refurbished interior of car 3509 of set 3009
| service = 2005–present
| constructed = 2004–2005
| numberbuilt = 23 sets
| formation = 3-car sets
| fleetnumbers = 3001–3023
| capacity = 201 seated,  280 [[standing passenger]]s
| operator = [[NI Railways]]
| maxspeed = {{convert|90|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}}
| engine = [[MAN B&W Diesel|MAN D2876 LUH03]]
| weight = 
| brakes = 
| safety = [[Automatic Warning System#British Rail AWS|AWS]], [[Train Protection & Warning System|TPWS]], [[Continuous Automatic Warning System|CAWS]] (3001-3006)
| gauge = {{track gauge|1600mm|lk=on}}
}}
The '''3000 Class''' (C3K class) is a class of [[diesel multiple unit]] in service with [[NI Railways]].

== History ==
At the beginning of the 21st century, the majority of rail services in [[Northern Ireland]] continued to be operated using [[NIR Class 80|Class 80]] DEMUs, which had been in service since the mid-1970s, and were becoming increasingly harder to maintain. NIR had not procured new rolling stock since 1994, when, in conjunction with [[Iarnród Éireann]], it purchased locomotives and coaches for the [[Enterprise (train service)|Enterprise]] service.

As part of a major investment programme in the railways in Northern Ireland, [[NI Railways]] placed an order totalling £80 million, the largest single investment in rolling stock ever made by NIR, with [[Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles|CAF]] for 23 3-car DMUs in 2002.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/1829446.stm New trains to boost rail network] BBC News</ref>

The new trains entered service in 2004 and 2005, gradually replacing most of the existing 80 Class units  on the network (the main exception being services between [[Belfast]] and [[Larne]], which were still provided by the [[NIR Class 450|Class 450]] DMUs). The trains are capable of speeds of up to 145&nbsp;km/h (90&nbsp;mph), with 201 seats. (including 15 on tip-up seats) and have standing room for 280 passengers crush laden.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.caf.net/ingles/productos/proyecto.php?cod=3&id=496&sec=prest&pais=21 |title=CAF |access-date=25 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718024805/http://www.caf.net/ingles/productos/proyecto.php?cod=3&id=496&sec=prest&pais=21 |archive-date=18 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The sets are numbered 3001-3023. All vehicles are powered. The individual cars are 3301 to 3323, 3501 to 3523 and 3401 to 3423. The end vehicles on each unit have cabs. 3001 is formed 3301-3501-3401 up to 3023 being formed 3323-3523-3423.

The first six units (3001-3006) are fitted with [[Continuous Automatic Warning System|CAWS]] and communication equipment compatible with the rail network in the [[Republic of Ireland]]. This enables these units to be used as required on cross-border services.

== Accidents and incidents ==
*On Thursday 2 August 2007, unit 3014 hit a tractor, killing the tractor driver, and severely damaging the front of the train (3414).

*On Thursday 4 February 2016, two 3000 Class units formed a train that struck an excavator bucket on the line at Knockmore Junction, [[County Antrim]] whilst travelling at {{convert|60|mph|km/h}}. The leading vehicle (3413) was severely damaged and a passenger was injured. The unit 3013 was returned to revenue service in November 2018.<ref name=Knockmore>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/collision-at-knockmore-junction |title=Collision at Knockmore Junction |publisher=Rail Accident Investigation Branch |accessdate=12 February 2015}}</ref>

*On Friday 9 August 2019, No. 3019 hit a tree just south of Antrim, damaging the front of the train (3419).

*On Wednesday 18 December 2019, No. 3006 hit a tree near Mossley West, severely damaging the leading vehicle, 3406.

*On Tuesday 14 May 2024, No. 3008 hit a tree on a Derry~Londonderry service.

== Refurbishment ==
{{Unreferenced section|date=April 2024}}

Phase 1 of the refurbishment programme was begun during the financial year 2009/10 and cost an estimated £1.2 million. At the time, the trains were approximately 5–6 years old.  By the time this was completed, the 20 new [[NIR Class 4000|Class 4000]] units were already coming into service. The refurbishment involved re-liverying the trains in the refreshed corporate branding. NI Railways has also started to refurbish its 3000 Class in November 2018, and is scheduled to refurbish all the twenty-three 3000's. The refurbishment program is expected to run until 2021.{{Needsupdate|date=April 2024}}

== Fleet details ==
[[File:Side view of 3006.jpg|alt=A side view of 3006 ('trainbow' livery) whilst departing from Belfast Lanyon Place railway station.|thumb|3006 and 3021 were painted into '[[trainbow]]' liveries in 2020.]]
{| class="wikitable"
! Class
! Operator
! No. Built
! Year Built
! Cars per Set
! Unit nos.
! Notes
|-
| rowspan="2" |  '''3000 Class'''
| rowspan="2" | NI Railways
| style="text-align:center" | 6
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center" | 2004-2005
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center" | 3
| 3001 - 3006
| Fitted with [[Continuous Automatic Warning System|CAWS]] for use on [[Iarnród Éireann|IÉ]]
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 17
| 3007 - 3023
|
|}

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Lisburn railway station in 2007.jpg|3011 pulls out of Lisburn on a Bangor service in 2007
File:Belfast Great Victoria Street.jpg|Two 3000 Class units stand at Belfast Great Victoria Street both for Larne and Portadown in 2011
File:The 12 - 52 to Londonderry leaves Yorkgate station - geograph.org.uk - 2359652.jpg|The 12.52 to Derry~Londonderry leaves [[Yorkgate railway station]] on a Whitehead Bound service in 2006
File:NIR C3k no. 3001.jpg|alt=NIR C3k no. 3001 waiting at Bangor station as the sun rises.|3001 at Bangor railway station in 2021
</gallery>

== References ==
{{Commons category|NIR Class 3000}}
{{reflist}}
{{CAF CxK}}
{{Ireland Multiple Units}}

[[Category:Northern Ireland Railways multiple units|3000]]
[[Category:CAF multiple units]]
[[Category:Railcars of Northern Ireland]]