The Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, yesterday announced the largest fleet investment in the history of Iarnrod Éireann.
The investment of €117 million will provide 67 new carriages for the company's inter-city services - although they won't enter service until autumn 2005.
The air-conditioned carriages will be deployment on all regular Dublin to Cork services, as well as key Limerick and Galway routes.
More than half the company's current fleet is over 30 years old and the company is hoping yesterday's announcement will be followed by further commitments to fleet replacement.
It is hoped to have new, high-specification railcars available for remaining lines by 2007 at the latest, according to a company spokesman.
Yesterday's announcement puts the company ahead of its National Development Plan target, which foresaw just 20 new inter-city railcars.
The new carriages, which have been ordered from Spain, are to be the first new inter-city carriages at Iarnrod Éireann for 20 years, with the exception of the Dublin to Belfast Enterprise service.
They will offer Enterpriselevels of comfort and customer facilities, with adjustable seating, in-seat radio and music, a reading light and table lamps in first-class, and they will be formed into nine-carriage trains comprising six standard-class and three first-class carriages.
There will be seating for 499 passengers and trains will be fully accessible to mobility impaired customers.
An order for 40 new Dart carriages, in addition to the 38 new carriages which have entered service over the last 30 months, is expected to be confirmed in the coming weeks.
This will complete the process of doubling the size of the Dart fleet.
Some 47 new diesel railcars for suburban services have also entered service since 1999.
Since 1999 Iarnrod Éireann has renewed 325 miles of track, replaced 200 bridges, extended the Dart to Greystones and to Malahide and build new stations at Clontarf Road; Grand Canal Dock; Drumcondra and Monsterevin.
It has also doubled the track to Maynooth.
Ongoing investment includes 80 new diesel railcars and the redevelopment of Heuston Station - both due for completion in 2003.
