#2966
Irish AEC railcars
Northern Ireland ·built by Associated Equipment Company· from 1950· class of Irish railcars
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2 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences
- 1. Train at Connolly Station - (13): The Carlisle Kid· CC BY-SA 2.0
- 2. CIE's last AEC set at Howth station: TheTurfBurner· CC BY-SA 2.0
what is it?
The Irish AEC railcars were Associated Equipment Company (AEC)–engined diesel multiple units (normally termed railcars in Ireland) that operated InterCity and suburban services on the Irish railway system between 1950 and 1975. Many CIÉ examples were later converted for push–pull operation with diesel locomotives, finally being withdrawn when displaced by the electric Dublin Area Rapid Transit service in the mid-1980s.
who runs it
base stats
Bars compare against all trains: 600 km/h (maglev), 1,700 seats; power, weight and number built on a log scale up to 20 MW, 1,000 t and 20,000 built.
fun facts
- First built 76 years ago, in 1950.
- 18.9 m long: about 4 cars parked nose to tail.
- Served for 37 years (1950–1987).
multiple unit: A self-propelled train: motors are spread under the passenger cars, so no separate locomotive.
spec sheet
- built
- 1950
- in service from
- 1950
- retired
- 1987
- status
- retired
- number built
- 85
- kind
- multiple unit
- traction
- diesel
- origin
- Northern Ireland
- builders
- Associated Equipment Company, Park Royal Vehicles, Córas Iompair Éireann, Inchicore Works
- operators
- Great Northern Railway (Ireland), Ulster Transport Authority, NI Railways, Córas Iompair Éireann
- top speed
- 120 km/h
- power
- 186 kW
- gauge
- 1,600 mm Irish broad gauge
- wheel arrangement
- 1A′A1′
- formation
- 2–8 cars (maximum 4 power cars)
- length
- 18.9 m
- capacity
- 91 passengers
From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.
Sources: Wikidata Q134580874, Wikipedia: Irish AEC railcars (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.