連接愛爾蘭首都都柏林和英國北愛爾蘭首府貝爾法斯特之間的鐵路服務，將會在後年升級。來往兩地的交通時間將會縮短至兩小時以內。

到2028年底，連接兩地的「奮進號」列車（Enterprise）引進八列全新的施泰德（Stadler）城際列車，屆時兩地每日將可運行多達16趟列車。

有關計畫星期四在貝爾法斯特中央車站舉行的儀式上正式公佈，投資近七億歐元。

愛爾蘭總理馬丁和北愛爾蘭首席部長奧尼爾出席了儀式。

目前，都柏林和貝爾法斯特之間的旅程全長180公里，途經德羅赫達、鄧多克、紐里和波塔當，全程耗時約兩小時15分。

新的目標是透過提升列車的性能和加速能力，將旅程時間縮短至兩小時以內。

始於1947年的「奮進號」列車服務，最初是一條蒸汽火車線路。自2024年底開通每小時一班的班次以來，其客運量增加了約四成。

新列車由北愛爾蘭鐵路（Translink）和愛爾蘭鐵路公司（Iarnród Éireann）共同運營，採用三模式系統，可使用電力、柴油和電池動力。

兩家公司表示，這將使旅程更加安靜，減少排放，並有助於該線路向「全面電氣化」過渡。

新列車還將配備約四百個座位、USB充電接口、餐飲區和酒吧，並採用無障礙內飾，以提高乘客的出行便利性。

愛爾蘭政府和北愛爾蘭行政機構共同出資6.98億歐元，其中1.65億歐元來自「和平+」（PeacePlus）計劃，該計劃由英國政府和歐盟共同參與。

在啟動儀式上，愛爾蘭總理馬丁表示，新協議「標誌著愛爾蘭島跨境鐵路連接開啟了重要的新篇章」，並將創造就業機會，同時讓兩座城市之間的出行更加便捷。

馬丁也確認，很快就會透過「共享島嶼基金」宣布對北愛爾蘭鐵路網作更多投資，「具體細節將很快公佈」。

（歐洲新聞網）

The plans were unveiled this week during a ceremony at Belfast Grand Central station, attended by Ireland’s Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill.

At present, the journey between Dublin and Belfast covers 180km and takes up to two and a quarter hours with stops in Drogheda, Dundalk, Newry and Portadown.

Operated jointly by Translink and Iarnród Éireann, the new trains will operate on a tri-mode system, capable of utilising electric, diesel and battery power.

The companies say this will enable quieter journeys, reduce emissions, and help the transition on the line towards “full electrification”.

The new trains will also have around 400 seats, USB charging points, a dining and bar area, and will be launched with step-free interiors to improve accessibility.

The Irish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive are jointly funding the €698 million investment, with €165 million of that figure funded through PeacePlus, an initiative which also involves the UK government and European Union.

Speaking at the launch event, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that the new deal “heralds a significant new chapter for cross-border rail connectivity on the island of Ireland”, and will create jobs as well as easier journeys between the two cities.

Martin also confirmed there will soon be more investment announced in Northern Ireland’s rail network, via the Shared Island Fund, “to be announced shortly”.