Enterprise (train service)

Enterprise is a joint subsidiary of the Irish railway company Iarnród Éireann and the British railway company Northern Ireland Railways. It operates cross-border trains on the route between Dublin in the Republic of Ireland and Belfast in Northern Ireland.

In use there are four diesel locomotives IE 201 Class, of which two are owned by Iarnród Éireann and Northern Ireland Railways. The cars come from De Dietrich Ferroviaire ( now Alstom ) in France and also include one half of the two railway companies

History

The Enterprise trains ran for the first time on August 11, 1947, were operated by the Railway Company Great Northern Railway. The offer was an attempt to keep up with the air and road transport can. Border controls found in the terminal stations in Dublin Connolly and Belfast Central instead. This made it possible to run the trains without intermediate stops. The test operation was a success. In October 1950, a train service between Belfast and Cork was established, but was unattractive because of the long journey time of six and a half hours and was discontinued in September 1953.

On September 1, took over the Great Northern Railway Board, a joint venture between the Irish and the British government the management of the enterprise features. The Operating Company was disbanded on October 1, 1958, the assets and liabilities were equal parts to the predecessors of today's societies, Córas Iompair Éireann and Ulster Transport Authority, distributed.

Over the years the operation was always marked by long interruptions, particularly during the Northern Ireland conflict, as the cross-border route had to be often closed due to bomb threats. Since the conclusion of the Good Friday Agreement, the operation proceeds, however, virtually trouble free. The quiet has become political situation enabled increased investment, there could be increased thanks to the laying seamlessly welded rails, the top speed to 145 km / h ( 90 mph ).

Route network

The single route of enterprise leads from Belfast with stops in Lisburn, Portadown, Newry, Dundalk and Drogheda to Dublin and back. Between Newry and Dundalk, the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland is crossed.