Mark 4 (Iarnród Éireann)

Iarnród Éireann Mark 4
Mark 4 DVT at Colbert Station, Limerick, 2006
In service	22 May 2006 - present
Manufacturer	CAF
Family name	Mark 4
Constructed	2004 - 2005
Number built	5 trainsets (in operation) 7 trainsets (total)
Formation	7-8-car trainsets
Capacity	422 seated
Operator(s)	InterCity
Specifications
Width	2.85 m (9 ft 4 in)
Height	3.85 m (12 ft 7.5 in)
Maximum speed	201 km/h (125 mph) (Design) 160 km/h (99 mph) (Operational)
Prime mover(s)	Twin MAN 2846 LE 202 (320 kW)
Track gauge	1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) Irish Gauge See Rail gauge in Ireland

The CAF Mark 4 (or MK4 or MKIV) are railway carriages operated by Iarnród Éireann in Ireland on the InterCity service from Dublin to Cork. These carriages have no connection to the British Rail Mark 4.

67 Mark 4 coaches were manufactured in 2004-2005 by CAF and delivered in 2006. The designs for the interior of the carriages and the exterior styling of the DVT were produced for CAF by Design Triangle.

Capable of 10-car operation, each in-service set currently comprises 8 cars:

Seating capacity is 422 (8-car set), the DVT (driving van trailer) is recognised as a carriage and the train is fully accessible to mobility-impaired customers.

The Standard Class carriages have improved passenger seating and leg room. They also have electronic visual and audible passenger information systems, electronic seat reservation displays, CCTV, air conditioning and additional space for luggage. Power points sockets are supplied on all Standard Class coaches. Citygold cars have ergonomic, electronically adjustable seats, adjacent power points, multi-channel ear phone jack sockets and individual overhead lighting.

Main features include:

Key dimensions:

Though capable of 200 km/h (125 mph) operation, this higher speed would require both track & signal system upgrade and the provision of a faster locomotive than the currently used 201 class. A possibility being considered is the replacement of the existing 201 with two power cars, one of which would be converted from the existing Generator Control Car.

Since January 2016, six sets operate the Dublin-Cork route on an enhanced hourly clockface timetable. The Mark 3 carriages, withdrawn in 2009, replaced the older (and tired looking) Mark 2 carriages that previously operated mid-day Limerick, Galway and Waterford routes. The Mark 3s were in turn superseded by a new batch of 183 22000 Class in 2009. The first batch of these was delivered in early March 2007, while the final deliveries took place in 2012.