Iarnród Éireann this week introduces more 2-carriage DARTs to its suburban rail network in a bid to save €3.2 million in fuel and maintenance costs annually. 

The smaller trains will run from the mid-morning to mid-afternoon and after 7pm while continuing to arrive and depart at the same frequency. 

Irish Rail said that 65% of its customers travel in the four hour morning and evening peaks while just 35% travel during the remaining 14 hours of service, something the service changes hope to reflect.

It also said that despite the alterations, capacity would be increased at off-peak times during major sporting events or at other times of high demand.

The measures are the latest in an effort to reduce energy consumption, which has fallen by more than a third since 2007.