Fitted with MTU 6H 1800 R86 engines, including a 375kW diesel engine and a 150kW electrical machine, the powerpacks comply with EU Stage V emissions standards.

The deal follows an initial order for 13 of the packs from IE and British rolling stock leasing company Porterbrook, which was signed in April 2019.

Delivery will begin in 2021 with the packs installed on class 22000 inter-citytrains, which will re-enter service from late 2022. At a later date, Rolls-Royce could equip the powerpacks with batteries, turning them into fully-fledged MTU Hybrid PowerPacks.

The partnership between Rolls-Royce and IÉ currently includes refurbishing the class 22000 fleet with new transmissions and testing both conventional EU Stage V and hybrid traction systems from 2021. IÉ also plans to introduce further MTU Hybrid powerpacks in service in future.

“Reducing our exhaust emissions is a key part of our commitment to sustainability and to the strategic ‘Ireland 2040’ project, and with Rolls-Royce we have the right traction partner on board to help us do that,” says IÉ chief mechanical engineer, Mr Peter Smyth.

“We are delighted to be playing this pioneering role with our strategic partner IÉ in shaping the future of environmentally friendly rail transport,” says Mr Jürgen Blassmann, Head of Rail Business at Rolls-Royce business unit Power Systems. “Following conversion to MTU Hybrid powerpacks, IÉ will use these drive systems to make fuel savings of over 30%, depending on the route, while also reducing CO2 emissions by the same amount.”