A €700 MILLION cross-border investment deal will deliver a more reliable and comfortable rail service between Belfast and Dublin, operators have said.

The plan, which will see the delivery of eight new intercity Stadler trains by late 2028, was unveiled at a signing ceremony at Belfast Grand Central Station on Thursday.

Translink said it will “deliver a major step change in comfort and customer experience”, with trains due to enter passenger service after a period of testing and commissioning in 2030.

There will be up to 16 services per direction daily with a target express journey time of under two hours, due to increased acceleration and performance.

Artists impression of the new the Belfast-Dublin Enterprise train fleet Translink / PA Translink / PA / PA

With around 400 seats, the trains’ features include step-free interiors and unaided boarding on exterior doors, enhanced customer facilities like USB charging points and power sockets, and a spacious dining and bar area.

Translink said the tri-mode capability of the trains – capable of operating on electric, diesel and battery power – will reduce emissions, enable quieter journeys and ensure “seamless operation” as the Belfast–Dublin line transitions towards “full electrification”.

The improvement to the rail service is jointly funded by the Northern Ireland Executive and the Irish government, and includes €165 million in funding.

Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien and Northern Ireland’s Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins formally signed the contract with Swiss manufacturer Stadler on Thursday.

Asked if the cross-border benefits demonstrated an “economic united Ireland”, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: “I think what it illustrates, basically, is the need for connectivity between all peoples on the island – I’ve always believed that unity is about people fundamentally.”

He added: “Train services in themselves don’t create a constitutional framework.”

Martin also told the ceremony there will be additional investment in Northern Ireland’s rail network through the Shared Island Fund “to be announced shortly”.