The Córas Iompair Éireann071 Class, and the identical Northern Ireland Railways111 Class, locomotives were the principal passenger locomotives on the Irish railway network for twenty years from their introduction in the late 1970s. They displaced the older CIE 001 Class and NIR 101 Class locomotives from these duties, which included the Enterprise service between Dublin and Belfast, and were themselves replaced by the new 201 Class locomotives.
Currently all the CIE locomotives remain in service, although now working second-tier passenger duties, being joined by NIR 112, on long term loan from NIR since April 2003. NIR locomotives 111 & 113 (now renumbered 8113) are currently out of service.
As of late 2006, IE began an overhaul programme of 12 units only, leaving the fate of the remaining locos in some doubt.
NIR 111 and 112 were initially fitted by NIR to provide head end power to coaching stock, however this capability was later removed.
Locomotive Names
One of the IE locomotives has been named, while all three of the NIR locomotives were named after former railway companies that used to operate in Northern Ireland. Details are as follows:
No.
Name
082
Cumann Na nInnealtoiri / The Institution Of Engineers Of Ireland
