Ireland awards a EUR 140 million contract for the maintenance of railway rolling stock

Irish Rail (Iarnród Éireann) has awarded Rhomberg Sersa Rail Group Ireland a contract worth over 140 million EUR for the operation and maintenance of the fleet of railway machinery used to maintain the railway infrastructure. The agreement has an initial term of eight years, with the option to extend for a further two years.The contract was awarded following a competitive tender process, launched in February 2025, in which several international companies and consortia took part.The agreement covers the maintenance of a fleet of 19 specialised railway machines, known as On Track Machines (OTM). These are essential for keeping the infrastructure in optimal condition and carry out tasks such as track drilling, ballast cleaning and levelling.Infrastructure maintenance, essential for traffic safetyIrish Rail, in partnership with Rhomberg Sersa, has succeeded in innovating its track maintenance operations, reusing 400,000 tonnes of ballast over the last five years. Furthermore, the railway company has converted its entire fleet of railway machinery to vehicles running on HVO fuel.Ireland’s railway network is over a century old, which means that ongoing maintenance work is essential for traffic safety and ensuring trains run to schedule.The Rhomberg Sersa team involved in these activities comprises 70 employees. The work is carried out mainly at night and at weekends to minimise disruption to passengers.In 2019, Rhomberg Sersa was awarded a five-year contract to operate and maintain the 14 railway vehicles owned by Irish Rail at that time. The operator subsequently exercised the option to extend the contract by two years, until 2026.