The coaches were originally built under license from BREL during 1984-1989 at Derby and Inchicore and remained in service till 2009. In 2014, 10 MK3 coaches and a MK3 Generator Van was bought from Iarnród Éireann by Belmond, the luxury hotel company for a new luxury train service, The Grand Hibernia. The Belmond also owns the Royal Scotsman, the British Pullman and the Venice-Simplon Orient Express. 9 of the coaches were refurbished and painted in a royal blue livery in Scotland and interiors fitted in County Antrim. The 10th coach was to be used for spare parts. In 2016, the Belmond Grand Hibernia started, serving Dublin, Waterford, Cork, Kilarney, Galway and Belfast. In 2017, the Belmond went to Gorey instead of Belfast due to engineering works. It last operated in 2019 but due to the break out of Covid-19 and a severe lack of tourists, particularly from America, Belmond has decided to end the Grand Hibernia with the intention of moving its coaching stock to mainland Europe for further use. Typical formation: 201 Class No.216, EGV CARLOW, DONEGAL, FERMANAGH, LEITRIM, WATERFORD, DOWN, KERRY, SLIGO, WEXFORD, KILDARE.