A division of the ESB confirmed yesterday that it had lost a contract to supply power to the DART rail system in Dublin.

The €3 million electricity contract, which was formerly held by ESB Independent Energy, was won by Energia, a subsidiary of the Northern Ireland-based firm Viridian. Energia generates electricity at a plant in Huntstown, outside Dublin.

An ESB spokesman confirmed the firm had lost the DART contract but said it had picked up new CIE contracts which would mean it would not lose any revenue.