Latest news with #CorkAreaCommuterRail
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Ambitious rail plans unveiled by Iarnród Éireann for Cork – Plans include eight new train stations
The ambitious plans were unveiled by Iarnród Éireann on Wednesday, June 18. A public consultation has now commenced on Phase 2 of the largest ever investment in Cork rail network as Iarnród Éireann invites people to have their say on the future of rail transport in Cork. Key elements in Phase 2 of the Cork Area Commuter Rail (CACR) Programme include eight new stations for Cork in Blarney/Stoneview, Monard, Blackpool/Kilbarry, Tivoli, Dunkettle, Ballynoe, Carrigtwohill West and Water-Rock, and the electrification of the Cork rail network to support a new electric train fleet, reduce congestion and cut transport carbon emissions. Other parts of the plans include a new depot at Ballyrichard More which will support the maintenance of the new electric fleet and two strategic park and rides at Blarney/Stoneview and Dunkettle which will streamline connections from surrounding areas. More plans in Phase 2 of the CACR Programme includes station upgrades to Mallow, Midleton and Cobh to ensure improved accessibility and provide for expected future capacity increases and better connections supporting more integrated transport options, bus services, cycleways and Cork's future light rail (LUAS). Iarnród Éireann said the plans will help support more frequent, reliable and sustainable rail transport for Cork. 'It's about creating a cleaner, greener, better-connected Cork for the future - supporting communities, cutting emissions, and boosting accessibility across the region. The CACR will deliver a high-frequency, electrified rail system—targeting service every ten minutes - connecting Cork's communities with a fast, sustainable, integrated transport network.' Communities across Cork are invited to give their feedback on the proposed plans. All are encouraged to review the full details for Phase 2, including details on how to contact the team and give feedback, at As well as online feedback, a series of consultation events will be held for those who would like to learn more about the project. They will take place at Kent Station's Travel Centre on Platform 4 on June 24; AY Blarney GAA Clun on June 25; at Blackpool Shopping Centre on June 26; My Place in Midleton on July 2; Cobh Community Centre on July 3, and at Mallow Family Resource Centre on July 9. All of the consultation events will run from 4-8pm There will also be a webinar from 7pm to 8.30pm on July 10. To receive the link to join online email cacr@ Upon completion of this consultation, all submissions will be carefully considered by the programme design team, and these will be used to inform the subsequent design development and the formation of the preferred option. A second phase of public consultation will take place when a preferred option for the project has been identified. Green Party councillor Oliver Moran has welcomed the announcement of a public consultation on the opening of eight new stations for the Cork Commuter Rail Network. "This is where the rubber meets the tarmac for investment in commuter rail in Cork. We're now looking at park and ride on the northside and new stations in Blarney, Blackpool and Dunkettle. That's a quantum leap for public transport for the city.' Cllr Moran added that this is the beginning of a truly integrated mass transit system for the city and the metropolitan area. 'The picture is forming too about is why it's so important that the Cork Luas meets with Kent Station. This is the high-frequency commuter rail in the metropolitan area connecting with high-frequency light rail across the city is the backbone of that."
Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Cork's €1.5bn commuter rail service will have 'multi-generational impact', says project leader
The €1.5bn investment in developing a commuter rail service in Cork will have a 'multi-generational impact' lasting up to a century, the man overseeing the massive project has said. Irish Rail's AJ Cronin, the delivery manager for the Cork Area Commuter Rail (CACR) programme, was speaking as Irish Rail launched a public consultation on the second phase of the programme, which includes proposals for eight new commuter rail stations in the metropolitan region, five of which could be built by 2030. The company has now published detailed maps and a raft of reports linked to Phase 2 and invited feedback on its preferred locations for: the train stations at Blarney/Stoneview, Monard, Blackpool/Kilbarry, Tivoli, Dunkettle, Ballynoe, Carrigtwohill West and Water-Rock; two new park-and-ride facilities on the city's northside, one at the Blarney station near Blarney Business Park, and one at the Blackpool station near Blackpool Shopping Centre; for a new fleet depot near Water-Rock in East Cork; its proposals for the full electrification of the fleet. A second round of consultation will be held before a planning application is made next year. Mr Cronin said Irish Rail wants to fast-track the delivery of the stations, with demand-study reports already justifying the construction of five, which could be built by 2030 pending planning and funding approval. Other stations, including Monard and Ballynoe, are in areas earmarked for thousands of new homes, and will be delivered as the housing is delivered. The CACR is the largest ever investment in the region's rail network and aims to provide high-frequency capacity for trains to run up to every 10 minutes across each of the three commuter lines to Mallow, Midleton, and Cobh – handling up to 16 million passenger journeys a year. Mr Cronin said: The impact of delivering significant rail infrastructure is for 100-plus years. It's multi-generational, and will support long-term growth in the economy and in the city and country region. Work on Phase 1 of CACR involves an estimated €400m investment in the twin-tracking of the line to East Cork and new signalling systems along the three commuter lines, both due for completion next year, and construction of a new through-platform at Kent Station, completed in April. Lord Mayor of Cork, Green Party Cllr Dan Boyle, said new stations at locations like Blackpool and Dunkettle could actually be built by 2028, and said it's a case of build it and they will come. 'It will be used. We have made the start, we are doing more than we've done before, and we can physically see the changes having a benefit, in terms of more train services, more people using public transport,' he said. 'If we don't invest and don't do the work quickly, we are running to stand still. In fact we are running backwards up a hill." Chief executive of Cork City Council, Valerie O'Sullivan, said for every euro the State invests in projects like this in Ireland's second city, 'the country will get it back in spades'. 'This is an exemplar of plan-led development – looking at where our growth is going to be and building for that growth,' she said. 'Cork City won't be a car-focused city in the future. It cannot be, it's just not sustainable as we grow to 335,000 people.' Read More Funding to electrify Cork rail reaches next EU round
Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Irish Rail asks public to have their say on proposals to build eight new train stations in Cork
Irish Rail says it is fast-tracking plans to build eight new commuter train stations in metropolitan Cork, and five could be built by 2030 pending planning and funding approval. The rail company on Wednesday publishes details of the preferred locations for the new stations, for two new park and ride facilities on the city's northside, for a new fleet depot in East Cork, and proposals for the full electrification of the fleet as part of its wider €1bn Cork Area Commuter Rail (CACR) programme. The CACR is the largest ever investment in the region's rail network and aims to provide high-frequency capacity for trains to run every 10 minutes across each of the three commuter lines to Mallow, Midleton and Cobh — handling up to 16 million passenger journeys a year. Wednesday marks a milestone in the programme, as Irish Rail publishes a raft of documents for public consultation on Phase 2 of the CACR, showing the preferred locations for the new stations at Blarney/Stoneview, Monard, Blackpool/Kilbarry, Tivoli, Dunkettle, Ballynoe, Carrigtwohill West and Water Rock. CACR delivery manager AJ Cronin said demand modelling already justified the construction of stations at Blarney/Stoneview, Blackpool/Kilbarry, Dunkettle, Carrigtwohill West and Water Rock. He said Irish Rail hoped to submit a railway procurement order next year, the equivalent of a planning application, for up to five of the stations and have them built by 2030. But he said the company was also considering fast-tracking the delivery of two of the stations even sooner. The stations planned for Monard, Tivoli, and Ballynoe will be built in line with the delivery of extensive residential development proposed in those areas, he added. The documents published on Wednesday also include details on: The preferred location for a new fleet maintenance depot at Ballyrichard More, next to the rail line near Water Rock, which will require land acquisition, with discussions with private landowners already underway; The electrification of the Cork rail network to cut transport carbon emissions; The location of two strategic park and ride facilities, at the Blarney/Stoneview and Dunkettle stations; And station upgrades to Mallow, Midleton and Cobh to ensure improved accessibility, to cater for increased passenger numbers, and to provide better integrated transport options. An estimated €300m has already been invested in the first phase, in the twin-tracking of the commuter line to East Cork, which started last September and is due for completion next year, in the development of new signalling systems along the three commuter lines, also due for completion next year, and in the construction of a new through-platform at Kent Station, officially opened in April. Transport minister Darragh O'Brien said the overall investment would help transform commuter rail services in Cork. 'In addition to areas that already have a train service, such as Cobh, Midleton and Mallow, the project's new stations will bring rail to more communities in the growing suburbs to the north of the city, as well as locations such as Tivoli and Dunkettle to the east,' he said. Minister of state with responsibility for rural transport Jerry Buttimer said it was great to see these proposals going out for public consultation so soon after the opening in April of the through platform at Kent Station. 'Phase 2 will be transformational, offering a major boost in rail access to communities across Cork. This will be a great benefit to the county and I encourage everyone to get involved,' he said. Irish rail chief executive Jim Meade said the overall commuter rail programme would deliver 'a turn up and ride service' for customers. 'Feedback from the community is important to us and will be central to the ongoing design process. I encourage communities around Cork to engage with the consultation process and have your say in shaping this transformative rail programme,' he said. This public consultation is the first of two non-statutory public consultations on the new stations, the depot, and the electrification. Feedback from the public will inform detailed design which will be subject of more consultation before the railway orders are submitted next year. The plans can be viewed here. Read More Funding to electrify Cork rail reaches next EU round
Irish Examiner
16-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Cork commuter rail services suspended for weekend upgrades
Rail services on the busy Cork commuter routes to Cobh and Midleton will be suspended this weekend to facilitate upgrades designed to treble capacity on the routes. All rail services from the city to Cobh and to Midleton on Saturday and Sunday will be cancelled, with limited bus transfers operating instead. The bus transfer service, running to a revised timetable, will operate between Cork and Cobh, and Cork and Midleton, across the weekend, with direct bus transfers between Cork and Fota during Fota Wildlife Park's opening hours of 9am to 6pm on both days. Customers are advised to check times before travel at or on the Iarnród Éireann app. Iarnród Éireann is shutting down the city's commuter rail services for the weekend so that it can carry out major upgrades on the routes as part of the Cork Area Commuter Rail investment programme. Engineers will complete signalling works as part of the investment, which seeks to treble the capacity of the commuter rail network. They will also work on track renewal to facilitate the twin-tracking of the line between Glounthaune and Midleton. The Cork Area Commuter Rail Programme is a series of interrelated projects that will ultimately enable train services every 10 minutes across the Cork rail network. It is funded by the European Union Recovery and Resilience Facility and the National Transport Authority. The recently opened Platform 6 at Kent Station, together with the Glounthaune-to-Midleton twin-track project and Cork area signalling and communications upgrades – both set for completion in 2026 – will deliver the network capacity to support 10-minute frequencies on each of Cork's three commuter lines, to Cobh, Midleton, and Mallow. The upgraded commuter rail network also includes proposals for several new stations, including at Blackpool and Monard, as outlined in the 2010 Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy (CMATS). Read More Bam wins contract to build €456m M28 Cork to Ringaskiddy motorway
