Delivery of high-frequency rail service 'transformational' for Cork
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The delivery of a high-frequency commuter rail service will be as transformational for Cork as the Dart has been for Dublin.
That’s the view of Iarnród Éireann's AJ Cronin, the delivery manager of the long-awaited Cork Commuter Rail Project (CCRP), who from his office on Cork's north docks is overseeing the largest investment ever in heavy rail in the region.
He leads a team of 24 Irish Rail staff, co-located in the same building with the NTA's first regional office outside Dublin, and with other key transport consultants, who are working to transform the public transport offering in the Cork metropolitan area.
"Everything that you would want lined up has lined up for Cork. Now we have a huge opportunity of delivering it," he said.
“CCRP will meet and deliver the vision that was set out in the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Study [CMATS] which provides for a 10-minute frequency on the three routes from Mallow to Cork, to Cobh and Midleton — with effectively a ‘turn-up-and-go' service from Glounthaune to Cork.
He was speaking ahead of the official announcement today of the awarding of the latest contract in the next phase of delivery of the CCRP.
The CCRP has been divided into seven ‘work packages’ with work on three well under way, representing an investment of around €300m, to facilitate more trains on the network.
- Work package one is the construction of a through platform at Kent Station to facilitate the through-running of trains from Mallow to Cobh and Midleton and vice versa. Work is due to be finished by the end of this year;
- Work package two is a €180m investment in upgrading the signalling and communications infrastructure. Civil works started last February, with a completion date at the end of 2026;
- Work package three involves the twin-tracking of the Glounthaune to Midleton section — an investment of around €90m. The city to Midleton route is 10km, with single track on 6.7km. Double tracking the entire length will help provide the 10-minute frequency.
The railway order for this work was granted by An Bord Pleanála in October 2023, less than a year after the application. It was the first railway order granted in more than a decade.
A contract for the work is due to be awarded next month, and the work completed by the end of 2026.
What is being announced today has been hailed as a major milestone in the delivery of the CCRP because it includes the long-awaited commuter rail stations and a depot to store the vast new rail fleet.
It bundles ‘work packages’ four, five, and six together, in a single contract worth some €50m.
Work package four relates to the new stations, and upgrades to the existing stations.
Up to five will be delivered as soon as possible, including those at Blackpool/Kilbarry, at Carrigtwohill East, and Water Rock, with others such as Monard and Ballynoe coming later, in line with housing development.
“We will progress the stations as the demand requires and that will be driven by the city and county development plans,” Mr Cronin said.
Blarney will get a significant park-and-ride and terminal station, to support proposed housing at Stoneview and Ringwood, with a third platform, a passing loop, and charging infrastructure required, some 9km from the city and 24km from Mallow station. It will also tie into the M20 Cork to Limerick motorway project.
Another new park-and-ride train station is proposed for Irish Rail’s former freight site at North Esk near Dunkettle.
Work package five provides for a new fleet depot to cater for at least two thirds of the new electrified fleet of some 150 vehicles, with six potential sites under consideration.
Work package six consists of the electrification of the commuter rail network.
The final works package, number seven, is the new rolling stock — key to delivering the service on the ground.
“Our existing fleet on the commuter network arrived in 1994. But today, that fleet is maxed, it's a life-expired fleet. We have sweated the asset as best we can,” Mr Cronin said.
Irish Rail has an existing fleet framework order of 750 vehicles in place with train-maker Alstom, and the company will use this agreement to order X'Trapolis trains for the CCRP fleet.