All aboard Cork road train set to boost tourism

All aboard! A tourist train is set to roll through Cork city within weeks.

City councillors will be asked this evening to sanction an initial €70,000 investment. Pending the City Hall decision, road tests could get under way by the end of November as part of a licensing requirement with the city council and gardaí.

Damien O’Mahony of the city council’s tourism promotion unit, said tourist trains are a proven concept in other towns such as Clonakilty and Kilkenny, and will add to Cork’s tourism product.

“It’s a different service to the hop-on hop-off bus service,” he said. “There is a lot for visitors to see — from the range and mix of architecture, to the various visitor attractions such as the English Market, Elizabeth Fort and the city Gaol, and we think it will work well here.”

The terminus will be located on South Mall and charges have yet to be agreed and while a draft initial route has been prepared, it has yet to be signed off. There are hopes to develop up to two other routes.

The train will operate from 10am to 4pm and 7pm to 10pm daily during peak tourist season, and at times to be agreed in the off season.

Under the terms of the deal to be presented to councillors this evening, they will be asked to sanction a €70,000 investment to buy a locomotive as part of a venture with Pat Flynn from Ovens in Co Cork, who pitched the idea as part of a start-up business.

The locomotive will then be leased to Mr Flynn at a nominal rate, not to exceed €100. Mr Flynn will buy the first passenger carriage, with the city buying a second carriage, if required, and leasing that to Mr Flynn at a nominal rate of not over €100. Mr Flynn will be responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the unit, with the lease being reviewed every three years.

After six years, the council will estimate the value of the units bought by them and may consider transferring ownership to Mr Flynn.

“In the event of the operator ceasing operations, for whatever reason, the city council has the right to acquire the second carriage at market value and to assume responsibility for the operation of the service,” the report says.

Pending road tests, the service will be subject to licences which will reviewed every October by the council and the gardaí.