Funding to electrify Cork rail reaches next EU round

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

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. Picture: Larry Cummins

The electrification of Cork's commuter rail service is amongst key investments in the Irish recovery and resilience plan included in the second payment request for €115.5m under the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility.

The European Commission endorsed a positive preliminary assessment of Ireland's second payment request under the facility, the centrepiece of NextGenerationEU.