Residents fear commuter rail link unlikely to meet deadline

THERE are increasing concerns that the East Cork commuter rail project is way behind schedule.

Business representatives in the region are to meet local authority and Iarnród Éireann officials to try to get a definitive answer on the project’s schedule.

Iarnród Éireann officials repeatedly said, at a four-day oral hearing into the project last October, that the €138 million line would be reopened by July 2008.

However, the failure of Minister for Transport, Martin Cullen, to sign the Railway Order, which would allow work commence, has led to the belief that the stated scheduled date cannot be met.

Donal Kelleher, chairman of the Cork Regional Chambers of Commerce and president of Midleton chamber, said yesterday that both organisations were very concerned.

“The chambers will be meeting with Iarnród Éireann officials next week and we’re hoping to get a definitive date for the start of the service from them. Time is of the essence because July 2008 is fast approaching. We now hear it may be the end of 2008,” Mr Kelleher said.

He also said that he would be seeking a meeting with Cork County Council officials over concerns that a vital piece of road infrastructure won’t be in place for the opening of the line.

It had been hoped to have at least part of Midleton’s Northern Ring Road completed in time for the opening.

The road is to be built in two phases. The most vital is the one which will link the Cork road (N25) with the Mill Road, where the town’s new station is to be built. The second phase will be to connect the Mill Road and Dungourney road with the main road to Youghal.

“We had assumed that the first phase would be ready to coincide with the opening of the railway. But as time goes by I don’t see that happening,” Mr Kelleher said.

Meanwhile, Kathleen Woulfe, a former town councillor, confirmed that she would be starting a petition to put pressure on the Minister for Transport to sign the Railway Order.

Ms Woulfe, who lives next to where the new station will be built, said “people were up in arms about the delay”.

“I know people who have to leave the Midleton area at 7.40am to get into work in Cork city by 9am. I am absolutely stunned that Martin Cullen still hasn’t signed the order. It is vital,” Ms Woulfe said.

“When Seamus Brennan stood next to me and the railway line when he was Minister for Transport he led us to believe that it would be open by 2007. Now we’re told it will be July 2008. To achieve that I believe work would want to be well started by now,” she added.