Free rail parking on month’s trial

IARNRÓD ÉIREANN is to scrap its parking charges on the Cork-Midleton line for the month of December — and may remove them altogether.

The company introduced a daily €2 parking charges at stations at Little Island, Glounthaune, Carrigtwohill and Midleton last summer.

But angry commuters boycotted the car parks, instead leaving their vehicles outside on the public road.

A few months ago Cork East TD David Stanton appealed to the company to scrap the charges altogether, saying they didn’t encourage rail travel.

Yesterday an Iarnród Éireann spokeswoman said the firm would be offering free parking at the four stations this month.

The rail company, she confirmed, will review the situation again in early January.

Mr Stanton said: “I am pleased there will be a trial period of free parking in the run up to Christmas.”

He added that it would not just aid commuters but would be beneficial to those who wanted to go on shopping sprees to both Cork and Midleton.

“It might not be just the €2 daily parking fee alone but the inconvenience of having to return to your car once you have purchased the parking ticket which could be discouraging train usage from Midleton, Carrigtwohill, Glounthaune and Little Island stations.

“Also the train stations are the only places in Midleton and Carrigtwohill where there is a parking charge,” Mr Stanton said.

He maintained the trial free parking was an acknowledgement by Iarnród Eireann of the poor usage levels of the car parks.

The free parking will be a great incentive for people to use the train, which is fast and reliable, he added.