Mallow-Cork-Midleton route could get some of the 90 new carriages on order

Infrastructure improvements around the city and county costing €300m are needed if Cork is to avail of the new fleet of carriages, Cork Chamber said

'Adaptable nature' of the carriages means they could also be deployed in the future for the Cork Area Commuter Rail, potentially serving between Mallow, Cork, Cobh and Midleton, Transport Minister Eamon Ryan said. Picture: Dan Linehan

Some of the 90 new train carriages ordered at a cost of almost €180m may be used to bolster the Mallow-Cork-Midleton route, but are not intended to replace plans for the long-mooted light rail system for Cork.

However, necessary infrastructure improvements around the city and county costing €300m are needed if Cork is to avail of the new fleet of carriages, a business organisation has claimed.