'Cork light rail is a significant investment, but it's going to be worth it'

Darragh O'Brien has said a luas-style transport system for Cork is now expected to cost between €2bn and €3bn

A stand-off over a northside-southside route choice for the rail line delayed publication of a preferred route last year. File picture: Denis Minihane.

A preferred route for Cork's light rail is to be announced within weeks as the Transport Minister hopes to get the project to planning before the end of the year.

Darragh O'Brien has said a Luas-style transport system for Cork is "significant, but badly needed," and is now expected to cost between €2bn and €3bn.

"It's really important for Cork from Ballincollig in the west right the way through to Mahon, and Cork light rail is a significant investment, but it's going to be worth it.

"The preferred route will emerge in the coming weeks," he said, adding that it will then go on display for public consultation which will "give people the reassurance that this is moving forward".

Mr O'Brien told the Irish Examiner: "Based on the public consultation, then people would have their views on it that can actually lead to potentially certain changes in the design of the route and then we would see it being lodged for a railway order with An Bord Pleanála. 

"If everything was going according to plan you're looking at months to be honest with you. It's a big piece of work. You want to get it right."

A stand-off over a northside-southside route choice for the rail line delayed publication of a preferred route last year.

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Differences of opinion emerged over whether the tram should take a left or right turn at a key city junction — a left turn would have excluded St Patrick's St and the northside.

Mr O'Brien added that Taoiseach Micheál Martin is "extremely anxious" about delivering a number of large-scale public infrastructure projects including the light rail in Cork, Busconnects, the Metro in Dublin and further expansion of the Dart system.

Mr O'Brien warned the challenge will be in funding these projects once they come out of the planning stage. He said "there will be significant asks from transport" as part of a review of the National Development Plan.

"I think it's fair to say that while significant improvements have been made in transport over the last couple of decades, we still have an infrastructural deficit, certainly on rail."