New €23m platform at Cork's Kent Station will boost train frequency on local and intercity services

Taoiseach Micheál Martin at the official opening of the new Platform 6 at Kent Station in Cork. Picture: Jason Clarke

A new platform has opened at Cork’s Kent Station in the first phase of a development project which will increase train frequency and provide eight new stations in the region.

The €23m, 220m long 'Platform 6' project got under way in October 2023, and has been built by John Cradock Ltd.

Iarnród Éireann says the development will “support increased service frequency via the new platform 5b to the north side and platform 6 to the south side.” 

The new platform will initially service some intercity and Midleton rail services, before some “through” services from Midleton to Mallow will be rolled out over the coming months.

The development has been funded by the European Union Recovery and Resilience Facility and is the first phase of investment in Cork’s heavy rail network through the Cork Area Commuter Rail Programme.

The programme is designed to deliver on the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy vision of a high-frequency and electrified commuter rail network for the wider metropolitan Cork area.

The first phase will also incorporate the Glounthaune to Midleton twin-track and the Cork area signalling and communications upgrade projects. Both elements are due to be completed next year.

Iarnród Éireann says the combined projects will provide capacity to increase the frequency of rail services on Cork’s commuter lines to Cobh, Midleton and Mallow. It also says the projects will ensure Cork’s rail network is equipped to support the development of Cork City and county. 

The submission of a railway order application to An Bord Pleanála for the second phase is expected to be made at the end of this year. Two public consultations are to take place, with the first to launch in the coming weeks. The developments will include new stations for Blackpool, Monard, Tivoli, Carrigtwohill West, Water Rock, Ballynoe, Blarney and Dunkettle.

Speaking at the launch on Monday morning, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: “Works are also well under way on the twin tracking of the Glounthaune to Midleton line and a significant signalling upgrade — two other elements of the Cork Area Commuter Rail Programme.” 

Iarnród Éireann chief executive Jim Meade said: “I congratulate Iarnród Éireann’s Cork Area Commuter Rail programme team for delivering so swiftly the first of the initial three CACR projects, and their continued progress with the wider programme. The success we are seeing in Cork is testament to the partnership approach we take to delivering improved public transport for our communities and commuters.” 

Cork City Council chief executive Valerie O’Sullivan said the overall rail redevelopment and the Cork light rail network would pave the way for Cork’s expansion by ensuring the region was ready for the “huge growth in population that will come to Cork City and the metropolitan area”.