Irish Rail asks public to have their say on proposals to build eight new train stations in Cork

Company publishes documents for public consultation on preferred locations for the new stations at Blarney/Stoneview, Monard, Blackpool/Kilbarry, Tivoli, Dunkettle, Ballynoe, Carrigtwohill West and Water Rock

The Cork Area Commuter Rail programme is the largest ever investment in the region's rail network and aims to provide high-frequency capacity for trains to run every 10 minutes across each of the three commuter lines to Mallow, Midleton and Cobh — handling up to 16 million passenger journeys a year.

Irish Rail says it is fast-tracking plans to build eight new commuter train stations in metropolitan Cork, and  five could be built by 2030 pending planning and funding approval.

The rail company on Wednesday publishes details of the preferred locations for the new stations, for two new park and ride facilities on the city’s northside, for a new fleet depot in East Cork, and proposals for the full electrification of the fleet as part of its wider €1bn Cork Area Commuter Rail (CACR) programme.

The CACR is the largest ever investment in the region's rail network and aims to provide high-frequency capacity for trains to run every 10 minutes across each of the three commuter lines to Mallow, Midleton and Cobh — handling up to 16 million passenger journeys a year.

Wednesday marks a milestone in the programme, as Irish Rail publishes a raft of documents for public consultation on Phase 2 of the CACR, showing the preferred locations for the new stations at Blarney/Stoneview, Monard, Blackpool/Kilbarry, Tivoli, Dunkettle, Ballynoe, Carrigtwohill West and Water Rock.

CACR delivery manager AJ Cronin said demand modelling already justified the construction of stations at Blarney/Stoneview, Blackpool/Kilbarry, Dunkettle, Carrigtwohill West and Water Rock.

He said Irish Rail hoped to submit a railway procurement order next year, the equivalent of a planning application, for up to five of the stations and have them built by 2030. 

But he said the company was also considering fast-tracking the delivery of two of the stations even sooner.

The stations planned for Monard, Tivoli, and Ballynoe will be built in line with the delivery of extensive residential development proposed in those areas, he added.

The documents published on Wednesday also include details on: 

The preferred location for a new fleet maintenance depot at Ballyrichard More, next to the rail line near

• Water Rock, which will require land acquisition, with discussions with private landowners already underway; 
• The electrification of the Cork rail network to cut transport carbon emissions; 
• The location of two strategic park and ride facilities, at the Blarney/Stoneview and Dunkettle stations; 
• And station upgrades to Mallow, Midleton and Cobh to ensure improved accessibility, to cater for increased passenger numbers, and to provide better integrated transport options.

An estimated €300m has already been invested in the first phase, in the twin-tracking of the commuter line to East Cork, which started last September and is due for completion next year, in the development of new signalling systems along the three commuter lines, also due for completion next year, and in the construction of a new through-platform at Kent Station, officially opened in April.

Transport minister Darragh O'Brien said the overall investment would help transform commuter rail services in Cork.

“In addition to areas that already have a train service, such as Cobh, Midleton and Mallow, the project’s new stations will bring rail to more communities in the growing suburbs to the north of the city, as well as locations such as Tivoli and Dunkettle to the east,” he said.

Minister of state with responsibility for rural transport Jerry Buttimer said it was great to see these proposals going out for public consultation so soon after the opening in April of the through platform at Kent Station.

“Phase 2 will be transformational, offering a major boost in rail access to communities across Cork. This will be a great benefit to the county and I encourage everyone to get involved,” he said.

Irish rail chief executive Jim Meade said the overall commuter rail programme would deliver “a turn up and ride service” for customers.

“Feedback from the community is important to us and will be central to the ongoing design process. I encourage communities around Cork to engage with the consultation process and have your say in shaping this transformative rail programme,” he said.

This public consultation is the first of two non-statutory public consultations on the new stations, the depot, and the electrification.

Feedback from the public will inform detailed design which will be subject of more consultation before the railway orders are submitted next year.

The plans can be viewed here.