Cork council to urge Government to change transport policy to include Midleton-Youghal rail link

Advocates say service is vital to cater for increased housing in the East Cork and West Waterford regions, and to reduce traffic gridlock on the N25 main Cork-Waterford road

The East Cork Rail Alliance said a rail link between Midleton and Youghal would cut down on traffic congestion on the N25, reduce commuting times and air pollution and make Youghal more accessible for tourism.

Cork County Council is expected to urge the Government to change its current transport policy to include the reintroduction of a railway or Luas-style link between Youghal and Midleton.

In the meantime, a voluntary group pushing to restore such a service, is planning to undertake a major feasibility study to add weight to its argument the service is vital to cater for increased housing in the East Cork and West Waterford regions, and to reduce traffic gridlock on the N25 main Cork-Waterford road.

Michael Beecher, chairman of the East Cork Rail Alliance (ECRA), made a presentation at the East Cork Municipal District Council, where he said the growth in population already warranted it and senior Irish Rail officials were on record saying they would gladly build it if the Government changed its current transport policy and included the project in future national transport programmes.

It has been estimated by Irish Rail officials that at today’s prices, it would cost in the region of €200m to develop it along the side of the Midleton-Youghal greenway.

Mr Beecher said Waterford City and County Council had passed a motion to have the route reinstated.

He said it would cut down on traffic congestion on the N25, reduce commuting times and air pollution and make Youghal more accessible for tourism.

ECRA committee member Mary Hogan said the lack of proper, reliable public transport was a major problem for people in Youghal.

She said buses were infrequent and unreliable, and as a result elderly and sick people were missing hospital appointments, while third-level students were missing lectures in the city.

Ms Hogan said the latter “impacts educational performance and mental wellbeing” while those who do not have cars are “cut off somewhat from employment". 

The absence of rail connectivity is holding Youghal back and businesses won’t invest there. This is about a health issue, educational issue and about economic necessity.

Both she and Mr Beecher said local politicians needed to put pressure on the Government to change transport policy to include the Youghal rail link in national policy documents going forward.

They also said the council needed to adapt the new County Development Plan to aid its construction, primarily with land zoned for railway stations and park and rides along the route.

Mr Beecher said ECRA intended to carry out a feasibility study to back its case, which potentially could be funded by the local authority and chambers of commerce.

Fianna Fáil councillor Ann Marie Ahern claimed not one of the four TDs in the Cork East constituency had put down a Dáil question in an effort to change gGovernment policy to include the Youghal project in future transport plans.

She said she would put a motion to the full council to get it to write to the Government seeking this be done.