East Cork's rail boost to match rising population

Midleton, Carrigtwohill and neighbouring towns are set to see rail and other enhanced amenities  as Cork's County Development Plan predicts surge in region's population

The ‘rail corridor’ between the designated ‘growth towns’ of Carrigtwohill and Midleton will play a central role in the predicted surge in population and housing across East Cork.

The biggest predicted increase in population in Co Cork in the coming years will be along the ‘rail corridor’ between the designated ‘growth towns’ of Carrigtwohill and Midleton.

The Cork County Development Plan (CDP), a blueprint designed by county council officials, predicts that the population of Midleton will increase to nearly 28,000 by 2034. That’s almost double the last census of 2022.

Carrigtwohill, which according to that census had a population of 5,568 four years ago, will grow to nearly three times that size, to 15,000 during that timeframe.

The pressure on people commuting from both towns to the industrial hub in Little Island and to Cork City and further beyond should be alleviated somewhat with a ‘twin track approach’ that Irish Rail is currently developing from Glounthaune eastwards. 

A commuter cycles along a dedicated pathway in Midleton, reflecting the town’s growing focus on sustainable transport and active travel infrastructure. Picture: Chani Anderson

It will no doubt make both towns more attractive, especially as train frequency will increase to every 10 minutes once the project is completed.

An Irish Rail spokeswoman said physical works on laying the double tracks should conclude early this summer. 

“Some commissioning works will be required at a later stage once the signalling and telecommunications works are done, but the actual laying of the track will be done in the summer,” she said.

The spokeswoman was unable to say exactly when the more frequent services will become operation, but it’s believed that will be in 2027.

The line is also being transformed to operate a new electric train fleet, which will reduce congestion and cut transport carbon emissions.

The project is part of a €1bn spend on improving rail services in the Cork region. 

The good news for those living in East Cork is that new stations will be built in Carrigtwohill West, near the former Youghal Carpets factory, and at Water Rock to the eastern side of Midleton, where a new town of 2,500 houses is to be developed.

Rail connectivity between East Cork and other areas will also be enhanced following an alteration of the platforms in Kent Station, as trains will be able to run onto Mallow and vice versa. 

A view of the railway line running into Midleton highlights the town’s strong transport links, with ongoing investment in rail services supporting its role as a key commuter hub in East Cork. Picture: Chani Anderson

New stations being developed along that northern route will include Blarney/Stoneview, Monard and Blackpool/Kilbarry.

However, not everybody will be able or willing to commute by train. And there have been serious concerns expressed by senior council officials and numerous councillors about the gridlocked N25 (main Cork-Waterford road).

The council’s head of roads, Padraig Barrett, has repeatedly stated that it’s over capacity and unsafe in places, especially between Carrigtwohill and Midleton. 

Former Green minister for the environment Eamonn Ryan denied funding on several occasions to upgrade this section of road, which lead to uproar from councillors. 

Instead, he preferred to invest in cycleways in the region, which will be of some benefit in the long run. 

But not for motorists in the short-term if the government doesn’t release significant funding to upgrade it and other roads which link to it. 

The upgrade of the Carrigtwohill to Midleton dual carriageway has only recently been given the green light once again, with a nominal sum of €500,000 being made available to progress its design this year.

A further €1m has been made available for the formulation of a plan for the upgrade of the N25 from Midleton to Youghal. 

Town signage stands along the flowering greenway on the approach to Carrigtwohill, a town that continues to grow as a vibrant commuter hub while investing in sustainable infrastructure and active travel routes for its expanding population. Picture Chani Anderson

Midleton-based Social Democrats councillor Eamonn Horgan, who is a qualified engineer, said it’s a great aspiration to reopen the former section of the Midleton – Youghal railway line as it will definitely take vehicles off the road and ease bottlenecks along the N25.

The East Cork Railway Alliance (ERCA), under its hardworking chairman, Michael Beecher, has secured thousands of signatures in a petition and is lobbying TDs hard to make it a reality.

A significant amount of support has also been given to ERCA’s campaign from people living in the West Waterford region who commute from there on a daily basis to Cork City.

However, in reality, it will take 10 years to develop at best, and today’s price tag of €200m will be substantially more if it becomes a reality.

In the meantime, councillors from the region are calling on the government to open up a rapid bus transport network between Youghal and Midleton to ease gridlock on the N25, especially in Castlemartyr and at the Lakeview roundabout in Midleton. 

East Cork parkway near Carrigtwohill. The upgrade of the Carrigtwohill to Midleton dual carriageway has only recently been given the green light once again. Photo: Denis Minihane

Irish Rail insisted that the design of the greenway between Midleton and Youghal left enough width for it to provide a light railway or a rapid transit bus service.

Mr Horgan said the Local Link bus service also needs to be beefed up in the region and on foot of his proposals the East Cork Municipal District Council has written to Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien, and the National Transport Authority (NTA) to ask that sufficient funding be made available to turn it into a multi-frequency, seven-day-a-week service.