Cork Suburban Rail

A train departing from Cobh.

Mallow to Youghal/Cóbh

Legend
Dublin to Cork mainline
Mallow-Waterford line (closed)
Mallow
Mallow–Tralee line
Mourne Abbey (closed)
Rathduff (closed)
Blarney(proposed)
Monard(proposed)
Kilbarry(proposed)
Cork Kent
Tivoli (closed)
Dunkettle (closed)
Little Island
Glounthaune
Carrigtwohill West(proposed)
Carrigtwohill
Midleton
Mogeely (closed)
Killeagh (closed)
Youghal (closed)
Fota
Carrigaloe
Rushbrooke
Cobh

The Cork Suburban Rail (Irish: Iarnród Fobhailteach Chorcaí) network serves areas of County Cork, Munster, Ireland.

There has been a suburban rail system in Cork since the middle of the 19th century however it suffered serious neglect and line closures in the 20th century. The city also had a tram network - a short-lived horse-tram service in the 1870s and an electric tram system between 1898 and 1931.

The present Cork Suburban Rail network operates on three lines. Additional stations are planned on these lines but at present funding has not been committed and planning permission has not been sought. There are currently 10 stations and 3 lines on the network.

Cork to Mallow

Services run from Cork Kent to Mallow. As of 2009, additional stations were planned for Kilbarry, Monard, Blarney.

Commuter services using 2600 class railcars supplement stops at Mallow and Cork by 22000 class railcar operated services from Cork to Tralee and Mark 4 locomotive hauled coach services from Cork to Heuston Station, Dublin.

Cork to Cobh

Services run from Cork Kent to Little Island, Glounthaune, Fota, Carrigaloe, Rushbrooke, Cobh.

The service is provided by two unit 2600 Class diesel railcar sets, although trains of two sets are used when large crowds travel to and from Cobh for the arrival of International Cruise liners. Fota station can also be busy especially during Summer months, as the station serves visitors to Fota Wildlife Park. The journey from Cork-Cobh takes 24 minutes stopping at all stations en route.

Cork to Midleton

Services run from Cork Kent to Little Island, Glounthaune, Carrigtwohill and Midleton. There are 20 trains a day each way - Hourly off peak and half-hourly during peak times. The journey time between Cork and Midleton is 23 minutes, and together with the existing Cork - Cobh services there are 40 trains a day from Glounthaune & Little Island to Cork.

This project was funded under the Irish Government's Transport 21 investment programme and opened on 31 July 2009. It involved the provision of a 10 km (6.25 miles) single track railway to Midleton with a passing loop at Carrigtwohill, new bridges to replace level crossings, improving existing bridges, new signalling systems and the reopening of Carrigtwohill and Midleton stations.

The station at Dunkettle was planned as a major park and ride facility for the Glanmire area, however the plans were objected to by the National Roads Authority due to the proximity of the proposed station to the Dunkettle Interchange. The NRA proposed to upgrade the interchange to address road congestion, and these road development plans assumed use of the land which had been considered for the station.

The former Cork-Youghal rail line east of Glounthaune was closed to scheduled rail traffic in the mid 1970s. The line had irregular freight and "special" passenger train traffic up until 1988 when it was fully closed and became derelict. After many calls and political promises for its re-opening it was proposed under Transport 21 to renew the line as far as Midleton. Despite numerous delays construction finally began in early 2008, and it opened in July 2009.[1] An extension to Youghal had been studied, but it materially changes the economics of the service by essentially doubling the route length.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Irish Times - Cork-Midleton rail line to open - 30 July 2009

External links

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