New Midleton to Glounthane twin tracks will be 'game-changer' for rail commuters

The g of a €29.5m contract to begin works next month on a twin track for the existing 10km train line between Midleton and Glounthane will be a game-changer for commuters in east Cork, local Fine Gael TD David Stanton has said.

The Cork East TD was speaking after Iarnród Éireann confirmed that works would commence on the project in September and will be complete by 2026.

Along with works on a new through platform at Kent Station, and new signalling across the full Cork commuter network, the twin-tracking will facilitate the proposed capacity and service frequency increases, with the potential to triple existing service frequency to a 10-minute frequency on all Cork commuter routes in the future.

Other associated elements included track turnout and crossover works at Glounthane, Carrigtwohill, and Midleton; new sidings and a turnback facility at Midleton; works at level crossings; and new cable containment routes.

The work is being carried out under the Cork Area Commuter Rail programme, a series of inter-related projects to enhance the quality of the Cork commuter rail network. The contract was awarded to BAM Ireland and is scheduled to be completed in 2026.

Transport Minister Eamon Ryan said the Cork Area Commuter Rail Programme was the largest capital injection in Cork rail infrastructure in the history of the State.

“Irish people like rail,” he said. “We have seen that whenever we put in good public transport, and particularly good rail services, people flock to it.”

The minister of state at the Department of Transport, James Lawless, said the project would be “crucial” to enable further frequency and reliability improvements on the line.

Mr Stanton said the project would improve the service to Midleton “dramatically”. “The ambition is that the service will be every 10 minutes and that will result, actually, in a five-minute service to Glounthane, because they will be linking with the Cobh service,” he said.

Midleton-based Social Democrats councillor Liam Quaide said the progress being made since the project was first mooted had been remarkable, and he welcomed the latest announcement.

“This only adds to the argument for the line to be extended to Youghal which would eventually be linked up with light rail in the city,” he said.

While the works are scheduled to begin in September, Iarnród Éireann is advising customers that some evening services will be impacted over an 18-month period.

The final train from Cork to Midleton on Mondays to Wednesdays will be at 7.15pm, while the last service in the other direction will be at 7.45pm. Bus transfers will operate between Glounthane and Midleton for later evening services. This will last from September 23 to December 18.

Advice regarding further works, as well the associated impacts in 2025 and early 2026, will be given at a later stage.

Iarnród Éireann has also advised that separate essential maintenance works will take place in the Cork Tunnel in September and October. This will result in bus transfers from Mallow to Cork from 10pm onwards between Monday, September 9, and October 31.