Cork Area Commuter Rail
Opened : c.1850-2029

Status : Under construction/planned

 


Heavy Electrified Rail : 62 km

SInce the mid-19th century, Cork has had a railway network. Suburban services have been running ever since, although much of the system was closed in the mid-20th century. Serious plans to expand it date from the 1990s, and in 2009 the spur from Glounthaune to Midleton was reopened as single track.

Update 23/10/2023: Construction on a new platform at Cork Kent has begun and is expected to be done by end 2024.

Update 01/05/2024: A contract has been issued for the design of 8 new train stations for the Cork area network. The stations are Blackpool, Monard, Tivoli, Carrigtwohill West, Waterrock, Ballynoe, Blarney and Dunkettle.

Update 01/09/2024: Double tracking of the rail line from Glounthaune to Midleton has begun and is expected by 2026.

Update 18/04/2025: The new Platform 6 opened in Cork Kent station on 14th April. This facility allows Cork Commuter Rail trains to operate a through-service in the station, meaning journeys from Mallow to Cobh/Midleton are now possible without having to change trains. At present, the lines are being resignalled, and the track doubled from Glounthaune to Midleton, the latter project opening in 2026. The final elements, new stations and electrification, will follow, giving Cork an electric heavy rail service. The new platform will start seeing usage in the coming months.

Update 21/06/2025: Details of Phase 2 of Cork Area Commuter Rail project have been released. The centrepiece of this investment is a whopping 8 new stations in the Cork area. These are:

  1. Blarney/Stoneview - a tourist town with its castle and famous stone that everyone kisses. A park and ride will also be provided here
  2. Monard - a planned new town north of the existing built up area
  3. Blackpool/Kilbarry - serving North Cork City
  4. Tivoli - serving the redeveloped Cork Docks, which have moved to Ringaskiddy
  5. Dunkettle - a large Park and Ride serving traffic coming from the M8 and N25
  6. Ballynoe - serving the north Cobh area
  7. Carrigtwohill West - serving a new large industrial area west of Carrigtwohill station
  8. Water Rock - this serves another new industrial area west of Midleton.
Some platform works will take place at existing stations, such as Cobh.

Somewhat surprisingly, the lightly used and poorly sited Carrigaloe station on the Cobh branch will not be closed at this time. There is very little development around the station, only a few houses on Marian Terrace. It seems that this station was originally opened to serve the Passage West ferry, but this lands 800 metres to the south.

Only 1 level crossing will be closed as part of the Phase 2 works - the one at Myrtle Hill Terrace. Somehow alternative access is to be provided, perhaps at the far end - but the site is very tight. They would have to go through a private piece of land to reach the overpass at Bellevue Villas. There are other level crossings at Midleton, but these are not on the central shared busier section.


Wikipedia page on Cork Suburban Rail

ESSENTIAL INFO :

Origin Macroom
Terminates Cobh and Midlton
Places Served Cork city centre, Blarney, Fota Island, Cobh, Midleton
Intersects Cork Luas


TIMELINE :

Section km Opening Date Standard
Glounthaune to Midleton 10 2009-07-30 Single track heavy rail
New platform at Cork Kent 2024-12
Glounthaune to Midleton 10 2026 Double track heavy rail
Blackpool, Monard, Tivoli, Carrigtwohill West, Waterrock, Ballynoe, Blarney and Dunkettle 2029 New stations


MAP OF CORK AREA COMMUTER RAIL :


Red: Future Electrified Cork Rail; Light Purple: Future Cork Luas