Cork Suburban Rail
Encyclopedia
The Cork Suburban Rail network serves the Metropolitan Cork
area in 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.
. Additional stations are 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
.
, Glounthaune
, Fota
, Carrigaloe
, Rushbrooke
, Cobh
. Additional stations are planned for Ballynoe
and Dunkettle
.
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 can also be very busy especially during Summer as the station here is next to Fota Wildlife Park
. The journey from Cork-Cobh takes 24 minutes stopping at all stations en route.
, Glounthaune
, Carrigtwohill
and Midleton
. Midleton services would also serve a future station at Dunkettle. 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 10km (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 plans to upgrade the interchange in the future as it is currently heavily congested and requires the land which was proposed 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. It opened in July 2009.. Extension to Youghal has been studied but it materially changes the economics of the service by essentially doubling the route length.
Metropolitan Cork
Metropolitan Cork is an unofficial term which refers to the city of Cork, Ireland, its suburbs and the satellite towns that surround it. The term was used in the Cork Area Strategic Plan to refer to the area whose labour and property market is shared with the city...
area in County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Munster
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
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.
Cork to Mallow
Services run from Cork Kent to MallowMallow railway station
Mallow railway station is located in Annabella, just outside Mallow, in north County Cork. It is two miles from Cork racecourse.Mallow station is located just north of the junction between the lines from Cork and Tralee. It has three platforms, which are all through platforms. It is both a commuter...
. Additional stations are planned for Kilbarry
Kilbarry railway station
Kilbarry Station is a planned Irish railway station. When it is built, it will be in the northern suburbs of Cork City on the main Cork-Dublin line and is part of the extended Cork Suburban Rail network due to open in 2010...
, Monard
Monard railway station
Monard railway station is a proposed railway station between Cork City and Blarney on the Cork Suburban Rail line in Metropolitan Cork, Ireland. The station does not yet exist and neither does the settlement of Monard which it is intended to serve. The station at Monard is not expected to open...
, Blarney
Blarney railway station
Blarney railway station is a proposed railway station in Blarney on the Cork Suburban Rail line in Metropolitan Cork, Ireland. The station does not yet exist. Although initially forecast to open in 2008, this has since been put back to 2015 since recssion....
.
Commuter services using 2600 class railcars
IE 2600 Class
The 2600 Class is a type of Diesel Multiple Unit operated on the Irish railway network by Iarnród Éireann, used mainly for short-haul Commuter services. At present the entire class is based in Cork, and is used on local services to Mallow, Midleton, Cobh and on token services to Tralee...
supplement stops at Mallow and Cork by 22000 class railcar
IE 22000 Class
The 22000 Class "InterCity Railcar" is a Diesel multiple unit type in service with Iarnród Éireann in Ireland.In a new departure for Iarnród Éireann they will be the first railcars to have been built specifically to serve on InterCity routes and are capable of up to 100 mph .-History:In 2005,...
operated services from Cork to Tralee
Tralee railway station
Tralee railway station serves the town of Tralee in County Kerry.To the casual observer, Tralee station rather resembles that at Killarney with the main station buildings lying south of the mainline, with a short overall roof covering part of the main platform and the run-round loop...
and Mark 4 locomotive hauled coach
Mark 4 (Iarnród Éireann)
The CAF Mark 4 are trains operated by Iarnród Éireann in the Republic of Ireland on the InterCity service from Dublin to Cork. These trains have no connection to the BR Mk 4.-Description:...
services from Cork to Heuston Station, Dublin
Dublin Heuston railway station
Dublin Heuston , commonly called Heuston Station , is one of Ireland's main railway stations, serving the south, southwest and west. It is operated by Iarnród Éireann , the national railway operator...
.
Cork to Cobh
Services run from Cork Kent to Little IslandLittle Island railway station
Little Island railway station serves the area of Little Island in County Cork. The station has a men's toilet only and has a ticket office which is sporadically staffed by the signalman from the nearby signal cabin...
, Glounthaune
Glounthaune railway station
Glounthaune railway station serves the town of Glounthaune in County Cork, Ireland. It is the junction between the Cobh and Midelton lines. The original target date for the opening of this line under the Irish governments Transport 21 plan was 2007. The line opened on 30 July 2009...
, Fota
Fota railway station
Fota halt serves Fota Island in County Cork. The halt is unstaffed. There are two platforms, with level access to the Cobh-bound platform. Access to the Cork-bound platform is via a footbridge, although there is a defunct level crossing which can theoretically be used to cross the tracks.It is...
, Carrigaloe
Carrigaloe railway station
Carrigaloe railway station serves Carrigaloe in Cork. The station is unstaffed and only the Cork-bound platform is accessible by wheelchairs; a footbridge accesses the Cobh-bound platform....
, Rushbrooke
Rushbrooke railway station
Rushbrooke is a halt in the Rushbrooke area, on Great Island in Cork harbour on the Cork Suburban Railway Line. It is unstaffed. Access is via a ramp to the Cork-bound platform but via stairs only to the Cobh-bound platform....
, Cobh
Cobh railway station
Cobh railway station serves the town of Cobh on the Cork Suburban Rail line, where it is the end of the line. It is located in a red brick building adjacent to the town's Cobh Heritage Centre. It is famous for being the station where hundreds of survivors of the RMS Lusitania disaster left the town...
. Additional stations are planned for Ballynoe
Ballynoe railway station
Ballynoe railway station is a planned railway station to be located on the outskirts of Cobh, County Cork in Ireland. Initially forecast to open in 2008 in line with the National Transport 21 development, in July 2010 the opening of the station was postponed indefinitely due to cuts in government...
and Dunkettle
Dunkettle railway station
Dunkettle railway station is a planned railway station on the Cobh Line in Metropolitan Cork, Ireland. The station is intended to serve the town of Glanmire in County Cork. A park and ride facility is also planned....
.
The service is provided by two unit 2600 Class diesel railcar sets
IE 2600 Class
The 2600 Class is a type of Diesel Multiple Unit operated on the Irish railway network by Iarnród Éireann, used mainly for short-haul Commuter services. At present the entire class is based in Cork, and is used on local services to Mallow, Midleton, Cobh and on token services to Tralee...
, although trains of two sets are used when large crowds travel to and from Cobh for the arrival of International Cruise liners. Fota can also be very busy especially during Summer as the station here is next to Fota Wildlife Park
Fota Wildlife Park
Fota Wildlife Park was opened in 1983. Located in the south of Ireland, in County Cork, the park is set on , and is home to nearly 30 mammal and 50 bird species. Many of the animals roam freely with the visitors, such as the ring-tailed lemurs and squirrel monkeys. The larger animals, including the...
. The journey from Cork-Cobh takes 24 minutes stopping at all stations en route.
Cork to Midleton
Services run from Cork Kent to Little IslandLittle Island railway station
Little Island railway station serves the area of Little Island in County Cork. The station has a men's toilet only and has a ticket office which is sporadically staffed by the signalman from the nearby signal cabin...
, Glounthaune
Glounthaune railway station
Glounthaune railway station serves the town of Glounthaune in County Cork, Ireland. It is the junction between the Cobh and Midelton lines. The original target date for the opening of this line under the Irish governments Transport 21 plan was 2007. The line opened on 30 July 2009...
, Carrigtwohill
Carrigtwohill railway station
Carrigtwohill railway station serves the town of Carrigtwohill in County Cork. The station is unstaffed but has a ticket vending machine. Its two platforms are both fully accessible....
and Midleton
Midleton railway station
Midleton railway station is a railway station situated in Midleton, a town in south-eastern County Cork, in Ireland. It has been rebuilt and reopened as a terminus station of the Cork Suburban Railway Line. The line may be continued to Youghal in the future...
. Midleton services would also serve a future station at Dunkettle. 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
Transport 21
Transport 21 is an Irish infrastructure plan, announced in November 2005. It aims to greatly expand Ireland's transport network. A cost estimate of €34 billion was attached to the plan at the time....
investment programme and opened on 31 July 2009. It involved the provision of a 10km (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
Glanmire
Glanmire literally meaning ‘The valley of the small fish; The valley of the ploughed land:' The Still Vale: The Valley of the Young Fish) is a town in County Cork, Ireland with a population of 15,498....
area, however the plans were objected to by the National Roads Authority
National Roads Authority
The National Roads Authority is a state body in the Republic of Ireland, responsible for the national road network. The NRA was established as part of the Roads Act 1993 and commenced operations on 23 December 1993 in accordance with S.I. 407 of 1993.County councils remain responsible for local...
due to the proximity of the proposed station to the Dunkettle Interchange. The NRA plans to upgrade the interchange in the future as it is currently heavily congested and requires the land which was proposed 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
Transport 21
Transport 21 is an Irish infrastructure plan, announced in November 2005. It aims to greatly expand Ireland's transport network. A cost estimate of €34 billion was attached to the plan at the time....
to renew the line as far as Midleton
Midleton
Midleton, historically Middleton , is a town in south-eastern County Cork, Ireland. It lies some 22 km east of Cork City on the Owenacurra River and the N25 road, which connects Cork to the port of Rosslare...
. Despite numerous delays construction finally began in early 2008. It opened in July 2009.. Extension to Youghal has been studied but it materially changes the economics of the service by essentially doubling the route length.
See also
- Transport 21Transport 21Transport 21 is an Irish infrastructure plan, announced in November 2005. It aims to greatly expand Ireland's transport network. A cost estimate of €34 billion was attached to the plan at the time....
- Belfast Suburban RailBelfast Suburban RailThe Belfast Suburban Rail commuter network serves the metropolitan area of Greater Belfast and some of its commuter towns with three lines. The network is owned by Translink and operated by Northern Ireland Railways ....
- Dublin Suburban RailDublin Suburban RailThe Dublin Suburban Rail network, , is a railway network that serves the city of Dublin, Ireland, most of the Greater Dublin Area and outlying towns...
- Limerick Suburban RailLimerick Suburban RailLimerick Suburban Rail is are a group of Iarnród Éireann commuter train services from Limerick Colbert to various other destinations on three different lines.* Limerick - Ennis calling at Sixmilebridge* Limerick - Nenagh calling at Castleconnell and Birdhill...
- Galway Suburban Rail
- Rail transport in IrelandRail transport in IrelandRail services in Ireland are provided by Iarnród Éireann in the Republic of Ireland and by Northern Ireland Railways in Northern Ireland.Most routes in the Republic radiate from Dublin...