Upgrade to treble number of trains
An upgrade of the rail network which will treble the number of trains which can operate between Cork and Cobh, Midleton and Mallow has been announced.
Iarnród Éireann has awarded a substantial contract of €78.5 million to transport company Alstom, as part of the Cork Area Commuter Rail Programme.
The contract – part of an overall signalling investment of €18m - will deliver all the signalling, electrical and telecommunications enhancements under the Cork Area Commuter Rail (CACR) Programme.
The Cork Area Commuter Rail Programme will deliver the heavy rail proposals contained within the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy (CMATS), say Iarnród Éireann. The signalling works are set to commence later this year and be complete by mid-2026.
The design and build contract awarded to Alstom will ensure the delivery of a more efficient, sustainable, low-carbon and climate-resilient heavy rail network for the Cork region, according to Iarnród Éireann.
The new signalling solution will facilitate the proposed capacity and service frequency increases, with the potential to treble existing service frequency to a 10 minute frequency on all routes in the future.
It will also include a new computer-based signalling system across the three main Cork routes, including the Mallow, Cobh and Glounthaune to Midleton lines, and will improve the reliability of the signalling system and enhance railway safety systems.
Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan TD said: “The re-signalling of the Cork commuter rail network will provide for improved service reliability, frequency and capacity benefits, as well as electrified operations in the long-run, helping to transform rail transport for commuters.
“I was delighted to secure €164m in EU Recovery and Resilience Facility funding for this project in 2021 and am pleased to see continued progress with the awarding of the signalling contract.”
Minister for Finance Michael McGrath TD added: “This is a significant milestone for the commuter rail network in Cork. The investment is one of many planned projects planned to boost Cork’s rail offering and public transport network.
“Upgrading Corks signalling system is a crucial step forward to facilitate the proposed capacity and service frequency increases planned for the region and will be of considerable benefit to users of the rail network.”
Anne Graham, Chief Executive of the National Transport Authority welcomed the progress being made with the project which she said will pave the way for improvements in rail services in Cork in the years ahead.