Calls to reopen Youghal rail line

By Ellen O'Brien

A petition calling for the reopening of the train line that used to connect Youghal to Cork city has nearly 3,000 signatures.

Jacob Sosinky, who is originally from Poland but has been living in Youghal since 2022, started the petition calling upon Transport Minister Eamon Ryan to reopen the line.

He said he believes the reinstation of the railway line would help to ease traffic congestion and improve the lives of everyone in Youghal.

The petition started through the platform MyUplift has already received more than 2,800 signatures. This campaign comes more than 60 years after the last passenger travelled from Youghal to Cork city using the train line.

There were hopes the line might reopen in 2009 when the Midleton line was reopened. More recently, the local community was a given renewed hope when Irish Rail project manager AJ Cronin refused to rule out reopening the line at a meeting of the East Cork Municipal District Council.

Jacob Sosinky highlighted the reasons why the train line needs to be reopened: “The people of Youghal urgently need reliable public transport. Right now, our only options are bus or private car, which means there are problems with traffic congestion in the town.”

He also addressed the potential benefits the reinstation of the line would bring: “Reopening the train line after all these years would make our town less reliant on cars and buses and would help commuters and students get to and from the city more easily; we are pleading with Eamon Ryan to make this a priority and give the people of Youghal their train line back.”

Siobhan O’Donoghue Executive Director at My Uplift congratulated Jacob on starting the petition. “We applaud Jacob for starting this petition. Our members tell us time and time again that they need liveable, well-connected communities, and reliable public transport is one of the best ways to achieve this.”

She also urged the people in Cork to sign the petition and explained how it could make a difference: “We would urge the people of Cork to sign Jacob’s petition and help get this train line back on the agenda. If enough of us sign, we can make sure that Eamon Ryan has no choice but to listen to the public and to make restoring the train line to Youghal a priority.

“We’ve proven time and time again that people power works.

“When we come together and raise our voices, we can make decision-makers take action so we can have the strong, liveable communities we need,” she added.