James O'Connor
Question:33. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the CMATS rail project in Cork. [30209/23]
View answerThursday, 22 June 2023
Questions (33)
Written answers
The Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy supports the design and development of an improved suburban rail network and a new light rail system in Cork between now and 2040.
In relation to heavy rail, the Cork Area Commuter Rail Programme represents the largest investment in the rail network in Cork undertaken by the State. The programme comprises a number of separate but interrelated projects that encompass:
• The integration of the three existing railway corridors in the Cork area, which arrive in the city at Kent Station, providing a high-frequency north-east connection through the city and creating an integrated network
• Full electrification, or alternative fuelling, of the suburban rail network;
• Other infrastructure improvements required to accommodate a transformative 10-minute frequency (from current 30-minute frequency) for the suburban rail network in Cork;
• Additional rolling stock to be introduced to meet existing and future demand;
• A multi-modal integrated transport hub for the city provided at Kent Station to promote modal shift from the private car and enhance attractiveness of the city docklands regeneration and development; and
• New stations at prime regeneration sites, Park & Ride interchange points and new development areas.
Phase 1 of the rail programme, which encompasses the redevelopment of Kent Station, double tracking between Glounthaune and Midleton, and network-wide resignalling, is currently underway with the support of €164m in EU Recovery and Resilience Facility funds
Following planning approval from Cork City Council for an additional platform at Kent Station, the construction contract was awarded in early 2023 and enabling works have begun on site. Construction of this element is expected to be completed in 2024.
Separately, the tender process for the re-signalling project is underway. It is anticipated that Iarnród Éireann will be in a position to award this contract to the successful tenderer by the end of June.
A four-week non-statutory public consultation on the preferred option for double tracking the current single rail line between Glounthaune and Midleton concluded on 16 August 2022. The feedback received fed into the Railway Order application, which was submitted to An Bord Pleanála on 10 November 2022.
In addition to the infrastructure works described above, the frequency of a number of rail services in the Cork Metropolitan Area were doubled in July 2022, with a frequency of up to every 30 minutes to/from Cork-Cobh and Cork-Midleton and a frequency of every 15 minutes to/from Cork and Glounthaune.
With regard to light rail, a non-statutory public consultation on the Cork Light Rail Transit project is due to launch in July. In its capacity as project Sponsoring Agency, Transport Infrastructure Ireland is also currently in the process of preparing a preliminary business case for the project.