Cork Suburban Upgrade

[Westcorkrailway]

I think there should at the very least be a platform 3 (possibly a loop) at blarney. A cobh to blarney service on the days the cruise ships come in would be an unbelievable asset to cork 

[Mol_PMB]

If there is sufficient space then the optimum would be to put loops both sides of the main line, and have the platforms on the loops. That way the expresses can overtake the locals while they are stopped at the station.

[Westcorkrailway]

Blarney probobly can’t be located where it was originally, so like carrigtwohill station will be from thenopisite side of the bridge 

 

there is sufficient space, it’s just a matter of buying the land which would require knocking the bridge down. 
 

also for my “plan” to work there would have to be a crossover regardless of having 2 loops 

[Colin_McLeod]

On 2/3/2023 at 12:41 PM, Westcorkrailway said:

I suppose that could also become the nee theory. That would mean electrifying the cork area.
 

And the electric train service would be know as the CART  lol  

[Westcorkrailway]

Today was a big day for Corks Rail Future with the opening of platform 6 and the launch of the consultancy for Cork Luas 

 

I recorded the opening ceremony this morning 

 

 

 

[Broithe]

Proposed Luas route.

[Newtoncork]

It's going to be interesting how it will get up Churchyard Lane (18, 19)  after crossing Blackrock Road. Steep enough and narrow hill. I'll be in the nursing home before this is even started!

[minister_for_hardship]

10 minutes ago, Newtoncork said:

It's going to be interesting how it will get up Churchyard Lane (18, 19)  after crossing Blackrock Road. Steep enough and narrow hill. I'll be in the nursing home before this is even started!

Lisbon's fairly hilly with old narrow streets and trams aren't fazed by it.

[Mol_PMB]

33 minutes ago, minister_for_hardship said:

Lisbon's fairly hilly with old narrow streets and trams aren't fazed by it.

Agreed, though I think that’s a significant factor in the retention of ancient 4-wheel trams in Lisbon. The modern trans formed of many small segments like a caterpillar might struggle with Lisbon’s combination of hills and sharp curves. Even the 4-wheelers become 3-wheelers on one of the summits!

More puzzling to me:

1. It crosses the river east of the city island, presumably a new bridge but both banks in this area are actively used by shipping at present, as are some wharves a little upstream, and a bridge here would prevent that. There’s no room for the approaches to a tunnel under. 
 

2. Where is the airport branch? 

[Westcorkrailway]

1 hour ago, Mol_PMB said:

Agreed, though I think that’s a significant factor in the retention of ancient 4-wheel trams in Lisbon. The modern trans formed of many small segments like a caterpillar might struggle with Lisbon’s combination of hills and sharp curves. Even the 4-wheelers become 3-wheelers on one of the summits!

More puzzling to me:

1. It crosses the river east of the city island, presumably a new bridge but both banks in this area are actively used by shipping at present, as are some wharves a little upstream, and a bridge here would prevent that. There’s no room for the approaches to a tunnel under. 
 

2. Where is the airport branch? 

To have a station at Kent, you probobly wouldn’t have room for a tunnel and a ramp. There has been considerations for some time to move the port out of there anyway, which is fair as the whole area is being re developed in the next decade or so like Dublins Docklands was. And there is a quay at tivoli and Ringaskiddy is getting the new motorway. 
 

airport branch is a bit harder because you have to considering getting over or under the link road. And then you have to deal with the big hill…..could use the west cork alignment (I’d love that tbh) as then it would serve togher aswell and curve somwhere before the viaduct back towards the airport 

Edited April 14, 2025 by Westcorkrailway

[thewanderer]

An infrastructure update today with the official opening of the new platform 6 and extension of platform 5 at Cork Kent Station by the Taoiseach, EU Commissioner and Transport Minister.

Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/Officialevents/2025/Official-opening-of-new-platform-6-at-Cork to view.

 

[Newtoncork]

No need for Lisbon style 4 wheeled trams! https://www.corkbeo.ie/news/local-news/publicans-left-stunned-cork-luas-31429170

[Darrman]

https://www.echolive.ie/corknews/arid-41637478.html

The front page of the Echo today featured some businesses on the Luas route complaining that there could be construction works affecting their business. It would be a pretty rubbish tram if it avoided every business, but it's not like it will get built anyway...

Edited May 24, 2025 by Darrman

[Darrman]

https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025/06/13/eight-new-cork-rail-stations-to-go-to-public-consultation/

Public consultation for the eight proposed new stations, along with the new depot of "up to 150 carraiges", is set to begin on Wednesday. 150 carraiges is 30 new 5-car Darts for reference, and a whole lot more than the 16 that make up the 2600 fleet.

[Westcorkrailway]

2 hours ago, Darrman said:

https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025/06/13/eight-new-cork-rail-stations-to-go-to-public-consultation/

Public consultation for the eight proposed new stations, along with the new depot of "up to 150 carraiges", is set to begin on Wednesday. 150 carraiges is 30 new 5-car Darts for reference, and a whole lot more than the 16 that make up the 2600 fleet.

Probobly a good idea to make it for more then they could have in for so they could work on Dublin sets there to be fair 

[Darrman]

https://www.irishrail.ie/en-ie/about-us/iarnrod-eireann-projects-and-investments/cork-area-commuter-rail

And the consultation is here. To provide a somewhat brief summary...

• 25kV OHLE covering everything south of Mallow, no sign of battery usage. It's mentioned in the documents that batteries weren't reliable enough. Cork Shed won't be electrified. Neither will Kent Platform 1? That has to be a mistake.
• Trains every ten minutes to Midleton and Cobh. Through running beyond Kent is undecided: either 4 Midleton to Mallow/2 Cobh to Blarney with the rest terminating at Kent, or all Cobhs terminate at Kent and 4/2 Midletons run to Mallow, rest terminate at Blarney.
• Eight new stations: three between Cork and Mallow, two between Cork and Glounthaune, two between Glounthaune and Midleton, one between Glounthaune and Cobh.
• GSWR: Blackpool/Kilbarry (old Kilbarry yard), Monard (old Rathpeacon sidings), Blarney/Stoneview (old Blarney station). Passing loop on down line at old Rathduff station.
• New Blarney is stated to have three platforms: technical drawings are inconsistent, but where the third platform is shown it's also on the down side with appropriate crossovers. 220m platforms, enough for a Mark 4. All other stations 94m long.
• Cobh: Tivoli (roughly in the centre of the current harbour area), Dunkettle (old North Esk yard), Ballynoe (a bit south of the Passage ferry terminal).
• Youghal: Carrigtwohill West (within the "Fota Retail Park"), Water-Rock (west of Midleton, currently near fields), depot between Carrigtwohill and Midleton.
• Extended stations: Two extra platforms in Mallow (west of the current ones). One extra platform in Cobh (rebuilding disused length, then cutting back current platform to build a platform on the current siding). Nothing for Midleton beyond extra crossovers.
• Closure of Myrtle Hill level crossing.

That should be about everything of note. As an occasional user of intercity services, my main concerns would be resilience for those, but otherwise I don't have anything to complain about. Now, knowing this country, I'm sure something frivolous will come up...

[Westcorkrailway]

 

 

Edited June 24, 2025 by Westcorkrailway

[Darrman]

The new Luas Cork consultation has opened, with parts of the alignment reviewed.  The Ballincollig loop has been moved further west, the Bishopstown alignment has been changed, and a few extra stops have been added in throughout.

[226 Abhann na Suire]

It’s a fantastic upgrade! More catchment at Ballincollig and new stations in the Docklands, Victoria Cross, and Ballincollig will all be brilliant for bringing more people to rail.

The new alignment through Bishopstown will also really increase reliability and reduce travel time by removing the shared running section on the Bishopstown Road.

Speaking of, there’s also far more sections of segregated running in the updated plans so the reliability of the Luas will increase hugely as a result.

There has been lots of negative chatter from cheap-click newspapers like the Echo over the week about the new route causing people to lose garden space, but these are people who will now live a lot closer to a tram line, and, looking at how BusConnects went, get compensated quite comfortably for their taken land!

Overall I think it’s a far better route than previously, and it’s one of the first times that I’ve actually seen a plan improve this drastically between consultation rounds so it’s great that the NTA are taking into account the public submissions to such an extent.

Hopefully this goes as well (and as quickly) as it can for the Luas - I can’t lie it has an uphill climb ahead of it with the intense culture of NIMBYism that exists in Cork - but I’m very hopeful that sense prevails and we get this project over the line in the next couple of years.

Great news overall though!! Does anyone know timeframe wise what is ahead of the project from this point?