The network will be electrified, and there will be additional stations situated throughout the Cobh, Midleton, and Mallow lines.

TYPSA and Roughan O'Donovan have been given a contract by Iarnród Éireann, which is funded by the National Transport Authority under Project Ireland 2040.

They will oversee this phase of the Cork commuter rail network project, including design, planning, and construction.

New stations at Blackpool, Monard, Tivoli, Carrigtwohill West, Waterrock, Ballynoe, Blarney, and Dunkettle will be included in the project.

To service a new electrified fleet of up to 150 carriages, a fleet maintenance facility will also need to be established. Before the selected depot location is confirmed, design development and evaluation will occur.

The initiative will also result in the electrification of the network and the renovation of nine current commuter stations in the Cork region.

According to Mr. Ryan, the project would create a rail network that will serve more areas by providing high-quality, frequently scheduled rail commuter services. The network will be able to accommodate trains on all three commuter lines Cork to Cobh, Midleton, and Mallow up to ten minutes apart.

“The Cork Area Commuter Rail Programme represents the largest investment in the rail network in Cork undertaken by the State,” he stated.

“It will totally change how people get around the city and commute, with more trains running more often and carrying more passengers. It will also connect villages from Cobh to Midleton to Mallow with a dependable and sustainable rail network.”

Credits: Twitter; Author: irishrail;

This is a positive day for Cork and a further step towards our goal of bringing in a new era of rail both here in Rebel County and throughout the nation. We are already witnessing a significant upsurge in the number of individuals preferring to take the train thanks to additional routes and expanded capacity around the country.

“This is not just good for rail users themselves, but it’s also good for everyone travelling because it means less cars on our roads, and less congestion, so everyone’s a winner with rail.”

The news, according to Anne Graham, CEO of the National Transport Authority, is a positive development in the process of funding rail projects in the Cork region.

“It is also a clear signal of intent from NTA that executing the various components of CMATS is now a priority in order to deliver for the people of Cork.”

Jim Meade, chief executive of Iarnród Éireann, stated that the commuter train network in Cork is seeing “record demand.”

“We look forward to working with our consultants, and the NTA, EURRF and Department of Transport to deliver a network that will facilitate millions more sustainable journeys for the people of Cork and those visiting every year.”

By the end of 2025, Iarnród Éireann plans to seek for a railway order the equivalent of a planning permission from An Bord Pleanála.

The three continuing projects in the Cork Area Commuter Rail Project, which will triple the capacity for trains on Cork's commuter network, are in addition to the news made on Friday.

Under Project Ireland 2040, the National Transport Authority and the European Union's Recovery and Resilience Facility are providing funding for these ongoing initiatives.

Construction of a new through platform at Cork's Kent Station started in the summer of last year, and it should be completed by the end of the year.

In order to enable the 10-minute frequency on all three commuter lines, work on a signalling and communications upgrade began in February of this year.

A design-build contract for the new signalling system and civil works has been awarded as a result of this €180 million investment. It is anticipated that the project will be finished by the end of 2026.

In October of last year, An Bord Pleanála finally approved a railway order for the Glounthaune to Midleton double track. The project is scheduled for completion by the end of 2026, and a contract award for construction is anticipated in the upcoming months.