Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey has turned the sod at a ceremony to mark the reopening of the Cork to Midleton rail line 40 years after most of the line was removed.
The upgrade and restoration of the 10km (6.2-mile) Glounthaune to Midleton line will enable Iarnród Éireann to begin commuter services between Cork and Midleton next year. The project is part of an overall €130 million investment in commuter rail in the Cork area under the Transport 21 investment programme.
"This is a very welcome development that the sceptics said would never happen and is hugely important for the east Cork area," Mr Dempsey said yesterday.
It is proposed that peak services on the new route will run every 30 minutes with the potential to expand to every 15 minutes. Off-peak services will operate hourly and all services will be operated by commuter rail cars.
The project includes upgrading the track on the disused Glounthaune to Midleton line, installing a new signalling system and the provision of two new stations at Midleton and Carrigtohill, including parking facilities.
There has also been progress on the wider Cork commuter plans, with a planning application for Kilbarry station lodged in January and an application for Dunkettle station planned this month.
Minister of State for Innovation Policy Michael Ahern said the new rail line to Midleton would ease traffic congestion between east Cork and the city.
