New platform opens at Cork’s Kent station

A step closer to a ten-minute ‘turn-up and ride’ rail service for Cork commuters has been taken with the opening of a new 220m platform at Kent Station.

Platform 6 will allow for a significant increase in train service frequency, with commuters able to travel between Mallow in the north of the county, and Cobh/Midleton in the east without having to change trains at Kent Station.

Iarnrod Éireann’s Delivery Manager for Cork, AJ Cronin, said its a milestone for the delivery of the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy.

“In addition, we are also going to deliver a new fleet depot, eight new stations in the Cork area, adding to the existing ten stations, and electrifying the network – decarbonising the network and providing for a new fleet to deliver that higher frequency service into the future,” he said.

Operational from tomorrow, the new platform is one of three multi-million euro upgrading projects under the Cork Area Commuter Rail Programme currently underway with funding of €23 million from the European Union Recovery and Resilience Facility.

The two others, due for completion next year, include new twin tracks between Glounthaune to Midleton, and an upgrading of the Cork area signalling system.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin, was joined by EU Commissioner Michael McGrath, and Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien, as well as Minister of State at the Department of Transport Jerry Buttimer, along with Iarnród Éireann CEO Jim Meade for the officially opening earlier.

Mr Martin said the opening of the platform “is a fundamental step in achieving not only improved rail transport capacity and frequency, but also in providing a more accessible, efficient and reliable rail service for the people of Cork”.

The Cork Area Commuter Rail Programme represents the largest ever investment in the Cork commuter network.

Phase 2 of the programme goes to public consultation in the next few weeks.