Iarnród Éireann last week announced that it had awarded a substantial contract of €78.5m to world leading rail transport company Alstom for a major signalling upgrade project on the Cork commuter rail network, to treble the number of trains which can operate on several commuter lines, including Cork and Mallow. At present, trains run every 30 minutes between Mallow and Cork, and the introduction of the Leap Card with its cheaper fares has seen passenger numbers soar, as workers and students opt for the train instead of driving to the city. When the upgrade is completed, it is expected that trains will run every ten minutes between Mallow and the city. A new computer-based signalling system will also be introduced, and the con-struction of a new through-platform at Kent Station will facilitate through-running services from Mallow to Cobh/Midleton. The construction contract for this has been awarded and advanced enabling works have started on-site.
Minister for Finance Michael McGrath TD said: “This is a significant milestone for the commuter rail network in Cork. The investment is one of many planned projects to boost Cork’s rail offering and public transport network. Upgrading Cork’s signalling system is a crucial step forward to facilitate the proposed capacity and service frequency increases planned for the region, and will be of considerable benefit to users of the rail network”.