Rail passengers in Mallow are set to benefit from major improvements to train services under a €1.8 billion investment in Cork’s commuter rail network, with faster and more frequent connections to both Cork city and Dublin planned.
The investment forms part of the Cork Area Commuter Rail programme, which will strengthen the rail corridor between Mallow and Cork and support electrified, higher-capacity train services in the coming years.
The plans were confirmed by Mary Considine, chief executive of Irish Rail, who outlined the investment while speaking at a Cork Chamber Business Breakfast in Cork.
She said the programme will connect Mallow, Cork, Cobh and Midleton with increased train capacity, improved frequency, and new stations as part of a fully electrified commuter network.
For Mallow passengers, the improvements will enhance its role as a key rail hub, making commuting to Cork city more convenient while also improving onward connections to Dublin.
Irish Rail ultimately plans to increase train frequency between Cork and Dublin to every 30 minutes and reduce journey times between the cities to approximately 90 minutes, significantly improving accessibility for passengers travelling from Mallow to the capital.
The wider commuter rail programme will include eight new stations across the Cork network, including planned stations at Blackpool, Blarney and Monard, supporting population growth and expanding access to rail services across the region.
Electrification of the network and the introduction of new trains will also improve reliability, reduce emissions, and increase passenger capacity.
The first phase of the project has already seen infrastructure upgrades at Kent Station in Cork, with further works ongoing to expand capacity and prepare the network for electrified services.
Speaking about the investment, Ms Considine said there is now a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to address historic underinvestment in rail and make it the backbone of sustainable transport.
The improvements are expected to benefit commuters, students, and business travellers in Mallow by providing faster, more reliable, and more frequent rail connections to Cork and Dublin.