CORK city’s long-awaited tourist train is expected to be up and running by the end of this month.

A route has been decided for the train which will hold 30 passengers in its single carriage.

Journeys will run every 40 minutes, starting at George’s Quay, taking passengers to city landmarks including the Elizabeth Fort, Nano Nagle Place, and St Fin Barre’s Cathedral.

The new service was tipped to start operating last May. Paul Moynihan, Cork City Council’s director of services, corporate and external affairs, said red tape, permits, and approvals, caused delays.

“We have identified and we’re interacting with people in the locality in relation to the stop-off point and pick-up point for the train. That’ll now be on George’s Quay, it’ll start there.

“We think from the point of view of the tourism assets in that general quarter — the new Nano Nagle place, Elizabeth Fort and St Fin Barre’s — it makes a lot of sense. There’s a lot of footfall in that area and a number of facilities: ice-cream parlours, cafes, that will be conducive to the tourism atmosphere over there.

“It heads back down South Mall and will loop around then in front of City Hall and back up Copley Street and South Terrace.”

The final route proposal is subject to National Transport Authority and RSA approval but once it gets the green light the train can start operating.

“We expect that that will happen towards the end of August, as soon as the approval is through we’re ready to go,” Mr Moynihan said.

“We would hope at the end of August that it would be bedded in. It’s a year-round service so while some would say it’s missed the tourist season I would be inclined to say it will assist the tourism sector in the off period.

“One of the events that we would hope to do something around is the October jazz weekend — it has great potential in relation to that.”