Transport Minister says Cork Luas engineering challenges can be overcome

“Engineering challenges” will need to be overcome to ensure the Cork Luas line links the south of the city with Kent Station on the northside, Transport Minister Eamon Ryan has said.

Late last year, the National Transport Authority (NTA) said that work on identifying a route for the proposed light rail transit tram system — set to connect Ballincollig in the west to Mahon Point in the east via the city centre — was progressing well.

The authority said that, in discussions with Cork City Council during the summer, “it was agreed that some additional work should be undertaken in relation to the city centre section prior to commencing the public consultation stage”.

Emerging preferred route

The emerging preferred route had been expected to be revealed before the end of 2022 but this was delayed. It was then expected to be published in July last year but was further stalled to facilitate the additional work on the city centre section. It is now expected to be published for public consultation this year.

During a visit to Cork yesterday to officially announce the commencement of the next phase of the Cork Area Commuter Rail programme, Mr Ryan was asked if there is a problem in establishing a preferred route for the proposed Cork Luas.

“I don’t think there’s a problem. There is a choice. I mean, the real key choice is in terms of do you go southside or northside — do you come across the river into Kent Station?”

Speaking in relation to the city centre element, Mr Ryan said the turn by the former Finn’s Corner sports shop onto Grand Parade and Patrick Street, could be problematic in that it is “a very tight turn”.

“Just in truth it’s an engineering challenge, but if we can overcome the challenge, I would expect the line to come north and to link up right outside where we are here [by Kent Station] because that then gives you interconnectivity… if you can solve the engineering difficulties at that turning point on Patrick St, I would expect it to go north-south,” he said.

'Vital'

Speaking yesterday, Oliver Moran, Green Party councillor for the city’s North East ward, described it as being “vital that the route for the Luas connects to Kent Station”.

“The combination of suburban rail on the northside connecting with light rail on the southside means we can really start to imagine the day when someone gets on a train at Blackpool and changes to a Luas to Ballincollig,” he added.

Mr Moran also welcomed the commencement of the next phase of the transformation of the Cork Area Commuter Rail network.

“The combination of cycle and rail investment that’s happening will create real opportunities in places like Glanmire.

“For someone living in Ballinglanna or Glyntown, for example, a station at Dunkettle will mean a completely reliable commuter service to the city or Little Island is just 10 minutes away by bike.

“That journey will be along fully segregated cycle lanes connecting to a high-frequency rail service.

“That’s a transformation from the experience now for public transport users,” he said.