Call for direct Cork to Limerick train

Chair of the Cork City Council Transport committee Peter Horgan has said clarity is needed on what priority the Government is placing on a direct rail line between Cork and Limerick.

Currently, these is no direct rail link between the two cities. Passengers must get on the Cork to Dublin line and change at Limerick Junction station, which is located in Tipperary.

The all-island strategic rail review rail project prioritisation strategy, published this week by government, does not mention a direct line between Cork and Limerick, only improving through movements between the two cities via Limerick Junction.

Mr Horgan said that an easier line must be prioritised, as Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) are due to submit business case in the second half of next year for the M20 Cork to Limerick motorway.

The project involves 80km of refurbishment and will address many of the road safety concerns on the existing N20, improve connectivity between Cork and Limerick, and relieve congestion in towns such as Mallow, Buttevant, and Charleville.

Mr Horgan, a Labour councillor for Cork city south east, told The Echo: “The M20 plans for Cork to Limerick includes a mechanisms to create a direct linkage via rail also.

“That M20 project is progressing, slower than we want but still progressing with government agencies. And yet, the maps published by the Department of Transport this year and the table of priority doesn’t mention direct lineage from the Cork lines at Charleville to Limerick.

“I think that’s a mistake. We should be ensuring this direct link is on every document so that it is intersected with funding requirements.” 

He added: 

“The Cork Commuter Rail Project is a success and credit must go to Irish Rail and the delivery team and we need to build on that.” 

He added that he will be raising the matter with his colleagues in the parliamentary party in Cork and Limerick, saying: “faster, enhanced services between the second city and the treaty city is critical to south western industrial and social development.”