Call for 'Luas-style' rail link between east Cork towns

A 'Luas-style' rail link should be introduced between Youghal and Midleton, a community group in East Cork has said.

Cork County Council is now expected to urge the government to change its current transport policy to include the suggestion.

In the meantime, a voluntary group pushing to restore such a service is planning to undertake a major ‘feasibility study’ to add weight to its argument that the service is vital to cater for increased housing in the East Cork and West Waterford regions and to reduce traffic gridlock on the main Cork to Waterford N25 road.

Michael Beecher, chairman of the East Cork Rail Alliance (ECRA), made a presentation at the East Cork Municipal District Council meeting recently, and said the growth in population already warrants it. He added that senior Irish Rail officials are on record as saying they’d gladly build it if the government changes its current transport policy and includes the project in future national transport programmes.

It has been estimated by Irish Rail officials that, at today’s prices, it would cost in the region of €200m to develop the track alongside the Midleton-Youghal greenway.

Mr Beecher said it would cut down on traffic congestion on the N25, reduce commuting times and air pollution and make Youghal more accessible.

ECRA committee member Mary Hogan said the lack of proper, reliable public transport is a major problem for people in Youghal.

“The absence of rail connectivity is holding Youghal back and businesses won’t invest there. This is about a health issue, educational issue and about economic necessity,” she added. Both she and Mr Beecher said local politicians need to put pressure on the government to change transport policy to include the Youghal rail link in national policy documents going forward.

FEASIBILITY

Mr Beecher said ECRA intends to carry out a feasibility study to back its case, which potentially could be funded by the local authority and chambers of commerce.

Youghal-based county mayor councillor Mary Linehan-Foley praised ECRA members for the effort they’d put in adding that they’d visited the Dail a few times to lobby for the project. Fianna Fáil councillor Ann Marie Ahern said that she would put a motion to the full council to get it to write to the government seeking this be done.

Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide told The Echo that he has raised the issue at two debates in the Dail. He said he also helped draft the ECRA submission on the need for the restoration of the rail link to the Oireachtas Transport Committee and also asked two parliamentary questions asking the government to restore the rail link.