Cork-Midleton line opening next month

[comcor]

At least it is according to the front page of the Evening Echo

Cork to Midleton rail line to open next month
THE long-awaited 100 million rail line from Cork to Midleton is on course to open next month. The 14 kilometre track is due to open at the end of June, according to Iarnród Eireann.

Work is almost complete on both new stations at Midleton and Carrigtwohill and large car parks will be created over the coming months for each site. More than 100kms of cabling will be laid adjacent to the tracks.

A 10m car bridge to service a small number of homes at Tivoli will also be completed this month. The line is expected to transform east Cork into a commuter haven. Trains will run every 30 minutes at peak times between Midleton and Cork.

The project has been hit by delays since it was first proposed in 2004. However, Iarnród Eireann says it is now firmly on schedule.

Mayor of Midleton, Cllr Ken Murray, said the town would be the envy of the rest of the country when the rail line opened.

“People are pleasantly surprised at the scale and infrastructure of the project. We appreciate that we have been very lucky and that no other town will get something like this in the coming years.

“We will make the most of it. Midleton will be able to come out of the economic slump quicker than other towns in Ireland because of this project.

Imagine that announcement being made during an election campaign...

I have to say, having seen the road bridge being constructed over the railway line and the Lower Glanmire Road in Cork, I'll be very impressed if it's ready next month.

[Mark Gleeson]

Bridge won't be complete

The line is handed over for testing at the end of month and opening day is quoted as Monday June 29th

[Thomas Ralph]

Well, June 29th is "next month"

[ACustomer]

Has the Cork-Cobh re-signalling been done yet? Is it to be left until after opening, with the inevitable disruptions? Smacks of a rushed pre-election job if they do not have absolutely everything complete.

[sublimity]

I thought it was just the Midleton section that will have the CTC

[finnyus]

Today (25 May 2009), Noel Dempsey, Minister for Transport launched the Midleton - Cork train timetable on board 2709 @ Midleton station.

The timetable is as follows:

Midleton - Cork
Journey time: 23mins

Mon - Sat, 20 services:
07:15, 07:45, 08:15, 08:45, 09:15, 09:45 - every 60 mins @ 45mins past the hour - 18:15, 18:45, 19:45, 20:45, 21:45, 22:45

Sun, 8 services:
08:45, 10:45, 12:45, 14:30, 16:45, 17:45, 19:15, 20:45

Cork - Midleton
Mon - Sat, 20 services:
06:45, 07:15, 07:45, 08:15, 08:45, 09:15 - every 60 mins @ 15mins past the hour - 17:45, 18:15, 19:15, 20:15, 21:15, 22:15

Sun, 8 services:
08:15, 10:15, 12:15, 14:00, 16:15, 17:15, 18:30, 20:15

The timetable was available on an A4 handout @ Midleton station this morning.

Finbarr.

[Thomas Ralph]

Do they all call at all stations enroute?

[Mark Gleeson]

Just in time for the election eh?

Cork has yet to receive the required 2 sets of 2600 railcars to provide the service and there is no sign of them

All stations enroute called at

[finnyus]

hi,

Travel Time / Station
00:00 / Midleton
00:07 / Carrigtwohill
00:12 / Glouthaune
00:15 / Little Island
00:23 / Cork

From the A4 leaflet/handout all trains serve each station above.

Finbarr.

[finnyus]

Hi Mark,

it was a complete election ploy this morning!!

Finbarr.

[ThomasJ]

Mayor of Midleton, Cllr Ken Murray, said the town would be the envy of the rest of the country when the rail line opened.

“People are pleasantly surprised at the scale and infrastructure of the project. We appreciate that we have been very lucky and that no other town will get something like this in the coming years.

[cough],[cough],Dunboyne,[cough],[cough]

[Mark Gleeson]

Originally Posted by finnyus

Hi Mark,

it was a complete election ploy this morning!!

Finbarr.

Well the gig today was not even communicated to IE staff, the staff in Cork have yet to receive a copy of the timetable and there aren't enough railcars in Cork to even run the current service, so on June 29th there is likely to be no train service to Midelton

[drumcondra commuter]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

Well the gig today was not even communicated to IE staff, ...so on June 29th there is likely to be no train service to Midelton

The sooner this gets exposed as a pre-election stunt the better.

[Mark Gleeson]

But it won't until after the 5th sadly

The line will be open for service on the 29th, will there actually be a service running is a different question

[Mark Hennessy]

Just like Tom Morrisey's shuttle bus around Rush & Lusk before the last election?

Well at least in this case, there will be a service at some stage on the Midleton line.

[Mark Gleeson]

First train will depart at 6.45am ... some day
By Sean O’Riordan
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
THE first train leaving Cork for Midleton will depart from platform one at 6.45am – only trouble is nobody knows on what day that will be.
A press conference organised by Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey descended into farce yesterday when he announced the timetable for the €75 million Cork-Midleton commuter rail service. He couldn’t say on what date the trains would roll.

Iarnród Éireann brought a special train down to Midleton station for the minister’s photoshoot.

He got in it with FF camp followers and Iarnród Éireann officials.

The engines revved and it looked like they were all off for a little spin. But the train remained stationary until the minister disembarked a short time later.

Unfortunately, according to an Iarnród Éireann spokesman, "the train wasn’t certified to carry passengers".

The company spokesman said it’s hoped the service will start rolling sometime in July. But he, too, couldn’t provide a date.

On numerous occasions during the past few years both Mr Dempsey and his predecessor at the department, the late Seamus Brennan, have been up and down the track emphasising to everybody who will listen that the train is coming.

Mr Dempsey described the timetable announcement as "an important landmark". He said the service would allow thousands of people to enjoy a stress-free rail journey.

When the service does get up and running there will be 20 trains each way daily. Trains will run every 30 minutes at peak time and every hour at off-peak from Monday to Friday.

Sixteen trains will operate each way on Saturdays, with eight on Sundays.

Read more: "First train will depart at 6.45am ... some day | Irish Examiner" - http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland...day-92675.html

© Irish Examiner 2009

[PLUMB LOCO]

Pure farce - you really have got to hand it to CIE and this clown of a minister they know how to turn a potential good news story into a PR disaster. Yet another example of CIE/IE being answerable to nobody. Next we can expect a dispute from drivers over operating the service - that is assuming any rolling stock can be found!

[drumcondra commuter]

Originally Posted by PLUMB LOCO

Pure farce - you really have got to hand it to CIE and this clown of a minister ...

This radio story woke me up this morning. It's rare that I wake up laughing.

[Mark Gleeson]

I'm told it was a very carefully planned PR stunt, all the big names rolled into town. Not only will there be the opening day, but also an official opening sometime later

This new found honesty of not knowing when the line will reopen is somewhat refreshing. There are major hurdles to jump through, finding some trains would be a good place to start

[sublimity]

Probably a good thing they didn't give a specific date possibly clever (from their point of view) At least the people of Midleton won't be getting there hopes up.

"Ah sure some day soon we'll have a train". Farce.