Suburban Rail

Cork City centre is set to become increasingly connected with its suburbs and hinterland towns via rail. The Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy (CMATS) plans for new and improved rail connections from Kent Station to the northern and eastern parts of the wider Cork area, including Blackpool, Tivoli, Dunkettle, Monard, Blarney, Ballynoe, Carrigtwohill and Water Rock and increased services to Mallow, Midleton and Cobh.

As part of a €185 million investment in the rail network, Iarnród Éireann has commenced works on a new platform in Kent Station that will allow high-frequency commuter trains to run directly from Mallow through the city to Midleton or Cobh, so that passengers will not have to change platform if they wish to travel onward from the city. Other elements include upgrade of signalisation to increase frequency and new tracks to Midleton.