Late night weekend Cork train to Midleton ‘would boost social life and night-time economy’

By Peter McCarthy, Corkman

A late-night/early-morning train service from Cork city to Midleton at the weekends would boost social life and give people living in the East Cork town a cheaper option for getting home after a night out than taking a taxi.

Currently, the last train departs Cork for Midleton at 10.45pm.

At this week’s meeting of the East Cork Municipal District a motion was passed calling on Iarnród Éireann to consider adding a later train to the schedule, ideally operating in the early hours of Saturday and Sunday mornings.

The motion was put forward by Cllr Eamonn Horgan, who said a later train would provide a safe, reliable, and sustainable transport option for residents of East Cork who travel into Cork city for evening social, cultural, or culinary activities as well as those working in the city’s nighttime economy.

“You have people working in bars, theatres and restaurants, which by their nature tend to close late. It might be a student trying to make some money for the week ahead in college, or the fiddle player playing in the corner of a candle-lit pub,” the Social Democrats councillor said.

"We’re actively trying to encourage people to use the train, so we need to understand that the train needs to work for the people and suit the people’s lives. Some people like to stay out later than 11pm.”

"This will benefit so many people. It’s those going to the Opera House or the Everyman Theatre, those going to gigs in the city bars, those who are going to dine out in Cork’s many fine restaurants.”

The motion met support from the other councillors and the East Cork Municipal District will now write to Iarnród Éireann to initiate discussions on the potential addition to the weekend schedule.

The Cork to Midleton rail service opened in 2009 and has proved popular with commuters. Iarnród Éireann is currently laying a second track along the Glounthaune to Midleton rail corridor as part of the Cork Area Commuter Rail Programme, which aims at providing a train every 10 minutes on the commuter lines to Midleton, Mallow and Cobh. The programme will also involve eight new stations and upgrades to the three existing stations.