Reviving the youghal railway line

V.W.L 11 · 01-02-2014 11:58pm #1

I'm a regular visitor to east cork,frequently passing where the old railway line once passed,would people be in favour of bringing it back???the track itself is a piece of history in its own right,while i know the line to see from the roadside you cant actually see the track itself.

Its covered in vegetation,plus a few miles of it was removed in July 1988,is the line still complete barring that??as in was any of the old line built on???

Lambofdave · 02-02-2014 9:12am

V.W.L 11 wrote: »

as in was any of the old line built on???

none of the line was built on. In the county development plan there is sections of land kept around the line to facilitate the reopening of it. But I doubt that will be happening in the next 10 years

Riva10 · 02-02-2014 9:45am

The poor condition of roads in County Cork is much more important than spending much needed resources on a piece of railway line.
How many millions were spent on reviving The Midleton Cork railway, only to see trains on a daily basis travelling with 2 and 3 people on board and that includes the driver. Forget the Youghal railway and fix our roads.

scuby · 02-02-2014 10:42am

there are more than 2/3 people traveling on the Midleton line ! i get it twice daily, morning and evening at different times, and it's very busy. That does include school kids, college and other commuters to and from work in the city

V.W.L 11 · 02-02-2014 10:45am

Riva10 wrote: »

The poor condition of roads in County Cork is much more important than spending much needed resources on a piece of railway line.
How many millions were spent on reviving The Midleton Cork railway, only to see trains on a daily basis travelling with 2 and 3 people on board and that includes the driver. Forget the Youghal railway and fix our roads.

The T.D for east Cork David Stanton is an advocate of re-opening the line,so you should divert any concerns about repairing roads and your objection to the line being re-opened to him.

V.W.L 11 · 02-02-2014 10:48am

scuby wrote: »

there are more than 2/3 people traveling on the Midleton line ! i get it twice daily, morning and evening at different times, and it's very busy. That does include school kids, college and other commuters to and from work in the city

I have used the midleton train myself on numerous occasions,and it has been busier than the O.P suggests,were the line to be re-instated i'm sure it would attract numbers especially in the summer if the weather was as good as the summer of 2013

Lambofdave · 02-02-2014 11:48am

I would hate to think what it would cost to reopen the line past Midleton.

deRanged · 02-02-2014 12:19pm

There's some talk of opening the line as a greenway between Midleton and Youghal - for walking and cycling. I think that would be great.
I can't see the line ever reopening for rail.

Lambofdave · 02-02-2014 12:24pm

deRanged wrote: »

There's some talk of opening the line as a greenway between Midleton and Youghal - for walking and cycling. I think that would be great.
I can't see the line ever reopening for rail.

I like that idea very much, and i guess it could be done in away that if ever the rail line was wanted again it could be reinstated.

V.W.L 11 · 02-02-2014 2:08pm

Lambofdave wrote: »

I like that idea very much, and i guess it could be done in away that if ever the rail line was wanted again it could be reinstated.

the line was never legally closed and the old station itself in youghal was renovated after being burned to the ground,it is now secured AFAIK,the intent seems genuine but will it turn to fruition,is there a bird loft or something on the last mile of track in youghal?i read that somewhere,anyone here know how to add a poll to this page and we'll see who is for and against the idea???

Yawlboy · 02-02-2014 2:12pm

I heard that the reason the old station and all surrounding areas were fenced in was because someone climbed through the old fence and got injured, claimed and then CIE's insurance company insisted on new fencing. :mad:

V.W.L 11 · 02-02-2014 2:22pm

Yawlboy wrote: »

I heard that the reason the old station and all surrounding areas were fenced in was because someone climbed through the old fence and got injured, claimed and then CIE's insurance company insisted on new fencing. :mad:

sounds perfectly normal to expect that in the event of a claim,nothing to do with it being renovated so???

Lambofdave · 02-02-2014 2:46pm

V.W.L 11 wrote: »

the line was never legally closed and the old station itself in youghal was renovated after being burned to the ground,it is now secured AFAIK,the intent seems genuine but will it turn to fruition,is there a bird loft or something on the last mile of track in youghal?i read that somewhere,anyone here know how to add a poll to this page and we'll see who is for and against the idea???

they could still clear up the line and make it a path way and have it as some benefit to the community until they decide to reopen it.

V.W.L 11 · 02-02-2014 2:49pm

Lambofdave wrote: »

they could still clear up the line and make it a path way and have it as some benefit to the community until they decide to reopen it.

I totally agree with you,are David Stanton and Barbara Murray willing to press ahead with it i wonder

V.W.L 11 · 02-02-2014 3:20pm

poll added please select yes/no

rovoagho · 02-02-2014 4:21pm

You know people can choose both yes and no, right?

V.W.L 11 · 02-02-2014 4:30pm

rovoagho wrote: »

You know people can choose both yes and no, right?

first time I've ever set one of those things up,not on boards very long,still learning,i thought it was only one or the other

trying to change it without success,f**k sake,any MOD who can help me out here???

Outkast_IRE · 02-02-2014 4:33pm

I would be a massive advocate of reopening it. Ultimately all of east cork could benefit from it being reopened and the following.

1. Properly planned Housing developments placed on the route, with Train Stop and car parking spaces.
2. Train Station Opened in the IDA park in Carrigtwohill, its ridiculous this hasn't been opened yet, there are thousands working in that park a lot of which would be glad of the opportunity to use public transport as the bus routes are crap time wise.
3. Try and attract a company to take that large site between carrigtwohill and midelton that was prepared for a pharma company that pulled out, and place a train station in there too.
4. Reasonably priced monthly or weekly tickets.

rovoagho · 02-02-2014 5:01pm

V.W.L 11 wrote: »

first time I've ever set one of those things up,not on boards very long,still learning,i thought it was only one or the other trying to change it without success,f**k sake,any MOD who can help me out here???

Report the post and ask, reports send emails to all mods.

V.W.L 11 · 02-02-2014 5:17pm

rovoagho wrote: »

Report the post and ask, reports send emails to all mods.

thanks for that

Lambofdave · 02-02-2014 6:11pm

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

I would be a massive advocate of reopening it. Ultimately all of east cork could benefit from it being reopened and the following.

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

1. Properly planned Housing developments placed on the route, with Train Stop and car parking spaces.

This sounds a little bit like the Dunkettle housing project they are proposing and the reopening of the station there with a park and ride. I know there is some issue with the ownership of land the NRA say they own it and irish Rail say they own it.

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

2. Train Station Opened in the IDA park in Carrigtwohill, its ridiculous this hasn't been opened yet, there are thousands working in that park a lot of which would be glad of the opportunity to use public transport as the bus routes are crap time wise.

I don't think the IDA have gone for planning for a station, it was a private company who are the developers of the old Youghal Carpets site. Cost of the Station was reported to be around the 1 million euro mark. i agree one should be opened but the site for the one that has planning would not be central to the IDA park but nearly as far west as they can go.

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

3. Try and attract a company to take that large site between carrigtwohill and midelton that was prepared for a pharma company that pulled out, and place a train station in there too.

Who actually owns that site Amgen or IDA, it was a disgrace that site was rezoned so quickly when there is other places in cork that are already zoned for stand alone industry, I believe one of these already zoned sites is in little Island

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

4. Reasonably priced monthly or weekly tickets.

I have to admit I have never used the train service, purely as i pay enough to have a car and so on, and the fact that Kent Station is a fair old treck from anything I do in the city.

gobnaitolunacy · 03-02-2014 11:29am

Yawlboy wrote: »

I heard that the reason the old station and all surrounding areas were fenced in was because someone climbed through the old fence and got injured, claimed and then CIE's insurance company insisted on new fencing. :mad:

Should have threatened him with a trespass offence and told him to get stuffed.

Riva10 · 03-02-2014 12:13pm

scuby wrote: »

there are more than 2/3 people traveling on the Midleton line ! i get it twice daily, morning and evening at different times, and it's very busy. That does include school kids, college and other commuters to and from work in the city

Not meaning to belabour a point but in all honesty but is spending millions on a railway line and service justified by an early morning rush with empty carriages during the day until students and workers return home in the evening. A more efficient bus service would serve the same purpose and at a much smaller outlay.

Riva10 · 03-02-2014 12:16pm

V.W.L 11 wrote: »

I totally agree with you,are David Stanton and Barbara Murray willing to press ahead with it i wonder

If there are votes to be gained by pressing ahead, they will certainly make the right noises.

Riva10 · 03-02-2014 12:19pm

V.W.L 11 wrote: »

The T.D for east Cork David Stanton is an advocate of re-opening the line,so you should divert any concerns about repairing roads and your objection to the line being re-opened to him.

We are blue in the face from making representations to all the local TDs. without success Can you advise me as to a successful plan of action.

mordeith · 03-02-2014 12:34pm

There's no way it's going to re-open as a railway line I'd say. There are plans to convert it into a cycling/walkway but these are only at intial stages as far as I know.
The Midleton line made sense as there is a large commuter population there but I can't see the same demand for a Youghal service.

gobnaitolunacy · 03-02-2014 12:45pm

Lambofdave wrote: »

This sounds a little bit like the Dunkettle housing project they are proposing and the reopening of the station there with a park and ride. I know there is some issue with the ownership of land the NRA say they own it and irish Rail say they own it.

Don't think there's enough space to fit a station and a car park where the old Dunkettle was with the new roads and roundabout. There's a bit of waste ground further east, but you're as good as being in the Island then.

How much business can be squeezed out of Youghal? The days when Youghal was the Costa Del Sol for citydwellers before package holidays is long gone. It would be interesting to find out who commutes from there and how readily they will ditch the car to take a train.

V.W.L 11 · 03-02-2014 12:53pm

Riva10 wrote: »

We are blue in the face from making representations to all the local TDs. without success Can you advise me as to a successful plan of action.

Well the buck stops with the powers that be,fine gael & labour,remind your local cllr's when they come knocking for your vote in may,or run in the election yourself seeing as you feel so strongly about it!!!

Rhys Essien · 03-02-2014 12:54pm

I clicked Yes on the poll but what I would like to see operate would be a summer service between Midleton and Youghal with a Steam train or an old classic diesel train,that could hook up with the regular train in Midleton.They have similar in other countries.

I dont think an all year round service would be profitable.If I remember correctly,the cost of reopening the line from Glounthaune to Midleton was €90 million for a distance of ~7 miles,so for another 15 miles to Youghal would be at least another €190 million.Not a hope of getting funding I would think.

Also,as was said above,the train runs through the IDA estate in Carrigtwohill and still no station there.It sums up this country perfectly.What a joke.

Lambofdave · 03-02-2014 1:01pm

gobnaitolunacy wrote: »

Don't think there's enough space to fit a station and a car park where the old Dunkettle was with the new roads and roundabout. There's a bit of waste ground further east, but you're as good as being in the Island then.

Sorry I didn't mean reopening the old dunkettle station in the exact same spot but at Inchera were the old level crossing was into little island

gobnaitolunacy · 03-02-2014 1:03pm

Rhys Essien wrote: »

I clicked Yes on the poll but what I would like to see operate would be a summer service between Midleton and Youghal with a Steam train or an old classic diesel train,that could hook up with the regular train in Midleton.They have similar in other countries.

There was talk about doing that way way back in the 80's, unfortunately it would be too far from the RPSI's bases and as for some of the other preservationists Irish Rail wouldn't touch them with a barge pole.

Rhys Essien · 03-02-2014 1:07pm

Only in Ireland would it cost ~€13 million for 1 mile of track with new stations and bridges included.Bargain.:(

V.W.L 11 · 03-02-2014 2:08pm

Rhys Essien wrote: »

Only in Ireland would it cost ~€13 million for 1 mile of track with new stations and bridges included.Bargain.:(

1 mile of track???plus the other 7 they sent to Sligo in 1988 :mad:

goldie fish · 03-02-2014 2:38pm

Riva10 wrote: »

The poor condition of roads in County Cork is much more important than spending much needed resources on a piece of railway line.
How many millions were spent on reviving The Midleton Cork railway, only to see trains on a daily basis travelling with 2 and 3 people on board and that includes the driver. Forget the Youghal railway and fix our roads.

If there was an alternative to the roads, lets say a railway line, the roads would not need to be repaired as often.

In an ideal world most of the heavy freight should travel by rail too.

V.W.L 11 · 03-02-2014 2:58pm

goldie fish wrote: »

If there was an alternative to the roads, lets say a railway line, the roads would not need to be repaired as often.

In an ideal world most of the heavy freight should travel by rail too.

100% agree with you

mordeith · 03-02-2014 3:27pm

goldie fish wrote: »

If there was an alternative to the roads, lets say a railway line, the roads would not need to be repaired as often.

Or if they were put down properly in the first place. The standard of the road laying is appalling in lots of case.

rovoagho · 03-02-2014 3:40pm

Rhys Essien wrote: »

I clicked Yes on the poll but what I would like to see operate would be a summer service between Midleton and Youghal with a Steam train or an old classic diesel train,that could hook up with the regular train in Midleton.They have similar in other countries.

I dont think an all year round service would be profitable.If I remember correctly,the cost of reopening the line from Glounthaune to Midleton was €90 million for a distance of ~7 miles,so for another 15 miles to Youghal would be at least another €190 million.Not a hope of getting funding I would think.

Also,as was said above,the train runs through the IDA estate in Carrigtwohill and still no station there.It sums up this country perfectly.What a joke.

While I'd love to see steam down here, most of the steam trips in Ireland are run by clubs, presumably because they barely pay for themselves.

And if it can't be run profitably all year round, I don't think it will even be considered. A summer service just wouldn't pay for the line rebuild, ever.

mordeith wrote: »

Or if they were put down properly in the first place. The standard of the road laying is appalling in lots of case.

Absolutely true, and this becomes immediately apparent when you cross the bridge into Waterford. Cork County Council were appalling at building roads, and the contractors they use now are just as bad.

V.W.L 11 · 03-02-2014 4:00pm

rovoagho wrote: »

While I'd love to see steam down here, most of the steam trips in Ireland are run by clubs, presumably because they barely pay for themselves.

And if it can't be run profitably all year round, I don't think it will even be considered. A summer service just wouldn't pay for the line rebuild, ever.

Absolutely true, and this becomes immediately apparent when you cross the bridge into Waterford. Cork County Council were appalling at building roads, and the contractors they use now are just as bad.

The roads are very bad now even during the boom they werent fantastic but still better than today,the government want us to use public transport which could be part of a plan to force people out out of cars and onto trains/buses,i wonder do youghal people themselves want the line back?i'm guessing a majority would favour it regardless.

Outkast_IRE · 03-02-2014 6:03pm

Riva10 wrote: »

Not meaning to belabour a point but in all honesty but is spending millions on a railway line and service justified by an early morning rush with empty carriages during the day until students and workers return home in the evening. A more efficient bus service would serve the same purpose and at a much smaller outlay.

As I have mentioned opening a proper station in the IDA park in Carrigtwohill would open this railway line up to thousands more people every day.

Theres a lot of people that commute from the city and midleton to that industrial estate every day.

The midlleton station will be justified if they they are smart with planning their developments around it and hopefully other stations on the route in the future.

And as I said if they could find a taker for that site that was meant to be Amgen you could have another thousand people looking to make use of it.

Generally with such projects you need to plan for the future. If anything that railway line could be busier if Bus eireann and irish rail worked together to use it as a feeder point to and from the city with a reasonable combined ticket price.

V.W.L 11 · 03-02-2014 6:22pm

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

As I have mentioned opening a proper station in the IDA park in Carrigtwohill would open this railway line up to thousands more people every day.

Theres a lot of people that commute from the city and midleton to that industrial estate every day.

The midlleton station will be justified if they they are smart with planning their developments around it and hopefully other stations on the route in the future.

And as I said if they could find a taker for that site that was meant to be Amgen you could have another thousand people looking to make use of it.

Generally with such projects you need to plan for the future. If anything that railway line could be busier if Bus eireann and irish rail worked together to use it as a feeder point to and from the city with a reasonable combined ticket price.

In short,amgen pulling out of that site f**ked it all up???

Outkast_IRE · 03-02-2014 7:30pm

V.W.L 11 wrote: »

In short,amgen pulling out of that site f**ked it all up???

No I didn't say that nor anything like it, but it was part of the plan to have a station there and the site was meant to have about 1100 working there.

The carrigtwohill station was shelved when funds tightened up, and it was a short sighted move. The current station location in carrigtwohill is too far from the IDA park to be of use to workers.

V.W.L 11 · 03-02-2014 11:36pm

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

No I didn't say that nor anything like it, but it was part of the plan to have a station there and the site was meant to have about 1100 working there.

The carrigtwohill station was shelved when funds tightened up, and it was a short sighted move. The current station location in carrigtwohill is too far from the IDA park to be of use to workers.

lets hope they do something with that site and incorporate a station and line into it,they don't get paid mega bucks for nothing (we'd hope)

Markcheese · 04-02-2014 10:17am

Re another carrigtohil station,The cork Midleton line isn't very long ,unless you live smack in the city-centre or on the west side of Midleton town (near the station) ,you're going to drive to get to the station , and once in the car you might as well keep going the extra 10 mins to carrigtohil, it'd be quicker and cheaper ....
There's no multimodal park and ride at dunkettal ,so that you could get off the fermoy or north cork express coachs and get the train to Midleton carrigtohil, or get an industrial estate shuttle to your job in little island...

V.W.L 11 · 04-02-2014 8:05pm

Markcheese wrote: »

Re another carrigtohil station,The cork Midleton line isn't very long ,unless you live smack in the city-centre or on the west side of Midleton town (near the station) ,you're going to drive to get to the station , and once in the car you might as well keep going the extra 10 mins to carrigtohil, it'd be quicker and cheaper ....
There's no multimodal park and ride at dunkettal ,so that you could get off the fermoy or north cork express coachs and get the train to Midleton carrigtohil, or get an industrial estate shuttle to your job in little island...

maybe it'll all happen in celtic tiger 2

Riva10 · 04-02-2014 8:23pm

V.W.L 11 wrote: »

Well the buck stops with the powers that be,fine gael & labour,remind your local cllr's when they come knocking for your vote in may,or run in the election yourself seeing as you feel so strongly about it!!!

I notice that you did not comment on the extra votes to be gained by talking the talk to open the line.
As to running in the elections. I am sure that you will agree that it takes a person with a very special mentality to run for election. I am glad to say that I do not fit the bill.

V.W.L 11 · 04-02-2014 8:28pm

Riva10 wrote: »

I notice that you did not comment on the extra votes to be gained by talking the talk to open the line.
As to running in the elections. I am sure that you will agree that it takes a person with a very special mentality to run for election. I am glad to say that I do not fit the bill.

the vast majority of my replies are in short text,i don't like writing essays.and as for running elections it takes a good liar,even pat rabbitte said "isn't that what you do at election time,lie"

V.W.L 11 · 16-02-2014 5:22pm

parts of the line are located next to or in the backyard of people's property I discovered today whilst in youghal,would it still be permissible to reopen a line that close to house in this day and age?

whisky_galore · 16-02-2014 7:41pm

V.W.L 11 wrote: »

parts of the line are located next to or in the backyard of people's property I discovered today whilst in youghal,would it still be permissible to reopen a line that close to house in this day and age?

Someone extended their garden onto the Youghal line just after Cobh Jct, the railway came through, he got some sort of screen to close off the line from his house. As for his garden....tough t*tty....it's still CIE property.:p

V.W.L 11 · 16-02-2014 8:15pm

whisky_galore wrote: »

Someone extended their garden onto the Youghal line just after Cobh Jct, the railway came through, he got some sort of screen to close off the line from his house. As for his garden....tough t*tty....it's still CIE property.:p

Well the line is still legally open,so tough sh1t for him/her if/when it reopens :-)

SC Kevin · 24-02-2014 10:05pm

Ive been living in Youghal the past number of years (originally from Midleton) and i would love for the railway line to be re-opened as would most people who live here!

As others have said, the main time it would be used would most likely be the summer time when a lot of people from the city come down to the beach and stay in the holiday homes, like they did years ago. But it would also be very handy for traveling to work and cheaper!

When i worked in the city, it cost me 100 euro per week in petrol driving up and down everyday! (1.9 mondeo

) which is limiting my job hunting to closer towns like Midleton or Dungarvan.

I dont think it will happen thou, not for a very long time cause, and ive said this to many people down here, Youghal in on the long finger of a lot of politicians who simply dont care, which is a shame cause it would be nice to see the place buzzing during the summer time, employment would go up, which means more people spending money locally!

V.W.L 11 · 24-02-2014 10:20pm

SC Kevin wrote: »

Ive been living in Youghal the past number of years (originally from Midleton) and i would love for the railway line to be re-opened as would most people who live here!

As others have said, the main time it would be used would most likely be the summer time when a lot of people from the city come down to the beach and stay in the holiday homes, like they did years ago. But it would also be very handy for traveling to work and cheaper!

When i worked in the city, it cost me 100 euro per week in petrol driving up and down everyday! (1.9 mondeo ) which is limiting my job hunting to closer towns like Midleton or Dungarvan.

I dont think it will happen thou, not for a very long time cause, and ive said this to many people down here, Youghal in on the long finger of a lot of politicians who simply dont care, which is a shame cause it would be nice to see the place buzzing during the summer time, employment would go up, which means more people spending money locally!

I really do hope David Stanton the TD is genuine in his pursuit to get the line reopened and not just a publicity stunt. 1.9 mondeo????thirsty piece of kit,had a mondeo myself so I know how you feel

all in all though I reckon it could be a success if reinstated,not just in the summer time.

but I agree the vast majority of business would come from being in the summer months.i pass the line regularly and to say its overgrown is putting it politely :rolleyes: but apart from a 7 mile stretch the track is more or less still intact,have you used the midleton train since it returned???good service but dirty carriages :mad:

Reviving the youghal railway line

should the Youghal railway line be revived 89 votes

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