Cork Area Commuter Rail (CACR)

thomil

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124023230#Comment_124023230

Thanks for clarifying that, I was actually struggling to remember whether it was 15 or 25 kV, and I guess my innate bias as a German got the better of me, sorry about that.

The base point remains, and that's that the Cork network will be electrified to mainline standards, rather than the 1.5 kV DC used on the DART, snd which always seemed rather anaemic to me.

hans aus dtschl

CACR-Project-Report.pdf

Here's the CACR Report

jimbob955

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124023126#Comment_124023126

This is fantastic, thanks for all the info. Really appreciate the updates. Hpefully it gets done now. And something similar for the rest of the country as well.

I could be cynical and say if they started 2002, finished by 2030, that really should have been sped up. Maybe the cash etc impacted, but this could have been delivered 5 years quicker at least maybe!

Frostybrew

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124022732#Comment_124022732

I reckon the aim is to have most of the project done by 2030. Double tracking is due to be completed by next year. The first consultation, earlier this year, was met with a positive response from the public; and Irish Rail are hoping to apply for planning permission for the eight new stations next year. The stations will probably be delivered on a phased basis. It's unlikely for example, that Tivoli will be done by 2030 as it is dependant on the port relocating, and they are not due to complete this move until 2040. There is a good chance that Dunkettle, Blackpool, Water Rock, and Carrigtwohill will be completed by 2030. Cobh and Mallow stations are also being upgraded with the addition of new platforms.

Electrification and a new depot should also be completed by 2030, if funding materialises, for reasons that others in this thread have outlined.

This seems like very fast progression of infrastructural development by Irish standards, but behind the scenes, it has taken many years to get to this point. The reopening of the Midleton railway was first mooted in the LUTS plan of 1978, but not actioned until 2009. This 2009 opening was itself a watered down version of what should have happened. For example, the eight new stations were originally supposed to have opened in 2009, but this part of the plan was mothballed due to the fiscal crisis at the time.

Interestingly, an option to reopen a line to Carrigaline via the old Blackrock and Passage railway, was also examined in the 1978 LUTS plan. It was decided at the time, that this would be a long term strategic goal; which is why the alignment was preserved, resulting in the creation of the Cork to Passage greenway. Long term in 1978 would have been the 1990s, but the idea was never progressed due to the economic and political climate. The best chance present day Carrigaline (or other parts of the Cork urban area) has of being rail connected, would be the extension of the proposed LUAS, which is going to be post 2040.

Another aspect of the LUTS plan was to zone large areas of land along the rail corridor for developmental purposes. This is something that other cities have been slow to action, in comparison to Cork. Integrated transport and land use provision has been a key aspect of planning in Cork for nearly 50 years now, and plays a huge part in bringing a plan like this to fruition. As an example, there are large tracts of undeveloped land along the railway between Oranmore and Ceannt that could easily be developed, and several stations reopened. Unless the land is not suitable for a reason I am not aware of. Similarly, in Limerick a development corridor could be established between Adare and Limerick along the rail line, if the Cork model of development was followed.

hans aus dtschl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124023492#Comment_124023492

The financial crash killed everything.

It was supposed to happen shortly after the Midleton reinstatement.

The Carrigtwohill/Midleton extension had business justification numbers which were overly optimistic, and the relative lack of success there effectively paused Kilbarry, Blarney etc. Then whole project was shelved quietly. I rememember Andrew Roche announcing the original plan, I think 2002, but we seem to have a real chance of seeing finished infrastructure and scheduling this time. There's been a lot of real change in the interim.

jimbob955

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124023531#Comment_124023531

Thank you so much for the detail. Really enjoy reading and learning this. I criticise Cork City/Council a lot. But it sounds like they got a lot right. Developing eaat along the rail line and now maybe north to Mallow will ensure its success.

Hopefully Limerick and Galway are watching, and follow suit.

Thanks again!!

goingnowhere

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124023361#Comment_124023361

For intercity and freight 25kV is the international standard, every piece of electrification beyond DART+ will be 25kV. 1500V DC was the correct choice in Dublin based on the conditions of the time (1973…) and the clearance challenges on the southside and future tunnels.