First pre-9am Dublin train set for Cork
Cork is set to get its first pre-9am train arrival from Dublin with the announcement of a new 6am service from the capital.
From 10 December, Iarnród Éireann, in conjunction with the NTA, is planning to introduce the new 6am service leaving Dublin Heuston as part of a new timetable.
The early service, which is proposed to operate Monday to Friday, would arrive in Kent Station, Cork, at 8.32am.
The service will replace the existing 7.45 Charleville/Cork service, serving Charleville at 7.47am and Mallow at8.05am.
It will also serve Thurles and Limerick Junction.
On Saturdays, a 7.47am Charleville/Cork service will continue to operate serving Mallow at 8.05am.
Additionally, the new timetable will bring a number of other changes and improvements to Cork’s rail services including an extra morning peak service each way between Cork and Mallow every day from Monday to Saturday.
It will also bring journey time improvements on many Dublin to Cork services, following infrastructure works, including a non-stop service of 2 hours 14 minutes.
The 5.45am Cork/Heuston service (Mon-Sat) will be advanced to 5.40am, and on Mondays to Fridays will now be operated by a Mark 4 train, including CityGold. Arrival in Dublin will be 1 minute earlier than present.
The 4.40am Tralee/Mallow (Monday only) will advance to 4.30am, operating 10 minutes earlier throughout.
This is to maintain the connection at Mallow into the advanced 05.40 hrs Cork/Heuston service. Also, the 6.55am Mallow/Cork (Mon-Sat) will be advanced to 6.50am.
Iarnród Éireann has published details of the proposed schedule and has invited the public to submit feedback in advance of the finalisation of the new timetable.
An Iarnród Éireann spokesperson said: “We believe this will be a very popular service, with the arrival in Cork well before 9am particularly attractive to business customers.
“We encourage all current customers and all considering rail for their sustainable travel options to review the proposed changes, and give us their feedback, as we finalise the new schedule.”