Planning application lodged for train station at Dunkettle
Planning permission has been lodged by Iarnród Éireann for the development of a new train station at Dunkettle in Cork city.
The station is set to be a provide a 300-space park and ride facility, located near the Dunkettle Interchange. It will provide easy access to major roads such as the M8 and N25 and will help to ease congestion and intercept traffic before it enters the city.
The Dunkettle station will be served by two commuter lines, Cork-Cobh, and Cork-Midleton. There will be an initial 15 minute service, which will decrease to every five minutes each way after the completion of works as part of the wider Cork Area Commuter Rail Programme (CACRP).
The station will consist of two platforms connected by a pedestrian footbridge, which will be accessible via stairs and accessible lifts.
Construction is expected to commence in 2027 and take up to two years to complete, subject to planning approval and funding allocation.
The submission is the second of eight set to be made by Iarnród Éireann as part of the Cork Area Commuter Rail Programme. Planning was previously submitted for a station in Blackpool at the beginning of May this year.
The proposed developments at Blackpool and Dunkettle are located on land already owned by Iarnród Éireann, which will remove the need to acquire land and therefore accelerate development.
The new stations form Phase 2 of the CACRP, which is intended to deliver the network capacity to allow for significant increases to train service frequency on each of Cork’s three commuter lines: to Cobh, Midleton, and Mallow.
A second round of public consultation closed in June this year. A railway order is expected to be submitted by Iarnród Éireann to An Coimisiún Pleanála by the end of 2026. This will include proposals for an additional six stations, electrification, and a new fleet maintenance depot at Cork’s Kent Station.
TD for Cork North-Central Pádraig O’Sullivan said: “This is a key piece of the Cork Area Commuter Rail Programme, bringing new park & ride options and better connections for commuters across Metropolitan Cork.
“One step closer to high frequency, electrified rail network serving Cork, Cobh, Midleton, and Mallow.
“Huge credit to AJ Cronin and the whole Iarnród Éireann team, alongside the NTA, for driving this project forward. Transformative stuff for how we travel for generations to come,” he said.
The CACRP forms part of the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy (CMATS) 2040, developed by the National Transport Authority (NTA) in partnership with both Cork City and Cork County Councils, and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TFI).