[Article] Commuter railway ‘could carry four million per year’

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Commuter railway ‘could carry four million per year’
By Sean O’Riordan

AN inquiry into the €139 million commuter railway planned for Cork heard yesterday that it could carry up to four million passengers a year.

The inquiry, which is being chaired by Pat Butler SC, heard that Iarnród Éireann hopes to have the Cork-Midleton line open by the end of July 2008, and in its first year of operation it is likely to carry 1.74 million passengers.

However, Tom Finn, the company’s Transport 21 manager, told the inquiry at Midleton Park Hotel, that passenger numbers would rise to two million per annum by 2010 and four million by 2015.

Mr Finn said the CASP (Cork Area Strategic Plan) had identified corridors for public transport and predicted major job creation in the north and east of Cork, which needed to be addressed.

He added that it was predicted the population of Midleton would increase to 16,700 by 2020, from its current 6,400, while Carrigtwohill’s will jump from 3,400 to 15,000.

Phase one of the rail project, which was under discussion yesterday, will also include reopening stations at Midleton, Carrigtwohill, Dunkettle, Kilbarry and Blarney and the acquisition of 12 diesel railcars. Improved services to and from Mallow are also included in the package.

Phase two, which will probably occur in the middle of the next decade, will involve increasing the number of railcars to 24, the frequency of services and the opening of a new station at Monard, near Blarney, where a 5,000-house town is planned.

Mr Finn said the benefits of the commuter line would also allow for the creation of higher density developments and widen access to more affordable housing in the region.

Oliver Doyle, Iarnród Éireann’s operations development manager, pointed out that initially there would be two trains per hour at peak time between Midleton and Cork and two between Cobh and Mallow. There will be a once-hourly service off-peak between Midleton and Cork.

“When demand increases on the Midleton section the frequency will be increased to four trains per hour. Ultimately the Cobh service will be four trains hourly in each direction,” he said.

He added that the first train from Cobh will leave at 6.30am and the first from Midleton at 6.45am. The last train out of Cork for Midleton will be 11.45pm and to Cobh at 11.59pm.

Mr Doyle said it was eventually envisaged that in years to come the Glounthaune-Midleton section of the line would have a capacity of four trains per hour in either direction.

The Carrigtwohill and Midleton stations will be fitted with footbridges, lifts, ticket vending machines and will have large car parks.

He said there would be three CCTV-monitored level crossings along the line and that the level crossings at Myrtlehill and Woodhill in Tivoli would be eliminated. This has caused concern to local residents who will state their objections at the inquiry tomorrow.

Niall O’Loughlin, an environmental expert with the independent PM Group, said efforts were being made to address potential impacts on wildlife.

He said that badgers would be protected and provided with alternative setts if necessary. He added that there would also be provision of bat roosting sites. In addition there will be replacement of woodland habitat, scrub and grassland where necessary.

Iarnród Éireann hopes to start construction on May 21, 2007 and commence operator training the following year, with the line being completed on July 29, 2008.

Planning permission in this case can only be given by Minister for Transport, Martin Cullen, because railway works are excepted from going before the normal planning authority.

The inquiry has received 35 submissions from the public and these will be heard in the coming days.

The inquiry should continue until November 3.

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Iarnród Éireann plans closure of three level crossings in rail plan
By Seán O’Riordan

CLOSURE of three level crossings and their replacement with a large bridge are planned by Iarnród Eireann under the company’s proposed €139 million new rail network for Cork.

Day two of a the inquiry into the proposed Euro 139 commuter rail upgrade for Cork, heard Iarnród Eireann officials state they wanted to close the level crossings on the Lower Glanmire Road for safety reasons, especially as more trains will be using that section of track when the Midleton line reopens in July 2008.

Objections have been made to the closures by residents in Myrtle Hill Terrace, Bellevue and Woodside Villas who use the crossings to access their homes. Their legal representatives are expected to outline their case tomorrow at the hearing which is taking place in Midleton ParkHotel.

Conor McGuinness, a senior projects manager with Iarnród Eireann, provided the chairman of the inquiry, Pat Buckley SC, with a letter from Mary Molloy, principal inspector with the Railway Safety Commission, which suggested the three crossings be closed.

Mark Kilcullen, a consultant engineer, showed the hearing computer-generated pictures of the steel-arched bridge which Iarnród Eireann is proposing to build across the railway line. Part of it will be pile-drived into the bed of the River Lee.

Andrew Hinds, vice-president of Irish Planning Institute and a senior executive planner with Cork County Council, said the railway project would sustain major population growth.

He said it was vital that part of the Midleton Northern Relief Road — from the Cork Road to Mill Road — be completed in advance of the reopening of the town’s railway station, otherwise serious traffic congestion could result for commuters.

Mr Hinds added that a site had also been reserved for a second railway station to the western side of the town, near Waterrock, if it was needed in future years to serve land which had been zoned in that area for more than 2,500 houses.

Michael Woulfe, who owns Railway House in Midleton, which is right next to the station, said he was in favour of its reopening, but expressed one rather unusual concern.

As semi-commercial beekeeper, Mr Woulfe runs a honey extracting operation at his home and was worried that some bees could escape and sting commuters.

He said he would be able to move his operation to another area, but requested some compensation from Iarnród Eireann for doing so.

Blandcrest and Gable Holdings, which have planning permission for 1,600 houses in Carrigtwohill, expressed concern that Iarnród Eireann was seeking to take away some of their land for an access road. Brian Archer who was representing the developers said this would mean they would be unable to build 34 houses.

Chris White an expert involved in station planning in the UK, who was acting on behalf of Blackpool Developments, claimed that the station in Midleton was being built in the wrong place. He said it should not be built on its former site east of Mill Road. He said the western side was a better option as that was where most of the new housing development would go.

For anyone who doesn't know Midleton, the difference between the two sites is about 150m. The existing station is closer to the town centre, but the other suggested site would be closer to a lot of the new housing. Personally, I favour the existing site. Although the other proposed site would mean not having a level-crossing on Mill Road, it would effectively preclude extension of the service to Youghal at a later date.

As for the level-crossings on the lower Glanmire Rd. I honestly think that having a bridge instead of the level crossings is preferable in terms of improved access. If Midleton and Cobh are operated at 2 tph during peak hours, that would mean 8 trains crossing the level crossings every hour. They would be blocked as often as they could get through.

[Mark Gleeson]

Actually talking about 4 trains an hour from Midleton and 4 from Cobh, could be looking at up to 12 train movements per hour in the long term, the level crossings are dangerous enough just getting on/off the Glanmire Rd is serious fun

Nothing done now will proclude going to Youghal later

[ACustomer]

"Blandcrest and Gable Holdings, which have planning permission for 1,600 houses in Carrigtwohill, expressed concern that Iarnród Eireann was seeking to take away some of their land for an access road. Brian Archer who was representing the developers said this would mean they would be unable to build 34 houses."

So they gripe because the rail development which enabled them to get permission for such a huge number of houses in the first place might actually need some access route? Tells you a lot about the Brass Neck mentality of developers.

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Homeowner begs for a few feet more from line
By Sean O’Riordan

IS Iarnród Éireann for the birds? That the question one householder is asking after the rail company refused to move the planned Cork-Midleton line a few feet back from his home, but was willing to spend up to €500,000 providing a nearby roadbridge which will be used by just a handful of birdwatchers.


Tim Murray, and his wife, Deirdre, whose home is one of three closest to the proposed line at Glounthaune, said that when it is constructed it will be between 12ft and 15ft from their property.

He appealed to Iarnród Éireann to put the track further back, but they have refused.

Mr Murray said he couldn’t understand this when the company was prepared to spend so much on constructing a bridge which will be used to gain access into Harper’s Island, a nearby bird sanctuary.

Access will only be granted by appointment. Yet access to the area is easily gained from the East Cork Parkway.

“I cannot understand why they won’t build an automated level crossing, especially as the bridge will only be used a couple of times a year,” Mr Murray said.

Iarnród Éireann is proposing to construct the large bridge less than 30 metres from his front gate, which will add to his problems.

The company have said they will build an acoustic barrier between his garden and the line, but have refused to move the line back or to drop plans for the bridge.

“I’m not opposed to the railway one bit. I’m not opposed to birdwatchers either, but Iarnród Éireann has simply failed to examine any alternatives,” the 34-year-old welder said.

“This bridge is surely a colossal waste of taxpayers’ money. How can they justify that kind of money when there will be just a few visits a year by birdwatchers? Surely the money could be better spent on providing hospital equipment or orthodontic services for children,” Mr Murray said.

He made clear some of his concerns at last week’s four-day inquiry into the reopening of the railway line.

Iarnród Éireann is putting in measures to protect badgers and bats, which has led to claims that it’s treating wildlife better than some of the residents living alongside the track.

The company was asked to comment but did not reply.

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[Mark Gleeson]

Of course what this guy doesn't know is

1) If a bridge is possible safety people don't want level crossings
2) Automated CCTV 4 barrier crossings are €700,000 + and have a life of maybe 20 years and require constant attention
3) Standard bridge requires practically zero maintenance and will last 100+ years (first rail overbridge in Ireland is 172 years old and still in use) life cycle cost its a whole lot cheaper than a level crossing
4) If they had LC every time a train passed you would have to put up with the buzzer

So the bridge is actually €200,000 cheaper