Taoiseach Micheál Martin and EU consumer protection commissioner Michael McGrath attended a ceremony to launch the new platform 6 at Cork Kent train station recently.

Transport minister Darragh O’Brien and lord mayor of Cork Cllr Dan Boyle and other dignitaries also took part in the event and a plaque was unveiled acknowledging the EU funding contribution.

The new platform became operational on April 15. Its construction was funded with €23m from the European Union Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), part of EU’s post-pandemic economic stimulus package NextGenerationEU.

Phase 1 of the Cork Area Commuter Rail Programme

The EU grant is part of a larger investment of €164m in Phase 1 of the Cork Area Commuter Rail Programme.

Member states can use the RRF funds in accordance with their National Recovery and Resilience plans which are roadmaps for reforms and investments aimed at making EU economies greener, more digital and more resilient. 

Platform 6 will allow for a significant increase in train service frequency, with commuters able to travel between Mallow in the north of the county, and Cobh/Midleton in the east without having to change trains at Kent station.

Iarnrod Éireann's delivery manager for Cork AJ Cronin said it is a milestone for the delivery of the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy.

"In addition, we are also going to deliver a new fleet depot, eight new stations in the Cork area, adding to the existing ten stations, and electrifying the network - decarbonising the network and providing for a new fleet to deliver that higher frequency service into the future," he said. 

The new platform is one of three multi-million euro upgrading projects under the Cork Area Commuter Rail Programme currently under way with funding of €23m from the European Union Recovery and Resilience Facility.

The two others, due for completion next year, include new twin tracks between Glounthaune to Midleton, and an upgrading of the Cork area signalling system.