Feedback from Irish Rail to East Cork councillors in 2024 suggested the corridor is wide enough to accommodate a single-track rail alongside the greenway. This has reignited public momentum, channelled by a dynamic grassroots campaign group — the East Cork Rail Alliance — whose members include former Youghal town councillors Michael Beecher and Liam Burke. Despite the €215m investment in the Dunkettle Interchange, journey times from East Cork to the city remain prone to extreme delays. We should be under no illusions about the scale of the challenge involved in restoring the Youghal-Midleton line. When this service is eventually linked to the Cork Luas, it will be truly transformative for East Cork.

Source: Irish Examiner January 13, 2026 13:56 UTC