The upgrade will create hundreds of new jobs.
Transport minister Eamon Ryan announced yesterday that €91.5 million will be invested on line improvements to the Cork-Dublin railway line over the next two years.
The investment will initially cut journey times by 8-10 minutes, and will future-proof the line to accommodate speeds of up to 200km/h, ultimately working to achieve the goal of a two-hour journey between Cork & Dublin.
Currently, journeys along this route can take anywhere up to 2 hours and 45 minutes, depending on the number of stops along the way.
Commenting on the investment, Minister Ryan mentions: “Yesterday we made a big commitment to the DART+ Fleet, and today we are demonstrating our commitment to mainline rail services, both of which will help us achieve our climate goals. Today’s funding will also provide an enhanced passenger service on the Dublin Cork line, and encourage more people to switch from car to rail.”
It is estimated that around 150 jobs will be created between 2022-2023, with a further 55 jobs in 2024 as a direct result of the spend on line improvements to the Cork-Dublin railway, with most of these roles to be created along the route between Portloaise and Cork.
Work is expected to be carried out at quieter times, such as weekends, in order to minimise commuter disruption.