The Cork Suburban Rail network serves areas of County Cork, in Munster in Ireland. There has been a suburban rail system in Cork since the middle of the 19th century; however, it suffered line closures in the 20th century. The city also had a tram network - a short-lived horse-tram service in the 1870s and an electric tram system between 1898 and 1931. The present Cork Suburban Rail network operates on three lines, and is served by 10 stations. Additional stations are planned on these lines, but funding has not been committed and planning permission has not been sought. In 2018, there were 3.46 million passenger journeys on the Cork to Dublin line, 908,000 on the Cork to Cobh line, and 437,000 on the Cork-Midleton line The suburban rail network is based on a s-train concept.
Services run from Cork Kent to Mallow. Commuter services using 2600 class railcars supplement stops at Mallow and Cork by 22000 class railcar operated services from Cork to Tralee and Mark 4 locomotive hauled coach services from Cork to Heuston Station, Dublin. There are seven commuter trains a day from Cork to Mallow, three intercity trains from Cork to Tralee that serve Mallow, and 14 intercity trains from Cork to Heuston that serve Mallow. Only 1 service a day does not stop at Mallow which is the 06:15 Cork-Heuston express.
Cork to Cobh
Services run from Cork Kent to Little Island, Glounthaune, Fota, Carrigaloe, Rushbrooke, Cobh. The service is provided by two-coach 2600 Class diesel railcar sets, although trains of two sets are used when large crowds travel to and from Cobh for the arrival of International Cruise liners. Fota station can also be busy especially during Summer months, as the station serves visitors to Fota Wildlife Park. The journey from Cork-Cobh takes 24 minutes stopping at all stations en route. There are 23 services is each direction on weekdays. Services run hourly for most of the day increasing to 2 an hour at peak times
Services run from Cork Kent to Little Island, Glounthaune, Carrigtwohill and Midleton. There are 22 trains a day each way - Hourly off peak and half-hourly during peak times. The journey time between Cork and Midleton is 23 minutes, and together with the existing Cork - Cobh services there are 45 trains a day from Glounthaune & Little Island to Cork. This project was funded under the Irish Government's Transport 21 investment programme and opened on 31 July 2009. It involved the provision of a 10 km single track railway to Midleton with a passing loop at Carrigtwohill, new bridges to replace level crossings, improving existing bridges, new signalling systems and the reopening of Carrigtwohill and Midleton stations. The former Cork-Youghal rail line east of Glounthaune was closed to scheduled rail traffic in the mid 1970s. The line had irregular freight and "special" passenger train traffic up until 1988 when it was fully closed and became derelict. After many calls and political promises for its re-opening it was proposed under Transport 21 to renew the line as far as Midleton. Despite numerous delays construction finally began in early 2008, and it opened in July 2009. An extension to Youghal had been studied, but it materially changes the economics of the service by essentially doubling the route length.
Future
The Cork Suburban Rail line is currently struggling with money issues, there are plans to electrify the line in the future. Due to the relocation of the Port of Cork from the Tivoli area to Ringaskiddy, there are plans to reopen the Tivoli Station as part of an urban regeneration scheme. Proposals include new stations to grow the commuter business, with options including Kilbarry and Blarney.
