The Minister for Finance says he expects the preferred route for a light rail system in Cork to be published this year.
Minister Michael McGrath was speaking at the official signing of a 78.5 million euro signalling contract by Irish Rail in Cork yesterday.
The new project will treble the number of trains which can operate between the city and Cobh, Mallow and Midleton.
Eventually, the Cork Commuter Rail Network will have a capacity of 16 million passenger journeys per year.
Works, by rail company Alstom Transportation, are to begin later in 2023 and finish in three years time.
Speaking to RedFM News, Minister McGrath says the route's publication had to be delayed:
"It was hoped that this summer we would see the publication of the preferred route. That didn't happen because of engagement that had to take place between the NTA and Cork City Council in relation to the route in the City Centre area. And so that work is ongoing, but I do expect that we will see publication of the preferred route later this year. And then there will need to be public consultation. And the statutory processes will have to take place then arising from that".
