Iarnród Éireann to complete second track to Midleton by 2027

On 31 July 2026 Iarnród Éireann reported that the main construction works on the EUR 90 million second track to Midleton are largely finished: twelve months of preparation from September 2024 were followed by the first new section of track in September 2025, and 7.5 km of new track were laid together with the widening of the Owennacurra river bridge, culverts, level crossings and 20 retaining walls, all alongside a working railway. The overall project will be completed in 2027 together with the signalling renewal across the Cork network and, with the EUR 23 million platform 6 at Kent, forms phase 1 of the Cork Area Commuter Rail programme; for phase 2 (eight stations, a depot and electrification) a railway order application is expected at the end of 2026. The date is a placeholder: the article names only the year 2027, so 31 December 2027 is used. (LOK Report, 31 Jul 2026)