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Above: The original signal cabin
Courtesy of Cork County Library

Below: The restored signal cabin

HISTORY

From 1854 to 1861:

The ‘Cork and Youghal Railway’ company, which was to serve Midleton, obtained parliamentary approval in 1854 for the Cork-Youghal line, with a branch line to Queenstown (Cobh). The first section of the line, from Dunkettle to Midleton, was opened on November 10 by the Lord Lieutenant, the Earl of Carlisle, who also turned the sod for the Queenstown branch.

The line was a great success, with an increase of 50% in passenger turnover within two months.

At that stage of the railway development, customers had to travel from Dunkettle to King Street, Cork (modern MacCurtain Street) by horse-drawn omnibus – a journey which took 40 minutes.

The line was fully completed when, on 30 December 1861, the first steam-hauled train ran direct from Cork (Summerhill) to Youghal. It ran till 1 February 1893 when the new Glanmire Road station opened to join the Dublin and Youghal line directly.

The line was a great success, with an increase of 50% in passenger turnover within two months. At that stage of the railway development, customers had to travel from Dublin and Youghal line directly.

 

1963:

On the 4 February 1963 Córas Iompair Éireann (C.I.E.) decided to stop regular passenger service between Cork and Youghal. The line remained in use to carry goods, beet and Sunday summer excursions. Goods were withdrawn in 1978. The beet and excursions came to an end in 1982, as a result of rising maintenance costs and shortage of rolling stock.


Last Day of Passenger Service on Youghal Line
Courtesy of Cork County Library

1988:

By 1988, the Midleton Railway Station was closed to all traffic . However, Youghal station has never officially been closed and remains the property of Iarnród Éireann.

2009:

Work on the new Cork – Midleton line started in February 2008 and was completed in July 2009. This was the result of a €75 million investment, under the National Development Plan 2007-2013, as part of the Transport 21 programme.

On 30 July 2009, the station was reopened as a terminus station of the Cork Suburban Railway Line for passenger traffic, by Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey.All trains now serve Midleton, Carrigtwohill (both stations have been rebuilt), Glounthaune, Little Island and finally Kent Station in Lower Glanmire road, Cork.

See the announcement of the re-opening on RTE News.

If you wish to see more photos, old and new, have a look at Fred's Railway Photos website!

Above and below: Commemorative plaque and poster reminding passengers of
the Transport 21 Programme

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