The Minister for Transport, Seamus Brennan, has announced approval for a €90m commuter rail service for Cork city and county.
The investment will see the re-opening of the Cork-Midleton line, creating a new commuter service running from Mallow through Cork city and onto Midleton.
Five new stations at Dunkettle, Carrigtwohill, Midleton, Blarney and Kilbarry are planned, and it is proposed to have the service up and running by 2007.
It will be the first major extension to the national rail network in more than 100 years.
