There should be an hourly train service between major cities and at least one train every two hours between other urban centres, a new report aiming to transform the current rail system has recommended.
Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan will bring the draft report of the first All-Island Strategic Rail Review, which makes 30 recommendations, to Cabinet today.
This review wants faster speeds, improved frequency, and new rail routes for people and freight, particularly across the west and north of the country.
The recommendations span a period of over 25 years, but a number of proposals could be implemented before 2030.
These include taking more trucks off the roads by building the Limerick to Foynes railway and starting the South Wexford Railway between Waterford and Rosslare Europort.
There is also a suggestion to develop a rail line around Dublin Port.
The reopening of the Claremorris to Athenry line, along with a station at Belfast International Airport, is also recommended.
It also recommends extending the railway from Portadown to Dungannon, Omagh, Strabane, Derry, and on to Donegal.
Speaking to reporters as he arrived for Cabinet, Mr Ryan said a new "Atlantic rail corridor" would bring low-carbon transport for businesses.
The Green Party leader said: "Early parts of the last century, we probably had the best rail network in the world. We've let it lapse.
"We've lost lines, we've given up on rail freight. We don't have connection to the northwest. And what the report says is: We bring back rail. We bring back rail as a way of getting better balanced regional development."
Mr Ryan said rail freight could be brought back "relatively quickly".
Asked about timelines for improving rail infrastructure, Mr Ryan said new rail freight services could be running "within the next year or two".
However, he said Government could reopen the Waterford-Rosslare and Claremorris-Athenry lines by the end of the decade.
He added: "They're the missing pieces in the jigsaw."
'Once in a lifetime opportunity'
The rail review represents a "once in a lifetime" opportunity to restore the rail infrastructure in Northern Ireland, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood has said.
For Northern Ireland, the total capital cost estimate in 2023 prices is £7.7 billion, which is approximately £0.31 billion per annum over a 25-year period.
Mr Eastwood said: "We now have a £30 billion rail restoration plan that will help decarbonise transport across Ireland, connect people and opportunities in communities that have been severed from economic investment for far too long and bring people across our island closer together."
Retail NI chief executive Glyn Roberts said the report showed the need for "long overdue investment" in the rail network.
He added: "A high-speed rail service connecting Belfast, Dublin, Cork and other cities on the island would be a significant game changer for our transport infrastructure and economy.
The Into the West lobby group welcomed the proposals, but said it had concerns over whether Stormont politicians would prioritise the plan.
Campaigner Steve Bradley told the BBC: "If we are serious about the climate crisis, regional development and social justice - both north and south - then we really need to look at providing mass transport alternatives to the car.
"It will all come down to whether our elected politicians and the civil servants in Stormont feel strongly enough about rail - and that's where we would have concerns."
Minister Eamon Ryan is to also seek Cabinet approval for an international agreement between the lighthouse authorities in Ireland and Britain.
Navigation safety around the coasts of Ireland and the UK is overseen by three lighthouse authorities.
They are the Commissioners of Irish Lights for Ireland and Northern Ireland, the Northern Lighthouse Board for Scotland, and Trinity House for England and Wales.
All three have used joint procurement to benefit from economies of scale and closer operational ties, which was straightforward when all were under the same EU procurement regime.
However, Brexit has led to a new solution being required.
Following advice from the Attorney General, an international agreement will be put in place to achieve this.
The most significant contract is for the provision of helicopter services needed to service remote lighthouse locations.
Additional reporting PA
