PRESS RELEASE

01/11/2005

Cork will be transformed under major transport plan - Kelleher

Cork North-Central Fianna Fáil TD Billy Kelleher has said roads and
railways in Cork are about to be transformed under the Government’s new
10-year €34.7 billion transport plan.

In Cork, Deputy Kelleher, assistant government chief whip, said the plan
will mean:

· More quality bus corridors (QBCs) will cut traffic congestion and
slash journey times. This plan will put in place 70 kms of QBC in Cork.
· Cork will get park-and-ride facilities to take cars out of the city.
· A new intercity rail fleet with improved frequencies will move
passengers quicker and in greater comfort. A train will run on the hour
from Dublin to Cork.
· The Cork-to-Dublin dual-carriageway is to be upgraded with 2+1 and
single carriageway roads.
· The Atlantic Corridor will link Cork to the other gateway cities -
Sligo, Galway, Limerick and Waterford. That means you will be able to
drive from Letterkenny to Waterford on one continuous road - cutting
journey times.
· The Cork-to-Limerick primary route via Tralee is to be upgraded.
· The Midleton-to-Cork city suburban commuter line is to be reopened.
· The Mallow-Cork City-Cobh line will be reopened, with new stations in
Blarney, Kilbarry and Dunkettle.
· Cork airport has been earmarked for investment.
· Local roads around the county will be upgraded.

‘Cork will be radically transformed under the new transport plan. It has
been prioritised for major investment in roads, rail and air transport. The
quality bus corridors and park-and-ride facilities will take cars out of
the city centre. A new intercity fleet will take passengers around the
country quicker and in more comfort.

‘The major investment suburban commuter lines into the city centre will put
more passengers on public transport and take cars off the roads. The
Atlantic Corridor will link our major cities as part of an integrated plan
for the whole country. I will be pressing hard to get work under way on
these projects in the shortest possible timeframe.

We need a transport system that supports our growing economy and enables
Ireland to compete in a changing environment. We need a transport network
that lets people commute to their jobs and lets businesses do business. We
need to efficiently move goods and services to where they are wanted and
when they are wanted. In short, we need a transport network that helps
create jobs and sustain communities. Now, we are getting it,’ said Deputy
Kelleher.

ENDS

Billy Kelleher TD can be contacted on (087) 2580521

Bernard Mallee, Press Officer, Fianna Fáil, Leinster House, Kildare St,
Dublin 2.
Tel: 01 6183726/087 9173022 Fax: 01 6184164 Email: bmallee@oireachtas.ie