Iarnród Éireann plans to apply for a new train station in Blackpool, with a second station at Dunkettle to follow soon.
These will be the first of eight stations under the Cork Area Commuter Rail Programme, which aims to deliver trains every 10 minutes on routes to Cobh, Midleton, and Mallow. Blackpool will be served by Mallow–Cork services, while Dunkettle will act as a park-and-ride hub for Cobh and Midleton lines.
The wider programme includes upgrades such as a new platform at Kent Station, track doubling to Midleton by 2026, and network resignalling by 2027, with further plans for electrification, more stations, and a new depot.
Construction of both stations is expected to begin in 2027, subject to approval, with completion taking about two years.
