Clearly there is demand for it...there wouldn`t be an hourly train service between Cork and Dublin if there wasn`t demand for it!!! And that`s competing with at least 2 or 3 bus companies on the Cork-Dublin route!!!
If some trains from Cork were routed through the Phoenix Park tunnel and onwards via a spur to Dublin airport and reconnecting north of Malahide to the Belfast line, pax from not just Cork and Belfast would have direct access to Dublin airport but stations along the whole national rail network as well as Dublin commuter/DART trains would have access to Dublin airport.
Don't want to get into a big railway debate here but the reason for the hourly Cork service is far form clear cut and there is most certainly not demand for an hourly Cork service and statically it is backed up.
In fact there is demand for a hourly service to Belfast but have you ever wondered why there is not an hourly service never mind a two hourly service.
When they announced the hourly service it was just a transfer of other services to the Cork route and there was
no net gain the number of services. It is very easy to create demand when you cancel the majority of Limerick and Tralee connections which are keeping Cork viable....
Capacity has been cut by around 40% on the Cork route and the only reasons it was not more is because they couldn't and this is not due to demand but other factors. Reducing frequency would cause political storm as well as a phone call to the European Commission and more problems arise in regard to Cork services.
Anyway moving on I am all for a railway station for mainline services but we need to be realistic about it as well before getting the cheque book out.