Performance Modelling of Cork Area Resignalling

The Cork area represents a vital hub in Ireland’s railway network, connecting local commuter trains across the country’s second-largest city with regional and intercity services. This strategic location requires sophisticated signalling systems to accommodate diverse train services while maintaining operational efficiency and safety standards. trenolab developed comprehensive performance models to support the Cork area resignalling project, establishing baseline infrastructure models as the foundation for future operational planning. Our team created detailed simulations of the existing Cork area network, incorporating all relevant infrastructure constraints and operational characteristics. The project’s primary objective was testing proposed train service specifications transformed into regular-interval timetables on the future-state infrastructure. Through advanced modeling techniques, we evaluated how the new signalling systems would accommodate standardized service patterns, assessing capacity utilization, conflict resolution, and schedule reliability. Our baseline models provided critical insights for infrastructure planners, enabling informed decisions about signalling configuration and timetable optimization. This work ensured that Cork’s modernized railway infrastructure would deliver enhanced service reliability and an improved passenger experience.