MPI, North South Rail, & True North Rail Join Forces on Major Irish Rail Project 👏

We’re thrilled to announce a strategic joint venture between MPI, North South Rail, and True North Rail as part of a significant rail infrastructure upgrade. This partnership follows the award of a €78.5 million contract from Irish Rail to Alstom, a global leader in rail transport, for a comprehensive signalling upgrade on the Cork commuter rail network. This project aims to triple the train capacity along the Cork to Cobh, Midleton, and Mallow lines, forming a key component of the €180 million Cork Area Commuter Rail (CACR) Programme led by Iarnród Éireann.

As part of this venture, Alstom has engaged MPI to provide recruitment services, with MPI enlisting North South Rail's expertise for the critical task of Signal Sighting across 80 kilometres of track. In this role, North South Rail will serve as Signal Sighting Chairpersons, leveraging the specialised skills of True North Rail and their cutting-edge Truesight™ platform.

Truesight™ will enable the integration of survey and design data to create highly detailed, visually accurate models. These models will facilitate the precise positioning of assets, ensuring signals are correctly placed with respect to project meterage or chainage, and fully aligned with the track design and signalling scheme. With TrueSight™ signal placements adhere to exact height and offset standards, including red aspect positioning, for optimal alignment with regulatory requirements.

Once the 3D model is prepared by True North, then North South Rail will prepare the required Signal and Signage Sighting Forms in line with the Scheme Plan and 3D model. North South Rail will chair the signal sighting committees along with True North Rails TrueSight™ Model, which will be comprised of Railway Undertakings Representatives (Irish Rail) Operations Representatives, Asset Managers and Project Design Representatives to finalise the signal sighting forms by capturing and mitigating (where possible) any associated risks and subsequently agreeing signal locations. North South Rail and True North will be providing design consultancy and general project support throughout the detailed design phase. North South Rail will be conducting commissioning checks and builds to confirm that all installations meet the rigorous Irish Rail standards.

This collaboration represents a milestone in enhancing Ireland’s rail infrastructure, and we are all very proud to contribute to a project that will significantly improve commuter capacity and efficiency in the Cork area.