Luas Cork team honoured as best rail group 2026
The Luas Cork project team has been awarded Best Rail Team of the Year at the 2026 Rail Link Awards, recognising their outstanding progress and collaboration. This accolade highlights the team's role in advancing a major sustainable transport scheme for Cork city.
Award recognition and project milestone
The accolade honours the multidisciplinary public sector-led team for their swift advancement of the Luas Cork light rail scheme, moving from an Emerging Preferred Route to a Preferred Route within just twelve months. The judges praised the team’s excellence, innovation and collaborative approach, noting this as a significant achievement in Ireland’s rail sector.
Fergus Meehan, Head of Light Rail Cork, Regional Cities & GDA at TII, expressed his pride: "We are delighted to receive the Best Rail Team of the Year award. This recognition reflects the professionalism, expertise and commitment of the Luas Cork team and our colleagues in Jacobs. Progressing from Emerging Preferred Route to Preferred Route within twelve months was a significant achievement and demonstrates what can be delivered through strong collaboration and a shared commitment to sustainable transport for Cork."
He added that the award is shared with all contributors, including project partners, stakeholders, local authorities and the communities engaged throughout the process.
Transforming Cork’s transport landscape
The proposed Luas Cork network will serve as the backbone of the city’s future public transport system. It will link vital employment zones, educational institutions, healthcare facilities and regeneration areas, supporting sustainable urban growth and reducing reliance on private cars.
The project encompasses a light rail corridor approximately 20km long, featuring 27 stops connecting Ballincollig, Cork City Centre, and Mahon. This high-capacity system is designed to enhance connectivity, accessibility and liveability for Cork’s residents and future generations.
Drawing on extensive expertise from the planning and operation of Dublin’s Luas and other major infrastructure programmes, the team has developed a well-rounded proposal integrating project management, engineering, urban design, transport planning, environmental assessment, stakeholder engagement and risk management.
Building momentum and international acclaim
This award marks the progress made during 2025 and 2026, culminating in the launch of the Preferred Route public consultation on 17 April 2026. It follows the Luas Cork team’s recent Highly Commended honour in the Team of the Year category at the Global Light Rail Awards, underscoring the project’s rising profile both nationally and internationally.
The recognition at the Rail Link Awards further energises the drive to deliver a transformative, sustainable transport solution that will shape Cork’s future for decades to come.