Eighty jobs are to be created in a new rail maintenance centre in Portlaoise, the Minister for Transport announced today.
The new €65 million centre will service Iarnród Éireann's fleet, including the 120 new Intercity rail carriages which will carry over 11 million passengers.
The facility will be completed by 2007.
Speaking in Portlaoise, Mr Cullen said there was "no point in having high spec trains if we don't have the high spec facilities to service them".
"This facility puts Portlaoise at the very centre of Irish Rail's Intercity operations," he added.
"If our public transport is to continue to improve, if we are to meet our goal of getting people out of cars and onto rail and bus services, investment matched with long-term planning must succeed," Mr Cullen said.