Derry Line Focus As Year Of Culture Looms

A leading figure in the organisation responsible for running Londonderry's City of Culture programme in two years time has called for a re-think on the rail route to the North West.

The City Of Culture Chairman, Martin Bradley, has asked the Stormont Executive to prioritise a postponed upgrade to the Derry to Coleraine railway line.

Maintenance work costing £75m has been delayed until 2014 because of budget pressures, and in response, the top executive has written to every MLA urging them to back an emergency motion for a U-turn.

He warned that Derry would struggle with the influx of visitors in 2013 when it becomes UK City of Culture.

In August, the refurbishment of the track between Londonderry and the town of Coleraine was put back for at least five years and even though transport holding company, Translink said it was committed to developing the route - the completion date is now 'slipping'.

This means that the direct rail service between Northern Ireland's two largest cities will be severely diminished during part or all of Derry's year as UK City of Culture in 2013.

Previously, Translink had hoped to begin work on completely relaying the line in 2012 but the £75m needed is not currently available. The completion date has now been put back to 2016/17.

Now, it plans to carry out some essential safety improvement work on the line, which will cost about £4m.

Commenting today, after his letter went to all the MLAs, Mr Bradley said: "This is a key infrastructural piece for the city and it's not just important for the city that people can come here for 2013, but also we will have approximately one million visitors attending this event here in the city.

"Those visitors will want to go and see the new facility at Giant's Causeway and go and see the new Titanic Quarter, so this is not just about what's best for the North West.

"This is what's best for Northern Ireland."

Commenting, Alliance Regional Development Spokesperson Stewart Dickson has said that it is vital that the Londonderry rail line is upgraded and said the route is crucial for the economy and tourism industry.

"The upgrade of the Derry line is crucial to ensure we have the best public transport network possible. It is vital that we have a top class and fast rail link between the two biggest cities in Northern Ireland, for our economy and for our tourism industry.

"We need to rebalance the transport budget to put more emphasis on our train and bus services. We need to be doing everything possible to try and get more people to use public transport, and that means upgrading this line to help cut the journey time," he said.

"The Londonderry line is an amazing route with magnificent scenery and it is very important it sees the investment it deserves."

Other Investment

That's in counterpoint to other transport investment, with the NI Transport Minister Danny Kennedy welcoming Translink's 20 new trains to enter passenger service on the Larne Line.

Last month, the £150million New Trains Programme got a further boost to include the introduction of the new Class 4000 trains and the construction of a new train maintenance facility at Adelaide as well as the extension of some platforms to accommodate the new trains.

"When all 20 new trains are introduced into service railway passengers will experience a step-change in service reliability and improved accessibility.

"Importantly, these new trains will replace all the old fleet currently operating on the network, delivering an overall improved quality of railway services."

However, the Ulster Unionist Minister, Danny Kennedy added: "Equally I am aware that this is not an end in itself and while I have a limited budget, I am committed to providing a high quality rail service which promotes a sustainable and attractive alternative to the private car."

To date, three of the new Class 4000 trains which Translink took delivery of earlier this year have completed the extensive testing programme that is required under European regulations and are now available for passenger service with a further two trains approaching final testing.

Translink expects that all 20 of the trains will be fully commissioned and in service during 2012.

See: Derry Line Replacement Runs Off The Rails

(BMcC/GK)