A number of people responding to a consultation on future railway investment in Northern Ireland, were supportive of re-opening railway links to counties Armagh, Fermanagh and Tyrone with cross-border extensions to towns in the Republic.
“New lines to the west,” was one of eight packages of investment people could make comment on during the consultation which ran from January to April this year. Minister, Danny Kennedy agreed to the consultation paper seeking the public’s views on the prioritisation of railways investment in future budget rounds over the period 2015-2035.
A total of 119 written responses were received from private individuals and organisations including those representing business, industry, community groups, consumer groups and public representatives following public meetings in Belfast, Londonderry and Dungannon.
Under Package 7 – New lines to the West, the objective would be to re-open railway links to towns in the west of Northern Ireland which were formerly connected to the rail network in the 19th and 20th Centuries.
“Extensions to the network generally was enthusiastically supported by most of the respondents to the consultation ranging from creation of an all-Ireland railway network to reinstatement of former lines. The significant costs involved in laying new tracks did not deter demands for such services to be reinstated,” a spokesman said.
Of the 93 respondents who commented on this package,71 were supportive and many were in favour of re-opening railway links to varying degrees, but the majority were in favour of extending the railway network to counties Armagh, Fermanagh and Tyrone . Ten people supported the extension of the Portadown to Enniskillen line. Others supported lines being extended to Dungannon and/or Omagh and connections with cross-Border stations from there.
Transport Minister Danny Kennedy said: “I am absolutely committed to improving our railways. The range of responses received to the public consultation and the variety of positive preferences expressed is an indication of the wide interest and strong support for future railway investment.
“The challenge for me will be securing Executive financial support for Northern Ireland’s future transport needs taking account of best value for money.”
A Departmental spokesman said: “The Department is continuing to analyse all of the information gathered, and will bring forward a further report later in the year setting out its priorities for future railways investment up to 2035.”
Among those who responded were Fermanagh District Council and organisations, ‘Into the West’ and ‘West on Track.’
(Source – Impartial Reporter – 30/08/2013)