| Re: Preparatory work underway for new Portadown to Derry train line Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 12:08, 17th December 2025 |     |
From the BBC:
Londonderry to Portadown rail restoration 'could take 20 years'
The Rail Project Prioritisation Strategy was published this week
Plans to restore the Londonderry to Portadown railway line as part of improving train travel across the island of Ireland, could take 20 years to complete, a report says.
The Rail Project Prioritisation Strategy was published this week by Stormont's Department for Infrastructure (DfI) and the Dublin government's Department of Transport.
The restoration of the line between Derry and Portadown, and onto Letterkenny in County Donegal, has previously been identified as key to improving cross-border rail connections.
The DfI said the 15-20 year timeframe for the restoration "recognises the significant preparatory work needed for a project of this scale". That work includes "further feasibility study, approval, design, planning, tendering, procurement, significant land vesting, as well as construction," a DfI spokesperson said.
DfI Minister Liz Kimmins said the publication of the rail strategy "provides a way forward for connecting communities who have been without rail". Currently, Northern Ireland's railways are mostly concentrated to the east of the River Bann. Kimmins said the strategy was particularly significant for communities in the north west and in addressing regional imbalance.
But Steve Bradley, of the Into the West rail lobby group, is sceptical that will be the case. He told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme that the strategy risked compounding the issue.
"There are 54 railway stations in Northern Ireland – 51 of those are east, only three are west of the Bann," he said. "This plan would see over 60 railway stations in the east of Northern Ireland before a single new one gets opened anywhere in the west. No one could claim this is addressing regional imbalance because it is actually making it worse - our real concern is this could turn into the next A5."
The A5 road project between Londonderry and Aughnacloy and on to Dublin was first announced back in 2007, but has been beset by a number of delays and legal challenges.
(BBC article continues)
The Rail Project Prioritisation Strategy was published this week
Plans to restore the Londonderry to Portadown railway line as part of improving train travel across the island of Ireland, could take 20 years to complete, a report says.
The Rail Project Prioritisation Strategy was published this week by Stormont's Department for Infrastructure (DfI) and the Dublin government's Department of Transport.
The restoration of the line between Derry and Portadown, and onto Letterkenny in County Donegal, has previously been identified as key to improving cross-border rail connections.
The DfI said the 15-20 year timeframe for the restoration "recognises the significant preparatory work needed for a project of this scale". That work includes "further feasibility study, approval, design, planning, tendering, procurement, significant land vesting, as well as construction," a DfI spokesperson said.
DfI Minister Liz Kimmins said the publication of the rail strategy "provides a way forward for connecting communities who have been without rail". Currently, Northern Ireland's railways are mostly concentrated to the east of the River Bann. Kimmins said the strategy was particularly significant for communities in the north west and in addressing regional imbalance.
But Steve Bradley, of the Into the West rail lobby group, is sceptical that will be the case. He told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme that the strategy risked compounding the issue.
"There are 54 railway stations in Northern Ireland – 51 of those are east, only three are west of the Bann," he said. "This plan would see over 60 railway stations in the east of Northern Ireland before a single new one gets opened anywhere in the west. No one could claim this is addressing regional imbalance because it is actually making it worse - our real concern is this could turn into the next A5."
The A5 road project between Londonderry and Aughnacloy and on to Dublin was first announced back in 2007, but has been beset by a number of delays and legal challenges.
(BBC article continues)
| Re: Preparatory work underway for new Portadown to Derry train line Posted by Witham Bobby at 12:20, 8th November 2024 | |
From Irish News
Preparatory work has begun on a new train line between Portadown and Derry as proposed by the All-Island Rail Review published earlier this year.
A review of railway provision across the island published in July proposed several new routes, including direct links to three airports.
The report estimates the capital cost of implementing all the recommendations by 2050 would be between €35 to €37 billion in 2023 prices.
The new line between Portadown and Derry would introduce rail stations in Dungannon, Omagh and Strabane to the network.
A review of railway provision across the island published in July proposed several new routes, including direct links to three airports.
The report estimates the capital cost of implementing all the recommendations by 2050 would be between €35 to €37 billion in 2023 prices.
The new line between Portadown and Derry would introduce rail stations in Dungannon, Omagh and Strabane to the network.
Let's hope there are no bats in residence on the route
| Preparatory work underway for new Portadown to Derry train line Posted by grahame at 20:21, 7th November 2024 | |
From Irish News
Preparatory work has begun on a new train line between Portadown and Derry as proposed by the All-Island Rail Review published earlier this year.
A review of railway provision across the island published in July proposed several new routes, including direct links to three airports.
The report estimates the capital cost of implementing all the recommendations by 2050 would be between €35 to €37 billion in 2023 prices.
The new line between Portadown and Derry would introduce rail stations in Dungannon, Omagh and Strabane to the network.
A review of railway provision across the island published in July proposed several new routes, including direct links to three airports.
The report estimates the capital cost of implementing all the recommendations by 2050 would be between €35 to €37 billion in 2023 prices.
The new line between Portadown and Derry would introduce rail stations in Dungannon, Omagh and Strabane to the network.
This sneaks in to the "UK" Wider Picture as it's a cross border railway - if build it would be only the third operational railway line between the United Kingtom and other countries.
The old line was known as the Derry Road - see https://oneillcountryhistoricalsociety.com/the-great-northern-railway
In 1962 the Benson Report, compiled at the request of the Stormont Government, recommended the closure of the Portadown – Derry line and the U.T.A did not hesitate to implement the recommendation. Local anger was increased by the announcement that the east-coast line to Derry would remain open. In February 1965 the final closure took effect. The lifting of the track and sale of the land in the winter of 1966/1967 completed the final chapter in the history of railways locally. However, despite the ravages of the intervening half century much evidence of a once-great enterprise still remains in the form of embankments, cuttings, bridges and station buildings.
