Donegal raillink rejected

A RAIL link between Londonderry and Letterkenny was rejected by the Irish Government’s ‘2030 Rail Network Strategy Review’ but Northern Ireland Rail Minister Danny Kennedy says a potential connection to Donegal may be considered in the forthcoming investment framework.

A link between Londonderry and Lifford/Strabane was also assessed by the Irish Government but both this and the potential Letterkenny line did not perform sufficiently well in a feasibility study and were consequently rejected.

Mr Kennedy made the revelation in response to an Assembly Question from DUP MLA Jimmy Spratt who wanted to know whether he had had talks with the Irish Minister of Transport, Tourism and Sport about restoring the rail service to Donegal. He said he had not had any such discussions although during the development of the Northern Railways Corridor Study his officials had met with members of Donegal County Council to explore the possibility.

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He stated: “It was noted that progress of a feasibility study would require the agreement of the Irish Government.

“Since then, Irish Rail has published its ‘2030 Rail Network Strategy Review.’”

“This report carried out a preliminary appraisal of proposals for rail links between Londonderry and Letterkenny and between Londonderry and Strabane/Lifford.

“Neither proposal performed sufficiently well in the appraisal to be considered further. I understand that, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport is not prepared to support a further feasibility study at this time.”

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Despite this Mr Kennedy said he would be open to the consideration of a link with Donegal if this came forward in future.

“If, in the longer term, proposals come forward from the Irish authorities for a rail connection between Londonderry and Donegal, these could be considered further in the forthcoming investment prioritisation framework to be established under the new approach to Regional Transportation Strategy,” the Minister stated.