No costing for rail plan

DUP MLA Gregory Campbell asked the Minister whether he would commit funds in this financial year to the building of the required passing loop.

Mr Kennedy responded: “As there is currently no separate Economic Appraisal for a passing loop to be installed independently of the main relay work, no costings are currently available.

“It is therefore difficult to put an estimate of cost on such a proposal.

“However the expense of signalling for a passing loop would be much more cost effectively incorporated into the complete re-signalling of the entire Coleraine-Londonderry section.”

He added: “I have already demonstrated my commitment to upgrading the line.

“My Department is providing funding of £7m to enable Translink to complete essential works on the line and £20m has been allocated to 2014/15 year to allow the main works to commence. I will continue to review options and discussions will continue about what is technically and financially feasible.”

In response to a separate question from DUP MLA Adrian McQuillan the Minister reiterated that the decision to delay funding for the upgrade of the railway line between Coleraine and Londonderry was taken by his predecessor in February 2011.

“The draft budget allocations announced in December 2010 and the actual budget announcements in January 2011 meant that the necessary funding to allow the project to proceed as planned was not available. Funding of £20 million was allocated to year 4 of the budget period (2014/15) to allow the project to start in 2014,” he stated.

“The draft budget figures were subject to public consultation and my Department published its own consultation paper on 13 January 2011 which all groups were invited to participate in.

“Officials from my Department met with the Regional Development Committee to discuss the implications of the budget outcome. I have asked officials to review options and this work is currently being pursued,” explained Mr Kennedy.