Railway open for culture year as no money until 2014

THE Londonderry to Coleraine railway relay has slipped by at least a year because the Department of Regional Development (DRD) can’t afford it until 2014/15 and due to the difficulties in getting the job done in time for UK City of Culture 2013, the Sentinel can reveal.
By The Newsroom
Published 10th Feb 2011, 15:47 BST

DRD said in October the line would close for improvements for a year from April 2012 leaving the city without a rail link for the first months of City of Culture 2013.

It promised the planning process for the rail upgrade would take Londonderry’s City of Culture status into consideration with night working a possibility to fast track the work.

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All that has now changed given the pressures of the DRD Draft Budget and Rail Minister Conor Murphy has now revealed the scheme won’t start until 2014/15 so the line will remain open for the duration of UK City of Culture.

A DRD spokesperson said: “The commencement date of the Coleraine to Derry Track Relay project envisaged within the current Draft Budget reflects estimated capital availability at the time this budget was drawn up as well as the practicalities of managing this project before the start of the City of Culture year in January 2013. The DRD draft budget is still currently out for consultation and no final decisions have been made.’’

The Minister was asked at Stormont to detail the allocation of funding planned for improvements to the rail system.

He replied: “The draft budget proposals make provision for the commencement of the Coleraine to Derry Track relay in 2014/15, overhaul of Class 3000 trains and Enterprise trains as well as work at Ballymoney footbridge and Antrim bus/rail station.”

Related topics:ColeraineConor Murphy