Unmanned station most cost-effective

WATERSIDE railway station operates unmanned for two departures on a Sunday but this is the most cost-effective way of running the facility, say Translink.

An early morning train and an evening train leave for Belfast on a Sunday when there are no staff at the Sales and Information Desk but this is standard practice across the Northern Ireland rail network.

East Londonderry DUP MLA George Robinson asked the Minister for Regional Development Conor Murphy whether the NI Railways station in the Waterside is manned after 7pm on a Sunday and if there is CCTV at the station.

The Minister replied: "Translink have informed me that on Sundays the Sales and Information desk at Waterside Station is staffed from 10.10 hours to 19.00 hours.

"An early morning train departs at 07.23 hours and a late evening train departs at 19.23 hours on Sundays. At these times the station functions as an unstaffed station/halt, similar to many within the NIR network, with the Conductor on these services fulfilling all the necessary customer requirements in respect of tickets or information."

The Minister said that although there is no customer interface at these times the signal cabin at Waterside Station is staffed during the hours in which trains are running.

"Translink consider the current manning level to be the most cost-efficient way to staff the station," said the Minister.

"CCTV is installed at Waterside Station and further upgrades are being considered," he added.

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