THE public should expect an announcement in the coming weeks about an upgrade to the Derry to Coleraine railway line.
That’s the view of an MLA who sits on the Assembly’s Regional Development Committee which oversights the department’s running of public trains and buses.
Former school teacher and now SDLP MLA John Dallat told BBC Radio Foyle this morning: “I think we will have a new service by 2016.”
He added that the north west needed a decent inter-city service.
“Last time only one contractor expressed an interest, this time I understand there are four and a lot of the figures that should have been done the last time have been done.
“The date on an announcement is still a few weeks away but I’m looking forward to a new era for the north west and I hope that the city of Derry and all the towns in-between will have a new rail service by 2016.
“It’s not a dream it’s a reality and I’m absolutely confident because I know that no other city in the world doesn’t have a decent inter-city service.”
If true, it will be welcome news for passengers who commute between Derry and Coleraine on a daily basis for either work to go to university.
Translink officials are in Derry today to answer questions about the line upgrade.
They may reveal more details on the plans to upgrade the line next year.
The cost of the upgrade is set to double from its original costing of £20 million to £40 million.
Tags: