Progress on Derry Christmas train service welcomed

SDLP Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin has welcomed the announcement from Translink that additional weekend train services will operate from 2nd - 23rd December.

Translink has announced that there will be an additional train from Derry to Coleraine at 23:32 and the 22:40 timetabled rail service from Belfast Great Victoria Street to Coleraine will extend through to Derry.

It follows the Foyle MLA raising the issue with Translink in the last number of weeks.

Commenting, Ms. McLaughlin said: “I have been consistently raising the issues that affect our train services in the North-West.

"In particular, I have been raising the frustrations of customers who frequently experience issues with the reliability of the service. Staff are going above and beyond, but the truth is that we haven’t seen the kind of ambitious investment in our railways by the Executive that we need and deserve.

“When I met with Translink recently, I raised the issues that we have previously experienced at Christmas in Derry with our train services and received a commitment that efforts would be made to look at this going forward.

“The SDLP has been relentless in its lobbying for better transport in Derry, because we know the importance of this to the people of our city.

Translink launch Derry 'Nightmovers' bus and rail services for Christmas

"I’m glad to see progress on this and hope it will go some way to encourage travel to Derry and spur footfall for our night-time economy, which is so important to our prosperity.

"In the longer-term, we need to see more ambitious year-round investment to improve the connectivity of the North-West. Derry is the second city of the North and our public transport should reflect that.”