Dallat: Today's Derry train journey time to Belfast same as it was in 1948!

It takes just as long today to travel to Belfast by train as it did almost 70 years ago, it has emerged.

Figures obtained by East Derry SDLP John Dallat show it took steam trains two hours and 15 minutes to travel between both cities, the same time as today’s modern diesel trains do.

Mr Dallat said the statistic emphasised the “need to get on the job” and create high-speed inter-city service.

He was speaking after he had requested Transport Minister Danny Kennedy to detail the journey time between Derry and Belfast in 1955 and 2015.

In a written response, Mr Kennedy said Translink had advised him that NI Railways did not have records of 1955 timetables but did, however, have access to the 1948 and 1967 timetables.

Mr Kennedy said a direct comparison between those years and the present day service was not possible as in both 1948 and 1967, Derry “line trains” terminated at, and started from the old York Road station, whereas currently they end at and start from Great Victoria Street station and there were more intermediate stops on the current service.

He added: “However, the equivalent running time for today’s train service from York Road Station is two hours one minute, albeit with nine intermediate stops. This compares with 1948 when it was two hours 15 minutes, with only five intermediate stops, and two hours five minutes in 1967, with six intermediate stops.”

He added the current running time from Great Victoria Street station to Derry, with 12 intermediate stops, was two hours 15 minutes.

Commenting on the statistics, Mr Dallat said passengers taking the train from Derry to Belfast in 1948 could expect to arrive at York Road station in two hour 15 minutes.

Stressing train was steam-operated and travelled over more than 200 level crossing, he said today’s modern diesel trains, capable of speeds of up to 90 miles per hour, terminated at Great Victoria Station which was closer to the city centre but still took two hours 15 minutes - exactly what it took almost 70 years ago!

Mr Dallat added: “The answer from the Minister Danny Kennedy emphasises the need to get on with the job of creating a high speed inter-city service which will take people out of their cars or indeed buses and use our modern railway system where they have choice. “The recent announcement by Mr Kennedy that he has signed a contract for new signalling equipment and a passing loop at Bellarena will do much to move things forward and should have been met with universal approval.

“Sadly, it didn’t but when those who were negative realise that the travel time in 70 years hasn’t shortened perhaps they will realise that there is still much to be done to enable our two major cities to have a state of the art intercity service which will draw even more passengers. Mr Dallat concluded: “While I congratulate Translink on getting the number of unmanned level crossings reduced I urge them to continue with this programme which will mean that the new trains can achieve their top speed of 90 miles per hour on some sections of the track.”