Hopes Derry-Belfast rail upgrade to begin within month

Hopes Derry-Belfast rail upgrade to begin within 

East Derry SDLP MLA John Dallat has expressed confidence that the postponed Phase II of the upgrade of the Belfast-Derry Railway will now proceed within months. 

Last week, the Assembly’s Regional Development Committee travelled to Derry to take evidence for their inquiry into the causes of the delay in carrying out the scheme.

Mr Dallat said: “Among those giving evidence were people not just from Derry but from Limavady and Coleraine who have expressed their concern about the delay in carrying out vital improvements which will allow an hourly service and a much improved timetable.

“There is now serious pressure on Translink, the Department of Regional Development and the Assembly’s Executive to ensure that the new tender currently in process is handled much better and the money is available to carry out the work without any further delay.

“It is my belief that this contract involving a passing look at Bellarena and new vital signalling equipment can proceed without interruption to the service within weeks.”