The roll-out of rail links in Mid-Ulster – if given the go-ahead – could be a game-changer for one local district council which currently boasts no train connections at all!
Mid Ulster District councillor Malachy Quinn has welcomed progress on an All-Island Strategic Rail Review, saying it has the potential to vastly improve cross-border connectivity.
He is certainly not alone in welcoming the prospect of rail links, as 49% of all contributions to the all-Ireland review emanated from four adjacent and particularly ‘rail-deprived’ council areas, namely Fermanagh & Omagh, Derry City & Strabane, Donegal County and Mid Ulster District Council.
Of particular relevance to Mid-Ulster is a recommendation to create a railway link from Derry to Portadown, to include Strabane, Omagh and Dungannon.
Sadly, plans for the reconnection of Cookstown/Mid Ulster have been dismissed – for now.
According to the Draft All-Island Strategic Rail Review, “physical constraints ruled out some options, such as the Sperrin Mountains ruling out Cookstown as a stop on a service from Derry/Londonderry to either Belfast or Dublin”.
The review does identify a way forward for Cookstown and even Magherafelt, stating: “Rail lobby group Into the West (ITW) have proposed that a spur line to Cookstown is installed in, once the Derry-Portadown route is reopened.
“In addition, they recommend that a spur line from Dungannon to Cookstown be continued a further 10 miles north to connect with Magherafelt, and then continue east above Lough Neagh to connect with the Derry-Belfast line.
“This ‘Mid-Ulster Link’ or ‘Lough Neagh Loop’ would create a spine of rail connectivity through what is not only the fastest-growing part of NI – but also an area with significant industry that could benefit from (and positively contribute to) rail freight access.”
Mid Ulster is one of only two local authorities in Northern Ireland with no rail access, the nearest train station being in Portadown.
The latest All-Island Strategic Rail Review (June 2024) outlines its vision for enhanced railway provision, both as a means to improve connectivity and provide a greener form of transport: “The All-Island Strategic Rail Review (AISRR) considers how the rail network across the island could contribute to the decarbonisation of the island’s transport systems, promote sustainable connectivity into and between major cities, enhance regional accessibility, and support balanced regional development.
“It also considered the interactions between proposed improvements and existing, or planned, commuter rail services.
“The time horizon for the review covers the period to 2050 to align with both jurisdictions’ stated goals of achieving net zero carbon emissions by this milestone.”
Speaking at a recent Mid Ulster Development Committee meeting, Councillor Malachy Quinn (SDLP, Torrent DEA) welcomed the latest review update, remarking – humorously – that Coalisland, where he lives, isn’t mentioned in the report: “On the All-Island Strategic Rail Review, it basically points out what we all know.
“If it actually ends up happening, the amount of stuff that it will unlock, particularly for Mid Ulster.
“Sadly I don’t see Coalisland mentioned on it, but that’s okay. It’s something we still need to push forward.
“There’s a hundred different projects that everybody wants done right around the country, and the amount of money it will take to get this going will be colossal, but the fact is, we’re looking for ways to green our future and there’s no better project than the All-Island Rail Network.
“Reading the report, I think I’m living in the future here, but hopefully it’ll happen in my lifetime. At least Mid Ulster are trying to push this forward.”
Councillor Dominic Molloy (Sinn Féin, Dungannon DEA) asked: “Is the final report now published, is that out in the public domain?”
A council officer informed him: “No, the final review and recommendations were due actually in early spring, but with the elections forthcoming, I would anticipate it will be delayed until autumn.
“Obviously the recommendations have to be agreed by both jurisdictions, so I would anticipate probably late summer or autumn for the final review document and recommendations.”
Councillor Frances Burton suggested some kind of dual campaign to push for both a safer A5 and new railway links: “This [enhanced rail connectivity] has been on the cards for some time now and it’s going to take a a massive amount to work to ever get it our length, but I think we as a council west of the Bann really need to push for this at every opportunity.
“I have to say our MLA had raised this at Stormont and I’d really encourage all of the parties sitting around this table, because there was an effort made to include the Fermanagh end of the west of the Bann, and apparently it isn’t.
“It was sort of passed over, so I think that’s a real negative and it’ll certainly not help us. So hopefully that maybe could be rectified.”
Referring to the current campaign to have the A5 turned into a dual carriageway, the DUP representative for Clogher Valley added: “I’m just wondering, the A5 cross-border committee [could have] an opportunity if this [A5 upgrade] work does come to take place.
“Surely it would be the ideal opportunity to have like a feasibility study, or some sort of a study that would future-proof that.
“If there was money at some point to be given to the rail review, that could be built into that plan at that particular time, because we all talk about climate change and taking cars off the road – well if we keep building more roads we’re not taking cars off the road, we’re accommodating them.
“I would really love to see the day where we can actually have rail in this area. I really think we need to give it another push.”
Committee chair, Cllr Kyle Black (DUP, Carntogher DEA) remarked: “I think your comments are fair with regards connection to the West.
“Not to take away from the positive side of this – and it is positive that this is being looked at – but you’re right and I agree that there is a big hole west of the Bann and around Fermanagh and so on.
“I don’t know at this stage if there is an opportunity to provide that feedback with regards disappointment with there not being a more extensive part of the network in the west.
“I appreciate that this is all down to money and it’s a feasibility study at this point, but I don’t know if there’s an opportunity to reiterate that point again.”
The council officer who had presented the report on rail connectivity replied: “Yes we we can do that. I’m happy to take on board elected members’ comments and I don’t think it is too late.
“I’m certainly happy to raise the issue if we would like more extensive railway infrastructure investment towards the West.”
Councillor John McNamee (Sinn Féin, Cookstown DEA) felt that setting up a working group was possibly the way forward: “I know in the past we had talked about possibly setting up a working group across the Councils to deal with all of this representation from each Council.
“Maybe it’s something that we could look at, the possibility of setting up a working group.”
Cllr Black concurred, adding: “Maybe it’s something that could be raised within that forum, to see if there’s any appetite for that without making a commitment.”
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