The Case for Rail - In the North-West City Region Into The West - July 2019 - Council Presentation

The Case for Rail

        In the
North-West City Region
    Into The West - July 2019

Background

• A clear disparity exists in rail provision :

 a) East & West of the River Bann.

 b) Between the North-West & the rest of the island

Rail Map of Ireland

Location of NI’s 54 Rail Stations
                                  PORTRUSH
Total Number of
 Rail Stations                  COLERAINE
                  DERRY

  East      51
 West        3                         BALLYMENA       LARNE

                                                               BELFAST CITY
                                            ANTRIM               11 Stations

                                                                BANGOR

                          PORTADOWN          LISBURN

                                       NEWRY

SIX WAYS DERRY’S RAILWAY SERVICE IS SUB-STANDARD vs EAST OF THE BANN

                                 S
1                                I                                4
                                 X

                                T
2                                                                 5
                                O

                                 F
3                                I                                6
                                 X

7 Key Benefits of Rail
ECONOMIC :         Jobs/People gravitate towards good infrastructure.

EMPLOYMENT:         Easier to access job & training opportunities.

SOCIAL JUSTICE: No car access = 36% in Derry, 40% in Strabane.

TOURISM :           Make it easier for visitors to access our area.

STATUS :            Certain things are expected in a regional capital.

CLIMATE CHANGE: A viable alternative to private vehicle usage.

QUALITY OF LIFE: Cleaner air, less congestion, easier journeys.

History of Rail in N.W.C.R
• Comprehensive rail network existed on both sides of the border
  across North-West City Region (NWCR) until the 1960s.

• 2001 Stormont proposed shutting Derry-Belfast line at Coleraine

• Every penny secured for rail infrastructure west of Bann since
  then had to be fought for :
     - Took public campaign to save Derry’s rail line.
     - Took public campaign to secure upgrade of Derry’s track.
     - Took public campaign to secure new Waterside station.

• Public campaign is now seeking to secure 3rd & final phase of
  track modernisation work.

‘Phase 3 is Key’
• Rail track between Eglinton & Downhill is out-of-date
      = Limits train speed & frequency.

• Work to modernise it supposed to happen 2013 = Culture Year.

• Split into 3 phases instead :
      - Phase 1 : 2013 = COMPLETED.
      - Phase 2 : 2016 = COMPLETED.
      - Phase 3 : 2021 = PUT OFF TO 2027 or INDEFINITELY.

• Phase 3 is essential to :
      1) End the rail discrimination against the NW.
      2) Enable future improvements to rail here.

Lack of Ambition for Rail in NWCR
• No future rail proposals in Council’s key strategies :
         - Local Development Plan ?     �
         - Strategic Growth Plan ?      �
         - City Deal Proposals ?        �
• No protection of former rail routes in Planning Policies.

• No mention of any future projects for North-West in Stormont’s
  ‘Rail Investment Prioritisation Strategy’ (2014).

• Without a role for rail, how will council achieve key ambitions re :
       - Regeneration.        - Economic Development
       - Climate Change.      - Modal Shift (Transportation).

What Enhanced Role Could Rail
         Have Here ?
1) Express trains to Belfast.
    - Limited stops / 90min journey time.

2) Thru-trains to Dublin.
    - End objective = 3hr 30mins journey time.

3) New multi-purpose ‘Foyle Parkway’ Station east of Derry.
    - Local rail station for Eglinton, Ballykelly, Strathfoyle etc.
    - Park & Rail.
    - City of Derry Airport.

4) Line Extensions to Strabane & Letterkenny.

5) Western Rail Corridor.

A North-West Rail Network ?

                                       Ballykelly ?
                    Derry
                              Foyle
              2              Parkway
Letterkenny

                      1
       3
                  Strabane

‘West On Track’

Derry - Portadown Rail Route
                         PORTRUSH

                        COLERAINE
    DERRY

                               BALLYMENA       LARNE
    STRABANE
                                                       BELFAST CITY
                                    ANTRIM               11 Stations

                                                        BANGOR
       OMAGH

            DUNGANNON
                                     LISBURN
                 PORTADOWN

                               NEWRY

None of this can happen without…

                       3
                   2
               1

       The Phase 3 Works.

Our Ask of DC&SDC
1) Formally Push DFI for Phase 3 Prioritisation (start 2020).

2) Include ambitious role for rail in key Council strategies.

3) Work with colleagues in Donegal CC & Causeway Coast/Glens
   to lobby for enhanced rail provision in NW.

4) Take strategic view re preferred location of Phase 3 passing loop.

5) Work proactively with relevant councils to progress Western
   Rail Corridor & reinstallation of ‘The Derry Road’.

6) Push for new Stormont Rail Investment Strategy, with projects in
   NWCR included.

7) Secure funding for separate feasibility studies into extending rail
   to Strabane & Letterkenny.

Thank You.