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S. E. A. Statements

Don't let Derry line die of nelect!

Call for Legistlative Assembly action on Derry rail link from INTO THE WEST

Monday May 14th. 2007

It is appropriate that the future of the North's rail network should be debated on the first full day of the new Assembly.

Into The West has been arguing for a number of years that the expansion of rail must be a key element in planning not only for the North but for the island as a whole.

The first step should be a declaration from the Executive that the existing line to Derry will not only be preserved but will be upgraded to the same specifications as Belfast-Ballymena and Belfast-Dublin. The new minister, Conor Murphy, should spell it out that funds will be provided to lay a new track and to bring stations, signalling, passing lines and other infrastructure up to standard.

At present, there is reason to believe that it is intended to allow the Derry line to die of neglect. Into The West will not allow this to happen quietly.

If the line to Derry isn't preserved, the development of a modern all-Ireland network won't be possible.

The case for linking the networks through Derry and Donegal was spelt out at a timely meeting attended by more than 100 people in Donegal Town last week. A delegation from Into The West (ITW) travelled to take part.

Addressing the meeting, ITW member Eamonn McCann explained the connection between the campaign for the Derry line and the future of rail on the island generally. "In the long term, we won't succeed in keeping and improving the Belfast-Derry line if there isn't a railway through Donegal for us to link up with.

"By the same token, it's hard to see the Western Rail Corridor being extended from Sligo to Letterkenny if there is no Derry line for it to make a connection with."

The main speaker at the meeting was independent Dublin transport consultant Brian Guckian, who described the revival of rail as "an idea whose time has come."

Mr. Guckian gave an account of the development of the West on Track group, whose campaign over the past few years has resulted in approval from the Dublin Government for the extension of the western rail line northwards as far as Claremorris. A similar campaign for rail in Donegal was needed, he declared.

The meeting was attended by a number of candidates in the two Donegal constituencies in the forthcoming Dail election. Dinny McGinley of Fine Gael, Seamus Rogers of Labour, Pearse Doherty of Sinn Fein, Independent John Doherty and the Green Party's Frank Gallagher all pledged their support. There was sharp criticism from the floor of the failure of Fianna Fail to send a representative.

Others who promised backing included community groups from across Donegal, as well as Michael McGarrigle, who represents the Raphoe diocese on the Council of the West. Mr. McGarrigle was applauded when he warned of the danger of a cross-border rail line by-passing Donegal and taking an alternative route via Omagh to Derry if an active campaign in the county didn't keep pressure on the Dublin authorities.

In the main talk, Mr. Guckian presented a detailed plan involving three "sub-projects"---lines from Sligo to Donegal Town, from Donegal Town to Letterkenny and from Letterkenny to Derry. These could use large stretches of former rail alignments, he suggested, significantly reducing costs. Detailed financial projections presented to the meeting suggested that the capital costs of the line could be recovered within 10 years.

He described the proposals as "practical and feasible." In addition, he argued, the development of rail was vital in challenging a culture of car dependency which he estimated was costing the Republic 14 billion euro a year---more than the entirety of inward investment in 2004.

"The proposals could play a vital part in delivering a high-quality sustainable transport system for the region, and provide a real alternative for car and lorry-based transport for the community."

The meeting resolved to form a campaign for rail in Donegal which would coordinate with the Derry campaign.





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