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Reinstating rail to Enniskillen - just £638M...

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  • 24-02-2013 5:15pm
    #1
    Geog1234
    Registered Users Posts: 311 ✭✭


    The Department for Regional Development have launched a public consultation process regarding the future of the railways.

    One aspect looked at is the possibility of reinstating a railway to Enniskillen, Omagh etc... The cost of a railway from Portadown to Enniskillen is priced at £638M on a cost basis of £11M per mile (surely that figure can be substantially reduced if old alignments are used where possible).

    Clearly any such link would need to link as many sizeable towns as possible together and with Belfast to be viable.

    No matter how much the coach/bus services are improved, it's established fact that many will only switch from car to rail (not from car to bus/coach). The first bus of the day from Enniskillen to Belfast entails a change at Ballygawley.

    An eye is hardly blinked when road projects are accorded similar price tags yet there sometimes seems to be a presumption of extravagance when the pricing of potential rail projects are mentioned.

    Granted all development is subject to funding and in these cash-strapped times that is anything but abundant. But should a start be made at reinstating rail to or at least towards Fermanagh. Or should car, bus and truck be the sum total of the Fermanagh transportation mix for good?

    The current rail network whilst limited has recorded spectacular growth in the last ten years or so e.g. Belfast - Portadown line 89% growth; Derry~Londonderry - Belfast 147% growth. Clearly proof of good and strong strategic decision making. Should this success story be replicated in Fermanagh & Tyrone ending their relative peripherality?

    The consultation is open until 12th April. The consultation letter and detailed discussion document are at:
    http://www.drdni.gov.uk/index/publications/publications-details.htm?docid=8604
    Page 40 & 41 relate to "Extending rail lines to the west"
    A comparison of the maps on pages 7 & 8 shows the giant gap in the railway network that now exists (one of the largest areas in Europe devoid of railways apparently).


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