£2.9 million government funding has been given for Northern Ireland's first environmentally sustainable bus and rail station and Antrim.

The newly refurbished, integrated bus and rail centre in Antrim will incorporate environmentally sustainable features such as roof mounted solar panels, a grey water harvesting system with a naturally insulated 'green' roof.

The project has been funded by the Department for Regional Development for £2,334,565 and through the Sustainable Stations Project (SUSstations), with €660,000 (£568,194) of support from the EU Interreg IVB North West Europe Programme (NWE).

-- Advertisement --

Speaking at Antrim station today the Transport Minister Danny Kennedy said: "This announcement will see the construction of Northern Ireland's first sustainable, low carbon station by local contractors, Glasgiven Contracts Ltd, Annalong, Newry. Once completed it will provide much needed improvements for almost 3,000 travellers that currently use the train and bus facilities every day.

"I wish to acknowledge the financing from the European Union through its INTERREG IVB North West Europe Programme and thank them for their continued support in investing in the public transport infrastructure. In addition I want to pay tribute to the Sustainable Station Project for inviting Translink to be part of the programme which supports the construction of sustainable, low carbon railway stations."

Construction is expected to begin in January 2012 and will be completed in approximately 18 months to two years.

(CD/GK)