SDLP Foyle MP Mark Durkan has said there will be "consternation and frustration" in the North West that the second stage of a £22m upgrade for the L'Derry to Coleraine railway line has been delayed for a further year.

Mr Durkan said: "There will be consternation and frustration in yet another delay in the overdue completion of this line upgrade.

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"People are at a loss to understand how procurement difficulties could emerge at this stage. In particular the stated problem around finding the right supplier for signalling equipment raises a number of questions.

"Could this have been pre-empted? Why does it have to take a year of further delay? If there has been a genuine problem getting a suitable supplier what confidence can we have that Translink will now be able to find one within the new timescale?

"If the updated 'procurement process' has a better prospect of securing a suitable supplier then questions have to be asked about the original procurement process."

(CD/JP)