Transport Minister Danny Kennedy has set out his vision for the future of railway investment over the next 20 years and beyond.

The Railway Investment Prioritisation Strategy published by the Minister signals the potential for the first major extensions to the railway network in Northern Ireland since the closing of lines in the sixties.

The Minister's announcement follows a public consultation inviting views on the future priorities for investment in the railways network. This attracted a wide variety of informed responses which the Minister developed into the Strategy which sets out his strategic direction and priority areas for future railways investment.

-- Advertisement --

Minister Kennedy said: "This ambitious Strategy allows for a significant enhancement of existing rail capacity, preparation for the future electrification of the network and the first major extensions to the railway since the closing of lines following the Benson Report in 1963.

"I am particularly keen to extend the option of rail travel to commuters from mid-Ulster and to the populations in the south and west within the catchments of Armagh and Dungannon. Although the speed of progress will depend on the amount of funding that can be made available from the Executive’s budget and, where possible, from the European Programmes, I am committed to exploring all funding opportunities and making this happen."

(CD/MH)