The decision to omit projects in the west of Northern Ireland from funding for new rail infrastructure was made in London, both the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) and Translink have said.
It comes after campaign group ‘Into The West’ accused both bodies of bias following last month’s announcement of £4.8 million for three new feasibility studies for new or improved rail links in the north.
The funding, awarded by the Department for Transport (DfT), followed Lord Hendy’s 2021 review of transport links, published as part of the Union Connectivity Review (UCR).
Despite Derry being mentioned in two of the report’s three recommendations relating to Northern Ireland, no new funding was allocated in last month’s announcement.
Instead, DfT awarded £3.3m for a study on electrifying the rail line from Belfast to the border; £700,000 for a feasibility study into reopening the Antrim-Lisburn railway line; and £800,000 for a feasibility study on reinstating the Portadown-Armagh line.
Both DfI and Translink told The Irish News that DfT was the ultimate decision maker.
A spokesperson for DfT said: “Transport in Northern Ireland is devolved, however we are committed to improving connections across the UK, and we continue to work with the Northern Ireland civil service on the Union Connectivity Review in the absence of an Executive.”
But Into The West chair Steve Bradley, said the fact transport is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland, means DfT had taken its lead from DfI and Translink.
“It is inexplicable how anyone could look at the three recommendations UCR made about Northern Ireland and refuse to allocate anything to projects in the north-west,” said Mr Bradley.
“The report could not have been clearer about the fact that Derry is poorly served by rail and that its connectivity must be improved.”
In response, DfI said the UK Government’s response to Lord Hendy’s independent review “included the identification of priority actions to support UK transport connectivity, including policy changes and the provision of targeted funding to kickstart the development of projects”.
A spokesperson added: “The Department for Infrastructure was not the decision maker in relation to any of these funding decisions.”
Steve Bradley said the Into The West campaign supports the restoration of rail to Armagh, but said the UCR made no mention of a Portadown to Armagh rail link .
“The report was very clear that it sees the key Northern Ireland corridor for rail as the Derry-Belfast-Newry-Dublin route,” he said.
“We are highlighting the major disconnect between the funding allocated under the UCR process and what was in the UCR report. And we are asking for that disconnect to now be addressed.”
A spokesperson for Translink said it is committed to maintaining and improving connectivity to the north-west.
“We are already currently progressing a feasibility study and strategic programme for enhancing capacity and line speed on the existing Belfast to Derry-Londonderry rail line.
“This is being funded by the Department for Infrastructure and therefore was not part of the current Union Connectivity funding process.
“Funding for union connectivity studies is decided by DfT.”
DfT was contacted for comment.
