Kimmins welcomes €230million of Shared Island Funding for investment in rail connectivity
Date published:
Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has welcomed €230milion in investment for rail infrastructure from the Shared Island Fund.
The investment of €230million from the Shared Island Fund comprises of approximately €100million track renewal Belfast-Derry and Belfast -Dublin lines; €93million for DART+ coastal North and €34.5million for continuation of hourly Enterprise service.
Welcoming the announcement by the Taoiseach, Minister Kimmins said:
“This is superb news for the future of rail on this island particularly so for the Derry to - Belfast and Belfast to Dublin routes. The investment in rail, through the Shared Island Fund, will accelerate improvements on the Derry-Belfast and Belfast-Dublin lines, strengthening regional balance and connectivity.
This investment will pave the way for faster journeys and greater reliability for services between Dublin, Belfast and the North-West – delivering a more cohesive rail network, connecting communities and boosting the thriving all-island economy.
Following on from the €700million investment announced last month by the Irish Government, my Department and the PEACEPLUS programme, for new trains on the Belfast to Dublin route, this is a further positive development for the future of rail, and a total of almost one billion euros to be invested in rail, connecting communities right across the island.”
Notes to editors:
- The investment of €230million from the Shared Island Fund comprises of approximately €100million track renewal Belfast-Derry and Belfast -Dublin lines; €93m for DART+ coastal North and €34.5m for continuation of hourly Enterprise service.
- Separately, the Department of Transport and Department for Infrastructure will continue to work together to bring forward initial project phases for the Major Project Interventions set out in the Rail Project Prioritisation Strategy, subject to the necessary available funding in each Administration, and in a coordinated way where cross-border routes are involved.
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