Rail Users Ireland Forum - View Single Post

Mickey H · 27-10-2008, 18:02

The SDLP politician John Dallat has issued the following (confusingly phrased) statement which while largely refering to the Derry line suggests there WILL be cuts in the Enterprise service:

DALLAT - HANDS OFF OUR RAILWAYS

A suggestion that rail services could be cut at the weekends hasn't gone down well with East Derry SDLP Spokesperson on Regional Development John Dallat who has fought a long battle to revive rail services and stop the closure of the Belfast-Derry line at Ballymena. Mr Dallat stated:

"Like all government departments, the Department of Regional Development is facing difficulties, not helped by the fact that the Assembly Executive is not meeting and shows no signs of doing so.

'It seems that the highly popular concessionary fares scheme could be capped which would attract unprecedented criticism of the department and hopefully won't happen.

'However it appears that a more likely victim of swingeing cuts is the railways which have never had the total commitment of the Department of Regional Development except during the period when Mark Durkan was Minister for Finance and made available the money to purchase new trains.

One likely outcome is to cancel Sunday Services and a cancellation of services on all trains after 10 p.m. Monday to Saturday. This would include two Enterprise trains which operate the Belfast-Dublin Service. There is particular concern for the Belfast-Derry line which was expected to have an increase in train services to eliminate the embarrassment of no trains arriving in the city before 9.00 a.m. Now it seems we are in for a reduction in services!

'Even with these swingeing cuts in service there is also a possibility of more fare increases on our rail services.

'There is also concern that the much publicised capital expenditure of £9 million pounds on the relaying of the track on the Belfast-Derry line north of Coleraine could be nothing more than a pleasant dream.

'Magilligan rail travellers have also taken seriously speculation that the station at Bellarena is due for the chop abandoning any hope of a transport link between the Bellarena and the Magilligan-Greencastle ferry service.

Clearly all this will be very embarrassing for the Department and the Minister Conor Murphy if any of it materialises, given that the Derry-Belfast line is now carrying more passengers than the Belfast-Dublin line.

The Railway Public Service Obligation (PSO) subsidy, which helps to reimburse operators, has not been increased since 2004 and amazingly the Department didn't even make a bid in the 2007 budget.

Amazingly the number of passengers carried on our trains has increased from 6 million to 10 million per annum but the department cannot show any evidence that this highly commendable performance has off-set cost increases."

ENDS

27-10-2008, 18:02	#17
Mickey H Really Regular Poster Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 279	Translink cuts? The SDLP politician John Dallat has issued the following (confusingly phrased) statement which while largely refering to the Derry line suggests there WILL be cuts in the Enterprise service: DALLAT - HANDS OFF OUR RAILWAYS A suggestion that rail services could be cut at the weekends hasn't gone down well with East Derry SDLP Spokesperson on Regional Development John Dallat who has fought a long battle to revive rail services and stop the closure of the Belfast-Derry line at Ballymena. Mr Dallat stated: "Like all government departments, the Department of Regional Development is facing difficulties, not helped by the fact that the Assembly Executive is not meeting and shows no signs of doing so. 'It seems that the highly popular concessionary fares scheme could be capped which would attract unprecedented criticism of the department and hopefully won't happen. 'However it appears that a more likely victim of swingeing cuts is the railways which have never had the total commitment of the Department of Regional Development except during the period when Mark Durkan was Minister for Finance and made available the money to purchase new trains. One likely outcome is to cancel Sunday Services and a cancellation of services on all trains after 10 p.m. Monday to Saturday. This would include two Enterprise trains which operate the Belfast-Dublin Service. There is particular concern for the Belfast-Derry line which was expected to have an increase in train services to eliminate the embarrassment of no trains arriving in the city before 9.00 a.m. Now it seems we are in for a reduction in services! 'Even with these swingeing cuts in service there is also a possibility of more fare increases on our rail services. 'There is also concern that the much publicised capital expenditure of £9 million pounds on the relaying of the track on the Belfast-Derry line north of Coleraine could be nothing more than a pleasant dream. 'Magilligan rail travellers have also taken seriously speculation that the station at Bellarena is due for the chop abandoning any hope of a transport link between the Bellarena and the Magilligan-Greencastle ferry service. Clearly all this will be very embarrassing for the Department and the Minister Conor Murphy if any of it materialises, given that the Derry-Belfast line is now carrying more passengers than the Belfast-Dublin line. The Railway Public Service Obligation (PSO) subsidy, which helps to reimburse operators, has not been increased since 2004 and amazingly the Department didn't even make a bid in the 2007 budget. Amazingly the number of passengers carried on our trains has increased from 6 million to 10 million per annum but the department cannot show any evidence that this highly commendable performance has off-set cost increases." ENDS __________________ 26271 12-60