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Newry and Armagh MLA Justin McNulty is calling on Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd to finish the job started by his SDLP predecessor, Nichola Mallon, and ensure the full implementation of the All-Island Strategic Rail Review
Mr. McNulty was speaking after a debate brought before Stormont by the SDLP Opposition last week.
Mr McNulty said “The All-Island Strategic Rail Review commissioned by former SDLP Infrastructure Nichola Mallon presented a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform rail infrastructure on this island, and it is heartening that the groundwork laid down by Minister Mallon is now very much taking shape.
“The spectrum of opportunities contained within the All-Island Strategic Rail Review will provide a huge social, environmental, and economic uplift for communities the length and breadth of this island.
“The recommendation to re-establish rail connectivity to Armagh City will be a game changer for commuters travelling to both Belfast and Dublin, and additional services from Newry will help to close the gap of disadvantage that commuters in Newry face when compared other parts of the North.
“This report also marks a huge leap forward to empower ordinary people to push back against the climate crisis. In other words, full implementation of this report would see government meeting people half way in reducing our dependence on cars and reducing our emissions.
“Implementation of this review will bring jobs and investment to parts of the North that are crying out for it, through laying new lines, building new stations, manufacturing new equipment and transport infrastructure. It will also help to combat isolation in rural and regional parts of the North.
“The key message that I communicated to the Infrastructure in the Assembly this week was: grasp this opportunity with both hands, progress this project at pace, and ensure that the transformational impact of the strategic rail review is felt in communities in every part of the North.”
