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Newry and Armagh MLA Justin McNulty believes that the All Island Strategic Rail Review represents a once in a generation opportunity to restore rail infrastructure across the North. The review was published today and was commissioned back in 2021 by Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon and Irish Transport Minister Eamon Ryan.
Mr McNulty said: “Securing the first detailed review of rail infrastructure across Ireland was one of the SDLP’s significant achievements in the last term of government. Commissioning the review in cooperation with the Irish Government, we understood the immense practical and environmental benefits that investing in rail will have for people in the North and across our island.
“We now have a £30bn rail restoration plan that will provide a complete overhaul of rail infrastructure, and I am particularly glad that the restoration of Armagh City’s rail link is a key recommendation of the review, something that I advocated strongly for during the consultation process.
“The decades-long erosion of rail services outside of the greater Belfast area has significantly disadvantaged communities across the North. Substantial investment is required to correct that, and I am fully committed to ensuring that the investment signalled in this report is followed through to delivery.
“We are looking at a once in a generation opportunity to restore rail infrastructure and provide investment into areas that have long been neglected. What we need to see now is the return of the Assembly and the restoration of the Executive to harness the full potential contained within this report.”
