In a parliamentary reply last week, Minister Dempsey stated that no negotiations had taken place in relation to a rail line between Derry and Letterkenny or from Letterkenny to Sligo.

Insisting that this line was not just about Donegal, Deputy McHugh said that a line from Sligo to Derry through Donegal would be a major boost to tourism in Ireland.

“If one observes a map of Ireland’s rail network, there is a rail line running from Derry, right around the country and stops in Sligo. We, in Donegal for some reason are not entitled to a railway line.

“Iarnrod Eireann is re-opening a number of old lines around the country. Limerick to Ennis is to be reopened and eventually to Athenry and Claremorris, as well as Cork to Midleton. There are a number of plans for new tracks in Dublin including a metro, and a line to Navan. Why can’t there be a line from Claremorris on to Sligo, and to Letterkenny and Derry? ”

According to the recently elected Dail deputy, the issue of a railway line in Donegal has always been high on his agenda since he entered the political ring 8 years ago. He believes that in an era where people want to help the environment, avoid traffic congestion and travel in comfort, travelling by train is the way forward.

“The Fianna Fail government think that building motorways everywhere will solve all the problems. This is not going to solve the traffic chaos. The only way to ease the congestion is to invest in public transport. Can you imagine the volume of traffic that would be removed from our roads if there was a train travelling from Donegal to Dublin everyday?

“Everything from local bread to a bag of coal must be transported by road. A proper train service would benefit the haulage industry.”

The county of Donegal once boasted 112 miles of rail track, yet there is not a single mile left today. This has left the Donegal public transport system in somewhat of a shambles. But according to the Fine Gael T.D. we will not get access to a rail link until the public make their feelings known to the government.

“We need to make our voices heard and we can only do this by keeping the pressure on the government and on the Department of Transport and let them know that we want a rail line. I am calling on all my political colleagues here in Donegal to support this idea and the public to show their support by logging onto www.donegalmatters.com and get behind the campaign.”

Deputy Mc Hugh is adamant that the benefits of a rail line into Donegal would be huge. With the only gap in the island in terms of railway lines coming between Derry and Sligo, a rail line into Donegal would complete a ‘round-Ireland’ railway line, meaning you could get on in Donegal and travel right around the island by train. Deputy McHugh believes that tourism would sky rocket in Donegal.

“We are losing tourists because they do not want to drive from Dublin to Donegal. If there was a rail line, our tourism figures would almost double.