Poetry can express our frustration

“It’s no go the merry-go-round, it’s no go the rickshaw,

All we want is a limousine and a ticket for the peepshow”

For some reason I can’t get these lines from “Bagpipe music” by Ulster poet Louis MacNeice out of my head when I hear of delays to work on the Derry to Coleraine railway. “It’s no go the merry-go-round, it’s no go the rickshaw,” is an expression of sheer frustration.

What else needs to be said? Well, we need to be told why Translink’s estimate of £22 million for a passing loop and signalling was so far wrong.

It was out by a cool £18 million, we’re now being told.

That raises another question. Isn’t it amazing that a simple passing loop at Bellarena and signalling, to allow Derry to have an hourly train service like Coleraine already has, could possibly cost £40 million?

This debacle and the repeated delays again call into question Translink’s commitment to the North West.

Our representatives need to get to the bottom of this. John Dallat MLA has long been a champion of the line and others have taken a more recent interest. Former culture minister, Gregory ‘curry my yoghurt’ Campbell has recently asked an Assembly question on the line.

Questions are OK but more is needed. Particularly representatives in the two largest parties must demand urgent action to address our regional disadvantage.