Almost €200 million has been allocated for upgrades to the Derry-Belfast-Dublin railway line from the Dublin Government's Shared Island Fund.

Last month the ‘Journal’ reported that a major investment in rail infrastructure was forthcoming.

This week Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Helen McEntee, confirmed a €193 million contribution to Derry-Belfast-Dublin rail infrastructure over the 2027 to 30 period.

The investment will increase line speed, capacity and service resilience, in line with the All-Island Strategic Rail Review (AISRR) and the joint Rail Project Prioritisation Strategy (RPPS).

Railway line works in Derry back in 2019.

placeholder image — Railway line works in Derry back in 2019.

The Department for Transport in Dublin and Department of Infrastructure in Belfast are set to work with relevant agencies so that there is ‘a 15-20 minute transfer time between the Dublin-Belfast and Belfast-Derry lines to enhance connectivity between and the three cities’.

"We are making significant new investments in rail infrastructure and connectivity between Dublin, Belfast and Derry,” said the Taoiseach.

He added: “Our landmark investment in rail infrastructure upgrades out to 2030 will boost capacity, reliability and improve journey times between Dublin, Belfast and Derry, adding significantly to other funding by the Government and the Executive in rail infrastructure through the All-Island Strategic Rail Review 2024 and the Rail Prioritisation Strategy 2025.

"The Government will also continue to resource the hourly-frequency train service between Dublin and Belfast out to 2030, which saw passenger numbers increase by 40 per cent in its first year of operation.”

The investment is part of €377m allocated from the Shared Island Fund for 12 new projects to be delivered as part of the initiative over 2027-2030.