Funding announced to help get Phase 3 of the Derry rail line project back on track

The Minister has also announced plans to roll out a 20 miles per hour zone across 100 schools and a £multi-million package to tackle road maintenance and potholes, and more greenways, low emission buses, and park and ride sites.

Phase 3 involves the full relay of the track between Castlerock and Eglinton, replace sleepers and ballast as well as refurbish bridges within this line section, which opens up the potential for a half-hourly service from Derry.

Phases 1 and 2, which involved resignalling, a new passing loop, the new Waterside Transport Hub, and the full relay of the permanent way from Coleraine to Castlerock and from Eglinton to Derry have already been completed.

However in 2019, during the Stormont impasse, the Department of Infrastructure announced it had no plans to continue with the third and final phase, which caused outrage across the north west.

SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan said the announcement by Minister Mallon, who took on the Infrastructure portfolio earlier this year, was a clear signal of support for the North West.

Mr Durkan said: “SDLP Minister Nichola Mallon has listened to the calls of the people of Derry and the wider North West and has announced today investment to support a feasibility study of the phase three of the Derry - Coleraine line.

“Minister Mallon has set us back on track - on the next step for our journey into the West. This clear signal from the Minister to support the people of this area, connecting our communities and ultimately leading to growth - is to be welcomed by all across our city.”

Ms Mallon today outlined the challenges facing her resource budget, as she sets out her plans to support communities through recovery, while promoting economic growth and transformation through capital spend.

In a statement to the Assembly, she said her department needs “much more on resource” to support the public transport network and NI Water.

The Minister however on the capital side, outlined an ambitious programme of investment including a £20m fund for blue/green infrastructure as well as funding for road safety measures, street lights and potholes.

Her announcements include the creation of a transformation pot with support for greenways and £30m for low emission buses, crucial investment in flagship projects and strategic roads across the north, a rural roads pot, 100 schools to benefit from 20mph speed limits scheme and funding to get phase 3 of the Derry – Coleraine line back on track.

Minister Mallon said: “It is no secret that the Department for Infrastructure is facing real pressures in its resource budget. While I’ve been able to allocate my budget to support services, serious gaps remain for our public transport network and NI Water. The financial climate remains difficult, significantly compounded by the Covid-19 crisis, but I am committed to seizing the opportunities to enable a greener, cleaner, recovery towards a new and better normal for all of us.

“In announcing these key projects, I want to be transparent and honest with the public about the challenges, but also about the opportunities. While I continue to support the fight back against Covid-19 in cooperation with colleagues, my department has also looked at new ways to invest that can deliver the transformation our communities need.

“The £20m funding for blue/green infrastructure will support our communities through this transformation, promoting active travel and shaping our places to live in the new normal. This funding will be community led and departmentally supported. In partnership we can ensure lasting change for people across the north.

“I am also maintaining the level of investment in structural maintenance, to ensure we get the basics done. With a £10m pot for rural roads, I want to make sure that citizens, no matter where they live, are not left behind. I have also approved the continuation of works on all flagship projects as well as a number of other strategic road improvement schemes, this investment is key not only to employment across Northern Ireland but also to kick start our economic recovery.

“And transformation won’t stop there, funding will be made available for greenways, low emission buses, park and ride sites and road safety measures, including funding to roll out the 20mph speed limit scheme to some 100 schools across the north.

“As we look forward with hope and Northern Ireland looks to get back on track, I’ve ensured that my commitment to addressing regional imbalance is realised by getting the Derry-Coleraine Phase 3 rail line back on track too.”

SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP welcomed the series of pending commitments for the North West and said his party is hard at work delivering a green revolution and long overdue projects to transform the local economy.

Mr Eastwood said: “The SDLP’s primary interest has always been in using the power of government to reshape and improve the lives of people in all of our communities. For years others have dealt in the politics of delay, Nichola Mallon has proven yet again the SDLP deals in delivery.

“While Minister Nichola Mallon continues to fight tooth and nail at the Executive table for vital resources for our public transport network and to maintain the quality of our drinking water, she has creatively and carefully delivered a transformative capital budget. Investments in active travel and rail are a clear commitment to our green recovery. As well as investment to deliver the long awaited A5 and A6 projects and a focus on our rail network - we aren’t waiting for change - we’re getting work underway to at long last address the years of neglect in the North West.”