Translink apology amid Derry line '˜frustration'

The statement comes after Foyle People Before Profit MLA and Into The West campaigner Eamonn McCann branded the service from Derry to Coleraine as “chaotic and entirely unreliable in the week and a half since the line reopened” after 18 months of work.

Mr McCann said: “Passengers who had been looking forward to a proper service are now more dismayed and disappointed than ever. “The new passing loop at Bellarena - for which the lobby group Into The West lobbied for years is, at last, now in operation. But, simultaneously, the dual track at Castlerock has been reduced to single track. This makes no sense whatever,”

Mr McCann said that “strong, public action” is now needed to bring the issue into the political arena”, with Into The West to discuss possible measures.

Translink said the signalling project is on schedule and is due to be substantially complete by year end, but added:

A spokeswoman said: “Translink is advising passengers that there could be some service disruptions over the coming weeks as testing and commissioning of the new signalling system on the line is set to continue until the end of the year. We understand our passengers’ frustration and disappointment with the recent level of service and we would apologise to them for any inconvenience caused as we work through these issues.

She added that contingency plans to minimise the disruption were currently being arranged.