AQW 20250/17-22

Mr Andrew Muir
Alliance Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 10/06/2021
Answered On Date: 22/06/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure, in light of both increased housing development in vicinity of the line and her Department's goals to address climate change by striving towards Net Zero, whether she plans to commission a feasibility study into reopening the Knockmore railway line between Lisburn and Antrim.

Answer:

Since coming into office, I have been clear that it is my priority to address regional imbalance, tackle the climate crisis and better connect communities across Ireland. I am committed to improving transport connectivity for the benefit of our economy and communities across the North. Our rail network, whilst relatively small, does present a unique opportunity to improve the sustainability of the Department’s transport operations and so help address climate change.

In partnership with my counterpart in the Irish Department for Transport, Eamon Ryan TD, we announced in April a joint All-Island Strategic Rail Review to look into improving rail connectivity between major cities, and extending accessibility. This is an ambitious piece of work that will help inform our decision making and investment in our rail network for years to come, and will explore the opportunities to better connect communities not just in the north-west but much further afield and will open up opportunities for our island economy.

The process is at an early stage, with a procurement exercise being undertaken to appoint a service provider to deliver the review, but I will continue to explore how we will advance and build on the ambitions set out in the New Decade New Approach through the North South Ministerial Council.

My Department is also currently developing proposals for a new Regional Strategic Transport Network Transport Plan (RSTNTP) which will set out the priorities for future development of the main road and rail networks up to 2035. The RSTNTP will primarily consider capital investment for road and rail networks and will also consider resource costs for improved bus and rail services.

It is anticipated this plan will be published for consultation later this year and I would welcome all representations from the public, including those in respect of reopening Lisburn to Antrim railway line via Knockmore, through this process.