AQW 20251/17-22

Mr Andrew Muir
Alliance Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 10/06/2021
Answered On Date: 21/06/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure to outline the timescale for the construction of the (i) Park and Ride; and ii) related railway halt at Knockmore, Lisburn.

Answer:

I am ambitious for our rail network, and am keen to do all that I can to explore how we can progress rail improvements within the limited budgetary envelope that I have available to me. I recognise the potential which additional halts on our railway network could provide to areas such as Knockmore/Lisburn West.

Given the limited amount of funding available to improve and expand our network, I am keen that we take a strategic view to future investment to ensure we maximise the impact of any future projects taken forward. In that regard, the All Island Strategic Rail Review, which Minister Ryan and I announced in April, will allow us to consider our network across this island to view how we can improve it for everyone. The Review will examine the potential for rail connections across the island including how our existing connections could be improved and where new rail links would be best placed. This work will also include consideration of additional rail halts such as one at Knockmore.

I want to ensure that any proposals for changes to the rail network include operational and financial viability and have a very clear focus on the part that rail can play in growing our all-island economy, while improving the ability of people to connect, access opportunities and address longstanding regional imbalances. The purpose of this review will be to allow data to drive how to improve and expand our rail connections. To that end, both Departments have made no assumptions on the outputs of the review and, at this time, cannot pre-empt what the review will recommend.

My Department is also currently preparing the Regional Strategic Transport Network Transport Plan (RSTNTP), this plan 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, but will also consider resource costs for improved bus and rail services. It is anticipated this plan will be published for public consultation later this year providing the opportunity for representations to be made for projects such as the ones you have outlined and I would encourage all feedback through this process to help inform the RSTNTP.