AQW 37857/22-27

Mr David Honeyford
Alliance Party
Lagan Valley

Tabled Date: 09/01/2026
Answered On Date: 26/01/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure whether her Department will publish a redacted version of the Knockmore railway line feasibility study.

Answer:

My Department has considered the option of releasing a redacted version of the feasibility study. However, even with redactions, large sections of the document contain material that is integral to ongoing policy development and commercially sensitive information. Removing these sections would result in a document that is incomplete and potentially misleading, which could lead to misunderstanding among stakeholders and the public.

Furthermore, publishing any version at this stage could compromise the integrity of future decision-making and procurement processes. For these reasons, the Department believes that withholding the study in its entirety until these risks have passed is the most appropriate course of action.

It is important to note that the major findings and strategic considerations from the feasibility study are already reflected in the published report Shaping the Future – A Rail Network for Northern Ireland, which provides a comprehensive overview of the Department’s vision for rail development.