An advocacy group that wants the re-establishment of rail services in Donegal and the wider North-West has called on the Government to use the Apple Tax windfall to fund a new rail line here.
Into The West say that the €14.1 billion tax collection can and should be used to revitalise the rail network in the region.
This follows recommendations from the All-Island Strategic Rail Review, which recommended that a line between Letterkenny and Derry be re-established, allowing for transport by rail directly from Donegal to Dublin and Belfast.
Into The West Chariman Steve Bradley, says the windfall marks the perfect opportunity to invest in rail services here.
“The last time a train visited Letterkenny was 1953, when the town had a population of only 4,000 people. Seventy-one years later, Letterkenny is one of the fastest-growing large towns on this island. Its current population of 22,500 increased by 17% between 2016 and 2022, and is expected to reach almost 30,000 by 2040.”
“It is also a very car-dominated town, with a level of congestion you would only expect to find in much larger places. Letterkenny is part of the North-west City Region, along with Derry and Strabane – and the highest concentration of cross-border commuting on the island occurs between North-East Donegal and Derry City every day, with 38% of all cross-border trips happening there. Yet the vast majority of those journeys take place by car because of limited bus options and the complete absence of rail.”
“Finally – Derry’s Altnagelvin Hospital is the designated Cancer Centre for Donegal both Derry and Letterkenny have growing universities that are undergoing continual expansion; and 40% of the passengers who use City of Derry Airport are travelling to or from Donegal.”
“There is therefore a clear need to better connect the two main towns in the North-West City Region – for work, study, healthcare, shopping, social events and travel. Yet almost all of those journeys are currently reliant upon private cars – creating congestion, pollution and emissions, whilst limiting the opportunities of those who are unable to drive or who can’t afford a car”.”
He also notes that now may be the perfect time to invest, as the All-Ireland Rail Review’s timeline for a Derry-Letterkenny train line extended as far as into the 2040s or 2050s before construction would even be considered.
“The All-Island Rail Strategy has acknowledged the need for trains to return to Donegal, and has recommended a link from the proposed Derry-Portadown line to Letterkenny. However – it also assumes that Letterkenny should only get its rail connection back after the Derry-Portadown route has been restored.”
“This places Donegal’s rail future entirely at the mercy of Stormont – an institution which has proven to be politically unstable, strategically indecisive, and financially restricted. At best this current sequencing is likely to mean that Donegal won’t see trains again for another 20 to 30 years. And at worst it could mean that rail doesn’t return here at all. Donegal’s infrastructure future is just too important to be left dependent upon the fortunes of Stormont.”
“That’s why we’re calling for a small portion of the €14bn Apple Windfall Tax to be used to link Letterkenny and Derry by rail as soon as possible. It would require less than 4% of the available windfall fund, but would do so much to end Donegal’s isolation and promote greater regional balance.”
“It would also help boost economic activity and population growth across the North-West City Region, by binding its two largest towns closer together and giving them the infrastructure they need to attract new jobs and workers. And it would give people a choice over what transport mode to use for each journey – freeing them from the necessity to always drive, whilst reducing congestion, emissions and road danger as a result.”
“If the government wants to show that it takes the transport needs of Donegal and the North-West seriously, then it’s time to start giving the county back its rail.”
