North Antrim Ulster Unionist MLA Robin Swann has welcomed the news that the Regional Development Minister has secured funding to begin an early upgrade of the Coleraine to Londonderry rail line.
Mr Swann said;
“The announcement by the Ulster Unionist Transport Minister Danny Kennedy that he has been able to secure agreement from the Executive to use £27 million of funding from within his own Departmental Budget to enable work to begin in July 2012, will be welcomed throughout Northern Ireland and especially in the north of the Province.
It would have been ludicrous if Londonderry’s year as UK City of Culture had been accompanied by the withdrawal of the train service.
Tourism is vital to the economy in the north of both counties Antrim and Londonderry and in additional to the natural beauty of our coastline and our rural scenery, the train link from Belfast through Ballymena, Ballymoney and Coleraine on to Londonderry is an asset which must be promoted and protected.”
