Railways (Northern Ireland) Bill

A BILL TO

Repeal the Translink Railway Expansion Act 2018, and set into place replacement standards for railway expansion in Northern Ireland.

Section 1: Repeals

(1) The Translink Railway Expansion Act 2018 is hereby repealed in its entirety.

Section 2: Reestablishment of the Portadown-Dungannon-Omagh line

(1) Translink will reestablish a railway line between Portadown, Dungannon and Omagh, with a view to completing this project by 2025.

(2) The costings for setting up this railway line will be determined by Northern Ireland’s Department for Finance, in conjunction with HM Treasury.

(a) For the purpose of this Act, a baseline figure of £40 million will be set to rejuvenate existing lines and provide a basis for new station and line construction.

(3) The line will be established at and will travel between the following stations:

(a) Portadown

(b) Annaghmore

(c) Vernersbridge

(d) Trew and Moy

(e) Dungannon

(f) Donaghmore

(g) Carrickmore

(h) Beragh

(i) Omagh

Section 3: Reestablishment of the Waterside-Enniskillen Line

(1) Translink will reestablish a railway line between Waterside (Derry/Londonderry) and Enniskillen, with a view to completing this project by 2022.

(2) The costings for setting up this railway line will be determined by Northern Ireland’s Department for Finance, in conjunction with HM Treasury.

(a) For the purpose of this Act, a baseline figure of £32 million will be set to rejuvenate existing lines and provide a basis for new station and line construction.

(3) The line will be established at and will travel between the following stations:

(a) Waterside

(b) Strabane

(c) Victoria Bridge

(d) Newtownstewart

(e) Omagh

(f) Fintona

(g) Trillick

(h) Enniskillen

Section 4: Reestablishment of the Ballymena-Larne Line

(1) Translink will reestablish a railway line between Ballymena and Larne, with a view to completing this project by 2022.

(2) The costings for setting up this railway line will be determined by Northern Ireland’s Department for Finance, in conjunction with HM Treasury.

(a) For the purpose of this Act, a baseline figure of £25 million will be set to rejuvenate existing lines and provide a basis for new station and line construction.

(3) The line will be established at and will travel between the following stations:

(a) Ballymena

(b) Moorfields

(c) Ballyclare

(d) Ballyboley Junction

(e) Headwood

(f) Larne Town

(g) Larne Harbour

Section 4. Modernisation of existing rail infrastructure

(1) Passing loops will be installed near stations on the Belfast-Derry line by 2021, at a cost of £5 million.

(2) In turn, 30 new C4K trains will be provided as rolling stock for new lines, at a cost of £47 million.

(3) 12 C3K trains will also be provided as rolling stock for new lines, at a cost of £15 million.

Section 5: Establishment of stations on reopened lines

(1) Northern Ireland’s Department for Finance, in conjunction with HM Treasury, will allocate funds of £30 million for Translink to repurchase closed railway stations on reopened lines.

(2) Where these purchases are unnecessary or are deemed to not be feasible, further funds of £13 million will be allocated to set up temporary stations nearby on the line.

(3) The Northern Irish Executive must set out a report by 2035, outlining a strategy by which temporary stations will be replaced by permanent installations.

Section 6: Interpretations:

(1) For the purposes of this Act, Translink refers to the body in charge of the administration of Northern Irish rail.

(2) A “passing loop” refers to a place on a single line railway, often located at a station, where trains travelling in opposite directions can pass each other.

(3) For the purposes of this Act, “rolling stock” refers to any vehicles owned by Translink, and are designated for passenger use, that move on a railway.

Section 7: Extent, commencement and short title

(1) This bill extends to the entirety of Northern Ireland

(2) This bill shall be titled the “Railways (Northern Ireland) Act 2019”.

(3) This bill will come into effect immediately after receiving royal assent.

This bill was submitted by the Rt. Hon /u/Trevism MLA PC CT KP, MLA for West Tyrone and 3rd Earl of Stockton, on behalf of the Irish Parliamentary Party.

This vote will end on the 15th of July at 10PM

As no amendments were submitted, this bill will pass with the support of the house at this stage.