TRANSLINK are to start work on a second major upgrade to the Derry-to-Coleraine railway line is to begin in May.
Rail executive David Strahan confirmed the start date as he gave evidence to a Northern Ireland Assembly inquiry into the rail project.
The inquiry was set up last year to find out why the upgrade has doubled from £20 million to £40 million.
The second stage of the upgrade involves major re-signalling between Derry and Coleraine and the introduction of a passing loop and will be finished in 2016..
Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle, committee member John Dallat said Derry needed a proper inter-city service and added he was looking forward to a “new era for the north west”.
“Last time only one contractor expressed an interest, this time I understand there are four and a lot of the figures that should have been done the last time have been done.”
Mr Dallat said: “I hope that the city of Derry and all the towns in-between will have a new rail service by 2016.
“It’s not a dream it’s a reality and I’m absolutely confident because I know that no other city in the world doesn’t have a decent inter-city service.”
Last year, Translink said an hourly service on the route was a “priority”.
Senior Translink officials were quizzed alongside government mandarins at the Derry hearing.
In a statement, a Translink spokesperson said: “Appearing today at the Committee for Regional Development, Translink confirmed that, subject to the successful completion of a tender process, work on phase 2 of the project to relay the railway line between Coleraine and Derry is expected to commence in May 2015.”
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