SDLP Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin has called for an end to the ongoing rail discrimination that sees the North West receive 2,400 fewer train services per year than the eastern corridor.
Currently, only one train from Derry arrives in Belfast before 9am, while on Sundays, stations in the North West receive just six trains—less than half the 13 services available to passengers traveling as far as Coleraine.
Following fresh concerns about the impact of poor rail connectivity on jobs, education, and economic growth, Ms. McLaughlin said:
“Rail discrimination in the North West is something we can no longer ignore. The figures speak for themselves—our region is being left behind, and it is holding back people, businesses, and our economy.
“Workers are struggling to get to their jobs on time, people are missing vital medical appointments, and students are deterred from studying in the North West due to unreliable and infrequent public transport.
“The commitment to expand the Magee campus to 10,000 students is a critical step for the future of our region.
“But without adequate infrastructure, we risk failing to deliver on that ambition.
“How can we expect an extra 5,000 students to travel to and from Derry when our current rail timetable is already unfit for purpose?
“As we mark 60 years since the closure of the Derry–Portadown railway route, it is clear that the discrimination faced by communities west of the Bann persists.
“If we are serious about tackling regional imbalance, then we must start by fixing our broken public transport system.
“The onus is on the Minister for Infrastructure to launch an urgent review of the timetable and introduce the funding which would help expand our rail network.”
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