Debate contribution: All-island Rail Network

Debate contribution by Mr Patrick Brown on 27 February 2024.

MLA: Mr Patrick Brown
Party at the time: Alliance Party
Date: 27 February 2024
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Private Members' Business
Heading: All-island Rail Network
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 4237758

Text

As an Alliance infrastructure spokesperson, I take the opportunity to welcome the motion and the amendment. Rail services are an important driver of our economy and are key to enhancing connectivity and social capital, particularly in those rural towns and villages that are under-served by public transport options. Oxford Economics estimates that, for every £1 that is spent on rail in the UK, £2·50 is generated in the wider economy. It is a fact that the expansion of new lines can bring a significant boost and breathe life into previously declining urban centres. Investing in our public rail infrastructure is also a vital step in reducing our carbon footprint and achieving our decarbonisation goals by 2050. It is particularly positive that the all-island rail review sets out plans for the electrification of new and existing lines. It is also vital that we continue to work with our colleagues in the Irish Government to deliver cross-border schemes and leverage the value of that North/South partnership, which was demonstrated clearly through last week's positive announcements on the A5, Casement Park, Narrow Water bridge and other projects. With no offence whatsoever to buses and other forms of public transport, there is nothing quite like rail travel for efficiency, comfort and seeing beautiful parts of the world zip by the window. Indeed, the rail network on the island of Ireland runs —.
Yes, certainly.
The Member will enjoy the next part of my paragraph as I come to that very issue.
Alas, growing up in South Down, I was not able to enjoy those things on a regular basis, with my constituency lacking any active public railway. I believe that, along with Strangford and Mid Ulster, we are the only constituencies that are not included in or touched by the all-island review. I can therefore empathise with our —.
I said "constituencies". However, I can empathise with our friends in Fermanagh, as that is the only county that is excluded from the review. While we may lack a public rail network, my constituency is home to Ireland's only full-size heritage railway, the Downpatrick and County Down Railway, a volunteer-led organisation that does incredible work to promote the history and heritage of rail. It is important, given this opportunity, to recognise it in the debate, in addition to other heritage railways at Foyle Valley and Bushmills, because the motion references the role that rail plays in enhancing tourism. We must recognise the fact that, in and of themselves, railways are a draw for tourists, and not just as a means of transport. While I understand the need for the review to focus on connectivity between main towns and cities, it is important that we do not forget about heritage railways and the forgotten trackbeds that are scattered across our countryside, in many cases, grown over, divided by new roads and housing or repurposed for greenways and cycle paths. Whilst there is no problem in principle with those developments, it is somewhat sad that no statutory protections exist for disused railway lines and the important heritage that they represent. A worthy spin-off of the all-island review could be a look at how we better utilise and care for those important historical assets. The Department for Infrastructure could perhaps begin by looking at how, in partnership with councils, it adequately supports the operation of heritage railway associations, for example. I thank the Members who tabled the motion and those who tabled the amendment. I am happy to give the subject my full support.

586 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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