Debate contribution: Knockmore Line to Belfast International Airport
Debate contribution by Dr Steve Aiken OBE on .
- MLA
- Dr Steve Aiken OBE
- Party at the time
- Ulster Unionist Party
- Date
- 16 September 2025
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Adjournment
- Heading
- Knockmore Line to Belfast International Airport
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5112003
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I thank John for securing the debate, and I apologise now, Minister, because I will be a bit "spotterish" about this. I talk quite a lot with the railway community and Translink, and I am a great supporter of the all-Ireland rail strategy, because, in my previous existences, I worked closely with the then Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ) on various links to the rail network there. The circle line makes abundant sense when you step back to look at it, but it requires considerable investment in signalling; in ballast, which is what we need to make sure that the track does not fall off; and in upgrading bridges and the roads that are connected to those bridges, in order to make sure that they are capable of doing it. That is the downside. The upside is that all of that will have to be done anyhow. If that is going to be done, we need to take a strategic view of it. We will have to improve the ballast and the track bed between Antrim and Lisburn if we are to keep the line open for any reason. We will have to improve all the signalling, because the railway authority and the Railway Inspectorate will make us do so. We therefore have a good opportunity here. Minister, you will have heard many times about the circle line and the opportunities there. I thank Trevor for talking about Ballymartin, which is a classic example. Part of its car park was designed to be straight, because, originally, there was going to be a railway platform there. The difficulty there was that the platform would not have been not long enough, so it would have had to be extended for longer trains. Translink is actually a bit of a success when it comes to railways. We have full trains. That is a good thing.
Normally, when the trains are full and there is successful infrastructure, one invests in it. For some bizarre reason, we are not investing, but we need to be able to do so. Bearing in mind that we are going to have to spend the money anyhow, it is appropriate that we now take a really strategic view on what we are going to do. Ballymartin can become a transport hub for the growing and important centres of Ballyclare, which I declare that I live quite close to, and I know that my friend does as well, as can Templepatrick. That, as an interim measure, could work quite well to improve bus links to the International Airport. Belfast International Airport is a growth centre. It is probably one of the greatest opportunities that we have, not just in South Antrim but across Northern Ireland. It could be a major logistics hub. There are only two reasons preventing it from becoming one. The first is that we do not have enough skilled labour to go and work there. I go and talk to the airport very regularly — every fortnight or so — and I always ask what its biggest problem is. Every time, I am told that it is that it does not have enough skilled people, because it cannot get them. It is bussing in people from all across Northern Ireland and the north of Ireland because there are not enough skilled people. The second reason is abundantly obvious, and it has already been pointed out by my friends. We need a decent road that connects to the motorway network so that we can use the airport as a major logistics hub. Doing that would be a win-win. If we are therefore to look at this strategically, given that we are going to have spend a lot of the money anyhow, there is a great opportunity here, Minister. I would be delighted if you were to join us MLAs — I am sure that Declan can arrange that — to go out and walk the patch so that you can see how little would be required. By being strategic about it, we could achieve quite a lot for the area. The single most important thing that we want to see is for the facilities that we have to be used. Bearing in mind that we have already invested significantly, we should add that extra bit of investment, which, as I keep saying, we are going to have to spend anyhow. Earlier today in the Chamber, somebody said that we need to spend to save and get value for money. Both things that I have suggested would achieve that. Minister, can you take the opportunity to talk with us about what we can do at Belfast International Airport, particularly to improve the road network? There are solutions out there. Indeed, if the airport, much like Belfast City Airport, is willing to pay most of the costs, there are opportunities. Through a partnership agreement between the great Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, your Department and the airport, we could demonstrate that we can get stuff done. Mr Speaker, I did not even make any Thomas the Tank Engine allusions. There is real opportunity here, and, Minister, there is a good opportunity for you to make a difference without having to spend a fortune.
872 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.02 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- Assessed as legitimate policy scrutiny (0.93).
- No identity-based framing was identified (1.00).
- The overall probability was at or below the not-flagging threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.02 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.02 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.02 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.03 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.03 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.93 | Yes |
| Overall judgement | 0.02 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 1.00 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.00 |
| Adopts it | 0.00 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-related subject | 0.93 |
| Irish language, Ulster-Scots and language policy | 0.04 |
| Constitutional question, Brexit, the Windsor Framework and sovereignty | 0.01 |
| Another identity-related subject | 0.01 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.00 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 13:16 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
Disagree with this assessment?
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