§ 6. Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects the upgrading of the Belfast-Dublin rail link to be commenced and completed.
§ Mr. AtkinsI am advised that preparatory work should commence this summer and that the scheme is expected to take five years to complete.
§ Mr. BurnsThat news will he warmly welcomed by both passengers and freight users in Ireland, and the development is to be encouraged for the help that it will give to greater economic development between the north and the south. How many trains a day will there be, and how long will the journey take?
§ Mr. AtkinsI am grateful to my hon. Friend. The essence of an improvement is that the trains should run faster that the journey time should be cut by 15 to 20 minutes and that there should be more trains running so as to provide a better service between the two parts of Ireland. In those circumstances, the sooner this happens, the better.
§ Mr. Clifford ForsytheWhat progress has been made in developing a new central rail terminal in Belfast? Will it be developed in conjunction with the rail line between Belfast and Dublin, bearing in mind the fact that a rail terminal is essential for the transport infrastructure of Northern Ireland?
§ Mr. AtkinsThe consultants who looked at this did not suggest that there was any need for enhancement either in Belfast or in Dublin, but I know that this matter has raised its head, and the consultants will be looking at it when they meet in about a week's time. As the hon. Gentleman has raised the matter, I will have a close look at it and make sure that his concerns are studied.