Belfast to Dublin Railway Line

HL Deb 22 January 2003 vol 643 c110WA

Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Following the recent total relay of the railway track between Belfast and Dublin, how many speed restrictions apply; and why they are appropriate on a relaid track. [HL1067]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

Translink has advised that there are five temporary speed restrictions currently in place on the Belfast to Dublin railway line, between Belfast and the border. One is related to vandalism and one to settlement caused by badger activity. The remaining three are in place for operational reasons including maintenance work.

Approximately 50 per cent of the track that runs from Belfast to the Border was relaid during the mid to late 1990s and none of the temporary speed restrictions relates to track that was relaid.