MLA calls for rail services in the West

by Gráinne Connolly

West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan will be meeting with department officials to discuss the lack of rail infrastructure in the West. 

There's no functioning train service or operating tracks in the region. 

Daniel McCrossan told Q Radio it's "pivotal" this situation is rectified, so the area can be more connected with the rest of the country. 

”When you look at the rail infrastructure across the North, the West of this province stands out.

"We have no rail service, no trains, no operating tracks. I want to see Strabane and even Omagh linked up with Derry, and be connected to the rest of the island.

”While policy people thought rail was dying a slow death and that buses were the way forward, little did they realise how important rail is to modern travel.

”We need to connect our communities in the West  through rail and not congested roads.

"We need to connect to our rural communities and allow people to travel for work. We need to support and find innovative ways to increase social mobility and employment here.

”We cannot simply stand back and let these issues fix themselves. This simply does not happen organically.

"There needs to be intervention and I firmly believe that investing in rail services is something that has to be on the table."

MLA McCrossan has secured a meeting with Tom Reid, who heads the Transport Strategy Directorate to discuss the issue.