Record rail surge sparks fresh demands for better Derry train timetables
Elected members vote to write to Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins regarding funding delays
Derry City and Strabane District Council is to write to the Minister for Infrastructure Liz Kimmins expressing concern over “timetable disparity” in rail provision in the North West.
During June’s Governance and Strategic Planning Committee meeting, People Before Profit councillor Shaun Harkin welcomed recent confirmation that there has been over one million journeys taken from Derry's train station at the North West Transport Hub during the 2025/26 year.
Speaking at the meeting, Colr. Harkin said: “We've had a record-breaking year for the Derry Line, so it's really clear that more people are using the Waterside station.
“I want to commend the workers at Translink that have facilitated this, and Into the West for the work that they've done in terms of promoting rail use and arguing and making the case and campaigning for expanded rail provision.”
Councillor Harkin said that while council has written to the Minister for Infrastructure in the past seeking the funding necessary to tackle timetable disparity, now, in the wake of the new passenger journey record set at the station, would be a “good opportunity” to write to her again.
He successfully proposed that council write to the Minister asking for clarity on whether or not there is going to be funding provided to address the timetabling matter.
“Because we still haven't got a clear answer if this is going to happen,” he said. “And now that rail provision is growing we should be saying: If we actually address the timetable disparity for the Derry station, what could we see in terms of passenger use growth?”
SDLP councillor Rory Farrell seconded the proposal and added: "The issue with rail provision in the North West has been discussed over and over at this committee and it's been discussed over and over at the Public Transport Working Group.
“We have written to the Minister previously regarding this matter. We haven't received a response.
“Stormont doesn't have a budget for this year, which probably is contributing to that issue, but we have no issue writing again because we need timetable fairness for people here west of the Bann and it doesn't exist at the minute.”