Archived press release

Antrim-Lisburn rail decision: cynical and short-sighted

10 April 2003

Friends of the Earth described as 'cynical and short-sighted' today's decision by Angela Smith MP to close the Antrim-Lisburn rail line. The announcement leaves residents in the growing settlements of Crumlin, Glenavy and Ballinderry without a rail service, and deals a severe blow to the prospects of a rail link to Belfast International Airport and an Antrim-Lisburn-Belfast circle line.

Speaking as the news broke, Transport Campaigner Lisa Fagan said:

"It is disingenuous of the Department for Regional Development to close this line while the Assembly is in suspension and on the eve of a deal which could see the return of devolution. The Department is cynically seizing the opportunity to bypass an Assembly vote."

Today's decision comes as a blow to campaigners who have made a powerful case for the retention of the line. They insist the Minister is relying on unfairly depressed passenger figures, inflated estimates of the sums required to retain the line and a flawed equality impact assessment.

Ms Fagan added:

"The Minister is claiming that a bus substitution service provides a satisfactory alternative but evidence from England where branch lines have been closed indicates that more rail passengers will transfer to cars than buses and many will cease using the railway altogether, demonstrating that the network is greater than the sum of its parts."

Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland
7 Donegall Street Place
BELFAST
BT1 2FN
Tel: 028 9023 3488
Fax: 028 9024 7556
Email: foe-ni@foe.co.uk.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust