Full steam ahead as railway looks to bright future

Full steam ahead as railway looks to bright future

1 January 2013

AMBITIOUS plans by the Downpatrick and Co Down Railway to expand its operation will significantly increase passenger numbers and income by 2019, it has emerged.

The news was made public at a recent meeting of Down Council’s Corporate Services Committee.

Politicians discussed a request from railway officials to vest land on their behalf to allow the extension of the line from the Lower Market Street station to Downpatrick racecourse and nearby Ballydugan Mill.

Railway officials believe the project to expand and enhance the service they provide will increase visitors to the Downpatrick and Lecale area to 123,000 in seven years’ time, resulting in an estimated tourist spend of £1.7m and create several new jobs.

Down Council has been asked to finance the estimated £32,500 cost of acquiring the land to extend its line from its Lower Market Street station.

Councillors were told that the council agreed over two years ago to open discussions with two landowners in a bid to reach a deal to secure the land railway officials require.

The local authority also decided that if it was unable to do a deal, it would exercise its vesting powers to acquire the land, subject to a suitable valuation and all necessary legal formalities being completed. One of the landowners has refused to sell, while the other has not responded to any council correspondence on the issue.

At the recent council committee meeting, politicians agreed to refer the railway’s request to the Rates Working Party for further discussion by politicians from all parties.

The Downpatrick railway has lodged a successful application with the Down Rural Area Partnership for £1.4m to finance extending the line and hopes the money will be made available early in the New Year. But it has no money to purchase the land it requires.

Councillor Colin McGrath said Down Council supports the railway and has previously approved the plan to extend the railway line to the racecourse and Ballydugan Mill.

“This particular request is about vesting the land they require and passing this issue to the Rates Working Party given the spend that’s involved,” he explained. “Down Council can vest land, but railway officials cannot.

“To secure a large cash injection of £1.4m for the district is great, but for this to be jeopardised by not making the £32,000 available to vest the land seems folly,” he said.

Councillor Robert Burgess praised the work of railway officials and said he was in no doubt that the facility would continue to grow in popularity and produce an economic benefit for Downpatrick and the surrounding area.

Councillors John Doris, Garth Craig and Mickey Coogan also agreed to refer the request to vest the land to the Rates Working Party, with committee members informed the issue will be dealt via a Lands Tribunal hearing.

Councillor Carmel O’Boyle said she had sympathy for landowners who faced having their land vested.