Possible airport rail link

Rail passengers from Northern Ireland who regularly fly out of Dublin Airport could be set for a faster journey as Irish Rail has announced plans to develop a direct rail route. Irish Rail’s new line would allow inter-city trains to travel directly to the airport from Cork, Galway and Belfast.

Dublin Airport offers 161 routes around the world. Over 21 million people used it last year, with over 570,000 of them travelling from Northern Ireland. The line would cost an estimated €300 million (£223 million) and Irish Rail has suggested that it could be completed within five years, with a view to carrying three million passengers.

The announcement has once again highlighted the case for installing a rail route to Belfast International Airport.

South Antrim MLA Danny Kinahan said: “We need to look at having an aviation strategy. It really needs to concentrate minds.” Kinahan added that the economic viability of reopening the Knockmore-to-Antrim line needed to be examined, with a short bus link from the new Aldergrove station to the airport.