Into the West - Rail Campaign

21/06/2026

Fantastic news that €10bn will be spent by the Republic on public transport between 2026 & 2030 - including on key rail projects like the Western Rail Corridor (long campaigned for by West On Track), Dart+, & the Cork Commuter Rail project.

It's now essential that progress is made over the next 5 years to advance the Letterkenny-Derry & Derry-Portadown rail reopening projects, so that they can make the next round of funding for 2030+

And the crucial first step in that is a feasibility study into restoring Letterkenny-Derry rail 👍

Letterkenny Cathedral Quarter Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce Donegal Railway Heritage Museum Donegal Daily Donegal Democrat / Donegal Live

https://www.globalconstructionreview.com/ireland-plans-e24bn-transport-spend-in-next-five-years/?fbclid=Iwb21leASlHFVjbGNrBKUcIWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHrG_XSKzmdSg_wjAaYpTh7wvgt0TdXVaL1IwzHBwb6ahH7TTdkftfOZtuSTO_aem_6eb5RvVXy2W0dKWQFcTH1w

The Republic of Ireland has announced it will spend €24.3bn on transport between 2026 and 2030, including funding for public transport, roads, maritime and aviation.

12/06/2026

Fantastic to see the reopening date for Stage 2 of the Western Rail Corridor has been set for 2031. This will reopen the section of line from Athenry to Claremorris - connnecting Castelbar, Ballina and Wetsport directly to Galway and Limerick (and to Foynes Port for freight, when rail is connected to that port shortly).

The Dublin Government is pushing ahead with reopening and improving rail in the west, east and south of the island. It's now time that they develop a plan for restoring it in in the north. Progress south of the border also puts the absurdly long timescale for doing even relatively simple rail improvements in NI to shame. Stormont is a shambles in comparison 😟

08/06/2026

Donegal railway into the west

06/06/2026

Fantastic turnout for this afternoon's official opening of the restored Victorian railway bridge at . And what a superb job has been done of the gorgeous old heritage structure 👍 The sooner the 'temporary' rust & concrete modern version gets removed the better 🙏🏻

Congratulations to Castlerock Community Association, Heritage Lottery & all involved in this initiative 🌟

05/06/2026

** RESTORED CASTLEROCK RAIL BRIDGE - RE-OPENING EVENT TOMORROW **

A reminder that tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon will see a host of events to mark the official return of 's superb heritage railway bridge 👍

Full details of the events organised by Castlerock Community Association are below. It should be a great afternoon 👍

05/06/2026

Pressure is really starting to build now on the blatant East-West timetable discrimination on the Derry-Belfast railway line. Why should the quality of service you receive differ so dramatically - based entirely on which side of a narrow river you live? 🤷‍♂️

It's the most blatant & fixable of the many examples of NI's 'Two Tier Transport' approach - where resources are concentrated in the East whilst the West is left llargely abandoned. High time you bring this to an end Liz Kimmins MLA & Department for Infrastructure

Our thanks to Councillors Shaun Harkin & Rory Farrell for proposing & seconding the motion on this at the recent council committee 👍 Let's keep the pressure on.

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.

04/06/2026

** 𝗣𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗖 𝗦𝗨𝗥𝗩𝗘𝗬 𝗢𝗡 𝗖𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗢𝗙 𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗥𝗬 𝗔𝗜𝗥𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧/𝗟𝗢𝗡𝗗𝗢𝗡 𝗙𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗦 **

Derry City & Strabane District Council is holding a public consultation about the London flights to/from City of Derry Airport. This is part of the process leading to the renewal of the PSO (public subsidy) contract for the London service next year.

𝑰𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒗𝒆𝒚 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔, 𝒘𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒃𝒆 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒐𝒐𝒓 𝒑𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒄 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑨𝒊𝒓𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕. In particular - the final section of the survey leaves space to add general comments. So please mention there the absurdity of having trains pass the airport without stopping. And the fact that better transport links would make you more likely to use the facility/London flights.

https://haveyoursay.derrystrabane.com/en-GB/projects/public-survey-city-of-derry-to-london-air-service

03/06/2026

Cars are clogging Letterkenny because people have too few alternatives, campaigners say.

Read more: https://www.donegaldaily.com/news/letterkenny-now-largest-town-in-ireland-without-rail-plan-636457