Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has welcomed a €230 million investment from the Shared Island Fund to enhance rail links across the island of Ireland, following an announcement by the Taoiseach.

The funding package comprises approximately €100 million for track renewal on the Belfast–Derry and Belfast–Dublin routes; €93 million for DART+ coastal North; and €34.5 million to support the continuation of an hourly Enterprise service between Belfast and Dublin.

Welcoming the announcement by the Taoiseach, Minister Kimmins said: "This is superb news for the future of rail on this island particularly so for the Derry to - Belfast and Belfast to Dublin routes. The investment in rail, through the Shared Island Fund, will accelerate improvements on the Derry-Belfast and Belfast-Dublin lines, strengthening regional balance and connectivity. "This investment will pave the way for faster journeys and greater reliability for services between Dublin, Belfast and the North-West – delivering a more cohesive rail network, connecting communities and boosting the thriving all-island economy.

"Following on from the €700million investment announced last month by the Irish Government, my Department and the PEACEPLUS programme, for new trains on the Belfast to Dublin route, this is a further positive development for the future of rail, and a total of almost one billion euros to be invested in rail, connecting communities right across the island."

Separately, the Department of Transport and Northern Ireland's Department for Infrastructure will continue to progress initial phases of the Major Project Interventions identified in the Rail Project Prioritisation Strategy, subject to funding in each administration and in a co-ordinated way on cross-border routes.