24/11/2004

Northern Ireland Railways on track with new train

The first of 23 new trains bought by Northern Ireland Railways at the cost of £80 million has travelled from Portadown to Belfast today.

The three-carriage train is the first to arrive from Spanish firm CAF and should cut journey times as well as overcrowding and reliability problems.

The new 90mph trains, which have faster start-up and braking mechanisms, were ordered during East Belfast MP Peter Robinson’s time as Minister for Regional Development.

Speaking today, Mr Robinson welcomed the first of the new arrivals. He said: “As DRD Minister, I ensured that these 23 state of the art trains were ordered and it is welcome news that the first new train has departed Portadown for Belfast today.

“Once all of these 23 trains are rolled across the Northern Ireland rail network, they will make travelling by rail a much more attractive proposition."

Two more trains are scheduled to enter passenger service by the end of the month and another train is expected to be added every fortnight after that.

All trains are expected to be in passenger service by the end of 2005.

(MB/SP)

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