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Rail link would generate €20m 07.08.07

A RAILWAY from Sligo to Donegal and Derry would create tourism revenues of around €20m, according to a local TD.
Donegal North East TD Joe McHugh was quoting from a new report by transport researcher Brian Guckian who cited the benefits of bringing the North West into a 'round Ireland' rail network.
"Plans must be drawn up to link Letterkenny with a high speed rail link to Derry’s airport. Council officials expect Letterkenny to experience significant population growth over the next few years, reaching 50,000 by 2020," said Deputy McHugh.
“Work on a rail link should be done in tandem with major road projects such as plans for a motorway to Letterkenny.
“Each local authority should appoint a director of services or a senior official to work with the county manager to co-ordinate major cross-border infrastructure plans in the border counties which must include a Derry to Sligo rail route linking in with the Western Rail Corridor."
The Fine Gael deputy said the authorities should seize the opportunity for the more cost-efficient mode of transport.
“With rail costing a tenth of the cost per mile of a motorway, the need to take freight off increasingly congested roads and the environmental benefits of reducing traffic, prioritising the rail link is essential. It would help Letterkenny to grow in to a city and would help Donegal improve performance in tourism and general economic terms. “Attractions like the Giant’s Causeway are busy with tourists in February, yet in July parts of Donegal are empty of tourists.
"So if you had a significant piece of infrastructure like a railway link to Letterkenny from Derry and on to the West, it would facilitate an all-Ireland tourism agenda," he added.
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