By Chris Ashmore
TOURISM in Donegal would get a massive boost if a rail link between Letterkenny and Derry is re-established – that’s the view of Ireland’s biggest rail tours operator.
Jim Deegan, founder and director of Rail Tours Ireland, has been promoting rail tour packages for the past 28 years.
And there is little doubt that Donegal is losing out on a slice of the tourism business due to the lack of a rail line into the county.
Having a rail connection to the county would open up many new sources of business. Not only would there be organised packages, but there would be people from the likes of Dublin, and Belfast, and even Derry, going to Donegal by train for a break.
On top of that, the lucrative business of hosting conferences would propel Donegal into being a more popular destination.
Places like Killarney and Galway are prime examples of destinations that benefit hugely from being connected to the Irish railway network.
And it’s not just conference delegates, there are day-trippers, students, business visitors, sports fans…the list goes on.
Donegal lost its final passenger railway services in 1965 and up until relatively recently suggestions of rail coming back would have been considered as pie-in-the-sky by most people, including many advocates of rail.
But, as Deegan points out, new factors are coming into play.
Jim Deegan of Rail Tours Ireland believes Donegal would benefit hugely from a rail link
There is a strong national policy to back measures to promote climate change friendly measures and to promote sustainability and energy efficiency.
“Climate change and everything around it is the key to a new golden age of rail,” he told the Donegal News.
In that regard, trains tick many boxes. Indeed, all over Europe there is an upsurge in investment in railways, both for passenger and freight.
Two other major factors that are swaying public opinion towards the need for an expansion of the railway network in Ireland are the continuing growth of the country’s population, and the need for better regional balance.
The last Census in 2022 showed that the Republic of Ireland had a population of almost 5.2 million people. Central Statistics Office forecasts project that the population could reach 6.4 million by 2042.
Add in the population in Northern Ireland and the island of Ireland population could be heading towards nine million.
Inevitably this will lead to more traffic on our roads, but it will also increase the need for alternative modes of transport.
As the map on this page shows, there is already a gaping hole in the north-west when it comes to the rail network.
In the All-Island Strategic Rail Review Report, which was published last year, a number of recommendations were made regarding expanding and enhancing the rail network.
These included the re-establishment of a Letterkenny to Derry line, and also building a new line from Derry to Portadown, via Strabane, Omagh and Dungannon, more or less along the route of the old GNR line that shut 60 years ago.
If both routes are re-established not only would there be local traffic between Letterkenny and Derry, but it would mean a route from Donegal to Belfast and also Dublin.
Of course, aside from the inward side of things, people from Donegal would have rail access to get them to Belfast in two and a half hours and to Dublin in around three and a half hours – and right into the city centre.
The cost of re-establishing a rail link from Letterkenny to Derry could well be in the region of €350 million – €400 million – a substantial figure.
But if it is not built, then the disconnect and accessibility deficit will only become more striking.
Indeed, the whole argument could be flipped on its head. Rather than a focus on how much it would cost, perhaps the question should be what will be the long economic term cost if it is never built.
As is the case for many capital projects, figures can be produced to back one view or another.
But consider this; look at the story of Ireland West Airport in Knock.
When it was first proposed, there was no shortage of sceptics, and claims that it would be a huge white elephant.
The reality is that it has been an unqualified success, with huge economic benefits for the western region – and that includes Donegal.
Deegan has no doubt that rail journeys in Ireland will continue to climb.
Indeed, Irish Rail expects rail passenger numbers to be a record of more than 50 million this year.
By contrast, in 2014, the figure was 37.8 million.
Recent investment in rail in Ireland has reaped dividends.
Passenger numbers on the Galway-Limerick line have been far above initial projections since it reopened in 2010.
In Cork, they are doubling the track for the Midleton suburban service, and since the Dublin-Belfast service was made hourly last year, numbers have surged by almost 50 per cent.
Deegan can see the huge benefits of opening up the Derry-Portadown route, and is upbeat about the prospects for another old route to be reopening, the one from Portadown to Armagh.
In conclusion, he believes there is “enormous” potential for Donegal if a rail connection is constructed. And there is no doubt new rail tour packages would follow.
Interestingly, Rail Tours Ireland actually includes Donegal on two of its current tours, the Hills of Donegal, and the Titanic Rail Trail & Wild Atlantic Way including Donegal.
The first one sees people going from Dublin to Belfast and on to Derry by train, before going by coach to stay two nights at Harvey’s Point Hotel outside Donegal Town.
The package includes sightseeing coach tours in Donegal, and on the final day a coach trip to Sligo to get the train back to Dublin.
The second tour – over 11 days – sees the last two nights in Donegal.
His most popular attractions for people on rail tours are the Cliffs of Moher, Blarney Castle and the Giant’s Causeway.
All three are accessed by coach, but the participants are all on packages that involve train trips.
He can clearly see how a rail link into Letterkenny would really open up Donegal for more visitors.
“I think there is every chance if politicians in Donegal fight hard enough for it,” he commented.
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