From the map below its clear the NI railway network is pretty pathetic compared to the Republics.

http://www.irishrail.ie/images/maps/intercity_map.gif

Proposals

2010 – 2020

Re-opening of Lisburn - Antrim line with new terminus at Belfast International Airport. Hourly express services from Great Victoria Street to the Airport.

New halt at Belfast City Airport.

Electrification of Dublin – Belfast line. Other track upgrades to allow faster trains. Adding a third track in places to allow Express trains to overtake slower regional trains.

2020 - 2030

Merging of NI Railways and Iarnród Éireann to form an all Ireland train company.

Also open up network to competition from other operators.

A new line from Portadown to Sligo via Enniskillen. This will connect Mid-Ulster to the NI and Irish Network. Express Services from Sligo to Belfast via Enniskillen and Portadown.

2030 +

New ‘West Coast Main Line’, connecting, Derry, Sligo, Galway, Limerick and Cork.

New Lines from Athlone to Dublin allowing faster journey times between Galway and Dublin

Good developments. Hopefully this decade we'll have more news on the Gt Victoria re-development and possibly a train that gets between Dublin/Belfast in an hour.

..... possibly a train that gets between Dublin/Belfast in an hour.


Ha ha - lol - you'll never see it. Translink are a total mess and incapable of even getting the Enterpise to complete its journey between Belfast and Dublin in less that 2 hours and ten minutes. Most journeys take 2 hours and twenty minutes and many never complete at all due to this train's dismal reliability. A high speed bus could do this journey in an hour and a half. This is the way to go.

The train is old news and dead in the water without close to a billion pound investment. Where's that going to come from? Only the Irish government has this type of money to invest in infrastructure, and they just aren't going to push in a northery direction.

Meanwhile the journey to L'derry is even worse. I hear it takes over three hours to travel the 80 miles! That needs to be fixed first. (the road is not much better) sighs... this is what you get when you fail to invest in your basic infrastructure for decade after decade.

Ha ha - lol - you'll never see it. Translink are a total mess and incapable of even getting the Enterpise to complete its journey between Belfast and Dublin in less that 2 hours and ten minutes. Most journeys take 2 hours and twenty minutes and many never complete at all due to this train's dismal reliability. A high speed bus could do this journey in an hour and a half. This is the way to go.

The train is old news and dead in the water without close to a billion pound investment. Where's that going to come from? Only the Irish government has this type of money to invest in infrastructure, and they just aren't going to push in a northery direction.

Meanwhile the journey to L'derry is even worse. I hear it takes over three hours to travel the 80 miles! That needs to be fixed first. (the road is not much better) sighs... this is what you get when you fail to invest in your basic infrastructure for decade after decade.

Yes it does indeed take about 3 hours! Horrendous....

As you say it would take at least a billion to now update the network.

I remember my Grandfather talking about what an extensive network of lines and stations once existed here but which were allowed to run down over the years while roads were (badly) invested in instead.

Ha ha - lol - you'll never see it. Translink are a total mess and incapable of even getting the Enterpise to complete its journey between Belfast and Dublin in less that 2 hours and ten minutes. Most journeys take 2 hours and twenty minutes and many never complete at all due to this train's dismal reliability. A high speed bus could do this journey in an hour and a half. This is the way to go.

The train is old news and dead in the water without close to a billion pound investment. Where's that going to come from? Only the Irish government has this type of money to invest in infrastructure, and they just aren't going to push in a northery direction.

Meanwhile the journey to L'derry is even worse. I hear it takes over three hours to travel the 80 miles! That needs to be fixed first. (the road is not much better) sighs... this is what you get when you fail to invest in your basic infrastructure for decade after decade.

So, one one hand, you recognise that a serious amount of investment is required for a proper, electrified train service between Belfast and Dublin, yet on the other hand, you completely ignore the fact that a serious amount of investment is required to justify a tram system in Belfast. Plus, you argue that a bus system between Belfast and Dublin is the way forward, yet you consistently deride the proposed bus system in Belfast?

Also, the three hour journey time to Londonderry is a pile of shit- at the very most it's a two hour journey. Yes, it would be nice to have a motorway between Belfast and Derry, but is it justified? Is there the demand? How will a motorway be constructed through the Sperrins? Has a correct and and full environmental impact study been carrried out? Is the level of investment there to build a motorway?

Most journeys take 2 hours and twenty minutes and many never complete at all due to this train's dismal reliability.

I have to say, the enterprise's reliability has no bearing on the journey time- the biggest factor is the poor condition of the track. Pretty much the Newry to Malahide section. Poor, noisy track, with sharp, slow bends. But most of that track is in the superlative ROI, where seemingly in your opinion, nothing bad ever happens, so clearly, that isn't the problem at all?

A new line from Portadown to Sligo via Enniskillen. This will connect Mid-Ulster to the NI and Irish Network. Express Services from Sligo to Belfast via Enniskillen and Portadown

Unless fuel runs out, what a complete waste of money. Improve the roads, the car is the best form of transport. Spending £££££££££££££££££millions so as a few folk can travel on a train from Sligo/Enniskillen to Belfast. Again what is wrong with cars and buses?

The problem with buses in the UK, may stem from the 1986 Thatcher commons quote:

"A man who, beyond the age of 26, finds himself on a bus can count himself as a failure."

Bus travel has still a lot of image / perception problems.

I travelled a lot on buses as a schoolchild, but when your nearest bus stop is over 2 miles away, you just can't do without a car.

I'm all in favour of investment in proper transport, but in reality the transport mode has to suit the population spread in NI, which happens to be most dense in the east. If I were to invest in rail, I would reopen a few of the closed branch lines close to Belfast to encourage more people onto public transport (Comber, N'ards, Ballygowan, Saintfield) with park & ride at stations, this would collect commuters on the arterial routes in Down. Add a short spur to Ballyclare, reopen the Lisburn to Antrim line with connection to BIA. Reopen a spur to Hillsborough.

The remainder of areas should have a proper road network - ie dual carriageway, with also a complete ring road around Belfast, following a route from Bangor - Comber, Carryduff, Sprucefield, BIA, Ballyclare. Many journeys through Belfast, should be able to avoid the city.

Unless fuel runs out, what a complete waste of money. Improve the roads, the car is the best form of transport. Spending £££££££££££££££££millions so as a few folk can travel on a train from Sligo/Enniskillen to Belfast. Again what is wrong with cars and buses?

Fuel won't run out, but useable oil certainly will:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peak_oil

Expect this to happen in the next 10-15 years at the latest, within 5 years at the earliest.

Unless you can convince the Executive to invest in enough renewable energy to power every car in NI with electricity (and get people to actually buy electric cars!) before oil production peaks, you'll quickly find that people will have no option but to use trains and buses. The era of the fossil-fuel car is almost over, new investment in transport infrastructure should be almost entirely focused on electric public transport, anything else will prove to be a massive white elephant in a few years.

I have to say, the enterprise's reliability has no bearing on the journey time- the biggest factor is the poor condition of the track. Pretty much the Newry to Malahide section. Poor, noisy track, with sharp, slow bends. But most of that track is in the superlative ROI, where seemingly in your opinion, nothing bad ever happens, so clearly, that isn't the problem at all?


It's between Newry and Portadown that it slows to a mere 20mph, at Scarva I believe. It takes a full hour to travel from Belfast to Newry, a distance of only 40 miles! Go figure.

As for investment. The money is actually available for a tram service. There are UK government incentives to do this, but folk here are too set along the "crap bendy-bus-on-roads" mindset to press for that solution.

Our politicians clearly do not believe in growth or in a "car-use reduced" future, unlike the clever Irish who have planned well and whose citizens are now enjoying the benefits. The Luas is a fantastic achievement and has transformed Dublin. I love it. Everyone does. We have nothing like it and if we continue to follow the negativity and zero imagination merchants like you we never will.

Go visit Dublin. Open your eyes, then your mind. Look and learn.

Only the Irish government has this type of money to invest in infrastructure

Not any more they don't


The railways are a joke and as mentioned a couple of time, a high-speed intercity service would cost close to £1bn to implement and that at the minute is not possible

Tbh our railway network is pure shite.

Umm, snailtrain... As much as I like to read praise of my city, there has been a distinct lack of planning on our governments part over the years and Dublin has suffered as a result by becoming overly dependant on the car. Though Luas is great, if you go to the RoI page you can see there is a little man on the map... this means get out and walk, retarded FF governence is to blame for this and many things, which is why getting a mayor in 2011 will be fckn great. Things are changing a lot now, IC and MN are on track and everyone seems to have a more sensible attitude with regard to planning and investment. Things were learned the hard way however and as uniguy says we learned a little later than I would have liked.

Belfast has had some rough circumstances to deal with (not to mention a retarded government of your own) so no need to rail (;)) on it, it has a lot of potential to exploit when its day comes and since we are neighbours, hopefully you can copy our "donts" list...why we felt the need to draught our own copy is beyond me...

OT... I think electrified rail between the two cities would be a great way to realise that potential, Dublin's too... but there is nowhere near enough money for that atm. Its more difficult than you think, because the nothern line section in Dublin is very congested and to get a decent service for both DART and enterprise, it would need to be four-tracked, but its built on a very narrow stretch of land, theres no room.

[QUOTE=belfastuniguy;48973597]Not any more they don't

Read the "Metro Thread" in the Irish partner to this.

Dublin Metro seems to have no problem with funding, and they have already connected just about every city with first class motorways. I judge what I see.

In Belfast we have crap public transport, and the prospect of more to follow ie bendy buses that will go from no-where to no-where, and no one will use.

In Dublin I find public transport excellent with more to follow. A city that has planned well for a bright future with greatly reduced car usage. In doing so they have learned lessons from our much smarter European neighbours. We have learned nothing, except how to say NO, this can't be done. This is self affirming negativity.

Sorry Snailtrain I have to agree with Saoró. Unless you live on a Luas or Dart line, public transport is a complete load of shite in Dublin for a city of its size. I've just come from Munich, and there are absolutely no comparisons.

I know there are improvements coming, but they can't really come quick enough in fairness. I've heaps of praise for the new motorway networks, but the improvements in public transport have not kept pace. Roll on the interconnector, and electrify the main commuter lines now!

[QUOTE=belfastuniguy;48973597]Not any more they don't

Read the "Metro Thread" in the Irish partner to this.

Dublin Metro seems to have no problem with funding, and they have already connected just about every city with first class motorways. I judge what I see.

In Belfast we have crap public transport, and the prospect of more to follow ie bendy buses that will go from no-where to no-where, and no one will use.

In Dublin I find public transport excellent with more to follow. A city that has planned well for a bright future with greatly reduced car usage. In doing so they have learned lessons from our much smarter European neighbours. We have learned nothing, except how to say NO, this can't be done. This is self affirming negativity.


Metro North is technically not being publicly funded. The government have to pay absolutely nothing till around 2016 I believe. So your point has no basis in reality. It is also costing close to 300 million Euro per km, roughly 5 billion in total. That represents a sixth of the NI GDP.

Get real...



If you want a world class public transit and a well planned and organised structure then Dublin is not the city to hold as an example I'm afraid. You are in need of some international travel to witness such things.

I agree with SnailTrain.

Happy Christmas :cheers:

Sorry Snailtrain I have to agree with Saoró. Unless you live on a Luas or Dart line, public transport is a complete load of shite in Dublin for a city of its size. I've just come from Munich, and there are absolutely no comparisons.

Of course I agree about many of the European cities with which I am familiar, including Munich, but the point is Dublin has a large number of Luas lines in the planning, plus various other excellent schemes and we have zilch by comparison, and never will have. Our political leaders have no vision, and are unaware of what can be achieved.

This is affirmed by the "can't be done, won't be done" merchants who stalk this place like a negativity virus. We need more "can be's, will be's" like Dublin. Otherwise we stay in the slow lane, slowly being choked by more and more cars and crawling buses.

In Belfast it can take me 45 minutes to travel down the Ormeau Road at 8.00 am. In Dublin a similar journey length from Connolly to the Four Courts on the Luas takes ten minutes, and if you miss one tram another one comes in two minutes! That's exactly the way it should be. It's called Rapid Transit, and in Dublin there are lines planned to serve every region. Check it out here www.transport21.ie - it's inspiring stuff, and I'm very glad and lucky to have my second abode in such an exciting, vibrant city.

snailtrain we live in the only city in the world with black taxis as public transport!!!! and they are driven by ex IRA men and ex UVF/UDA men... why? Because up until 15 years ago we were still burning our buses. I am the first to admit that this place is frustratingly backwards but at the same time I do understand that we come from a very unique position and that we need to be patient. The reason our railway network collapsed is that the two governments here didnt cooperate nor even talk until the 80's so in the 50's all the cross border lines such as at strabane (which was a busy junction town), Armagh-Monaghan-Enniskillen etc etc they all closed and true enough the road was to rule. Have patience... none of this will ever change as long as we have the transitional government in charge... they are just in there to keep the seats warm until a proper politician gets voted in... now you play your part and vote wisely at the next election.

play your part and vote wisely at the next election.

sadly it will take a long time before people in this country vote on policies rather than religion/principles/whatever. but as the youth of NI get more and more used to a normal society, that situation can only improve.

Anyway, back to the original point of this thread- railways. It is, in my opinion, a disgrace that both Belfast City and Belfast International Airports aren't served by trains, considering the proximity of railway lines. Forgetting about our lack of cohesive transport developement plans, surely a proper public transport service from the main airports into Belfast should be the priority.

The second priority in NI is surely to provide a good service between Belfast and Derry, as opposed to the pile of guff that currently exists.

Another point is that half the population on NI lives in the greater Belfast area. For the railway company, what is the point in building a line to Omagh, a line to Strabane, or a line to Newcastle? As Plank mentions, the NI network isn't wonderful. But is there any incentive to improve it?

In my opinion, the initial focus has to be on the greater Belfast area. Snailtrain continually champions the benefits of a tram service- which is fair enough. From my experience, a reliable bus service is what is needed to start with. One that isn't held up by morons parking in the bus lane, idiots rummaging around for coins or whatever.

[QUOTE=SnailTrain;48992847In Belfast we have crap public transport, and the prospect of more to follow ie bendy buses that will go from no-where to no-where, and no one will use.[/QUOTE]

Are these bendy bus routes not following predetermined routes that can be upgraded to trams? Are you saying that the potential trams in Belfast will also go from "no-where to no-where"? Or does a tram suddenly make a "no-where", into 'some-where'?

sadly it will take a long time before people in this country vote on policies rather than religion/principles/whatever. but as the youth of NI get more and more used to a normal society, that situation can only improve.

Not changing quickly enough for my liking, We have relics from the Troubles in power in addition to bible bashers and generally FUCKING USELESS people.

I love Northern Ireland, it has a proud history and heritage and it will find it's place eventually. However I feel my generation (I'm 23) will not see it properly and the country will loose us, as it has lost people over the decades.

I no longer see my future here, the place is backward, preoccupied with trivial provincial small minded bullshit and a populace that doesn't seem to have fully moved on and allowed my generation to flourish or establish the means for the youngest to prosper and succeed. Time will tell of course, but I won't be here, neither will a good few of my generation. Many have already moved on and established lives in new places. That's the most tragic thing about Northern Ireland, it's inability to provide the environment for it's highly educated and increasingly globally aware young people to thrive in.

100% agree. Why would any young person would stay here, when amazing places like Berlin, or Singapore, or Barcelona, or you name it - London or Dublin are full of opportunity and energy, and imagination? This place is now totally stagnant. It suits me, because I have everything I need, but it's as dull as dishwater and of zero aspiration. KFC on Royal Avenue was the final blow for me.

KFC on Royal Avenue was the final blow for me.

:lol:

Strange how you mention that, it was about the time that KFC opened that I decided I would be out of here as soon as I finish my MSc.

Do you subscribe, Snailtrain, to Thatcher's view that if a man found himself on a bus at age 25 he knew he had failed in life? Trams would be great because they are much more fashionable and urbane than buses, but as a preferable mode of transport for getting to A from B within Belfast, I'm not so sure (at present).

As for the sentiments about moving elsewhere, I've always felt everyone needs to broaden their horizons. But don't be fooled that provincial people or attitudes don't exist in supposedly much more liberally enlightened cities. The grass is always greener elsewhere and familiarity breeds contempt.

we live in the only city in the world with black taxis as public transport!!!!

Not true, loads of 3rd world cities have shared taxi schemes, and in the past there were a handful of them in english towns. I can't see them lasting another 35 years in Belfast though, the better buses get the less viable they are and it's not as if the drivers are making good money.

I'm guessing Plank's proposals are his own rather than ones likely to be government approved soon? I reckon their first priority should be to build a station for the city airport, it'll cost virtually nothing. They should deliver the 3 rapid bus routes as either a tram or a trolley bus, and put a decent effort into designing it. Snail train is probably right, they seem to be trying their best to make them a line from no where to no where, bypassing existing areas of housing to serve yet to be built park & rides that will be of little use if you dont have a car.

A real obvious thing would be to tidy up the existing railways. They're usually badly located in Belfast (you'll never see heavy usage for urban journeys) but they could be improved. Make trains at least 20 mins, have double tracks and the odd overtaking lane for express services. Translink probably have a document somewhere detailing these ideas, all they need now is to find a billion quid down the back of the sofa so they could implement them

Ha ha - lol - you'll never see it. Translink are a total mess and incapable of even getting the Enterpise to complete its journey between Belfast and Dublin in less that 2 hours and ten minutes. Most journeys take 2 hours and twenty minutes and many never complete at all due to this train's dismal reliability. A high speed bus could do this journey in an hour and a half. This is the way to go.

Firstly, the fact that the train makes the journey in under 2hours 30minutes is an instant plus, because it's faster than the bus. And the last two times I've been on the enterprise (both since the 'New Bridge') it's made it in just over two hours. The slow point, as somebody mentioned earlier is between Newry and Belfast, when it winds through hills. I like the enterprise, although it obviously needs to be revamped in line with the improving roads. Buses will soon overtake trains as the quickest route to Dublin, when the motorway at Newry is completed.


The train is old news and dead in the water without close to a billion pound investment. Where's that going to come from? Only the Irish government has this type of money to invest in infrastructure, and they just aren't going to push in a northery direction.

Actually, the Irish government has put a lot of money into the North in the recent past, and even more for the future. The A8 dual carriageway between Belfast and Larne, of little importance to Southerners, has been paid for by the Irish taxpayer. The A5 from Aughnacloy to Omagh (and eventually Strabane-Derry) is EU-ROI funding. Unfortunately, there has been little in the way of cross-border public transport, such as the upgrading of the enterprise, or a Derry - Sligo train link.


Meanwhile the journey to L'derry is even worse. I hear it takes over three hours to travel the 80 miles! That needs to be fixed first. (the road is not much better) sighs...

I travel that road every fortnight or so. The M2 is a great motorway, with very little congestion apart from friday evenings and monday mornings. It's very rare that you don't make it to Derry in under 90 minutes, and the reason is usually a police checkpoint or crash. The road is in mostly fine condition, I wouldn't say a motorway is needed but it should be upgraded to 2+1 beyond randalstown.

There's my 2p. I have to say I love the train network in NI. The train to Bangor from Belfast is efficient. The Belfast - Derry train is the most scenic train journey I've ever travelled on, and the Enterprise is no great shakes, but comfortable if you want that option.

As for the sentiments about moving elsewhere, I've always felt everyone needs to broaden their horizons. But don't be fooled that provincial people or attitudes don't exist in supposedly much more liberally enlightened cities. The grass is always greener elsewhere and familiarity breeds contempt.

I have lived in a number of the world's greatest cities including New York, San Francisco, London, and Dublin. I have visited numerous others, spending varying amounts of time in them. All have problems. That goes without saying, but all have ambition, imagination and a willingness to change. That rule does not apply here. We only have the ambition bit, then the paralysis of inaction follows, backed up by the reasons why we are a nation of "can't be dones" instead of a nation of "we can do anything" (now watch as I am accused of being naive, then see the detractors who are indicative of those who keep this place in the slow lane, emerge from their cosy corners)

We have stagnation and anyone saying it (like me) is subject to attack and ridicule. I have to stay here, for various personal reasons, but for any young person there can be few good reasons to remain.

Compared to the sheer energy of Dublin, our nearest example, this place is a like a morgue, and when I visit Berlin, I am astounded at the vibrancy of the place. It's full of energy. We are parochial. We are poor, and we are not prepared to admit any of this, so we stay that way.

when I visit Berlin, I am astounded at the vibrancy of the place. It's full of energy. We are parochial. We are poor, and we are not prepared to admit any of this, so we stay that way.

Surely even you can admit comparing Belfast to Berlin is, quite frankly, ludicrous. Berlin is the capital of the biggest economy in Europe, and with a population several times bigger than the entire population of NI, is clearly gonna be more vibrant and have more going on than Belfast.

There is nothing wrong with wanting the best for Belfast, but you also have to adopt a sense of realism.

There is nothing wrong with wanting the best for Belfast, but you also have to adopt a sense of realism.


Indeed +1

I have lived in a number of the world's greatest cities including New York, San Francisco, London, and Dublin. I have visited numerous others, spending varying amounts of time in them. All have problems. That goes without saying, but all have ambition, imagination and a willingness to change. That rule does not apply here. We only have the ambition bit, then the paralysis of inaction follows, backed up by the reasons why we are a nation of "can't be dones" instead of a nation of "we can do anything" (now watch as I am accused of being naive, then see the detractors who are indicative of those who keep this place in the slow lane, emerge from their cosy corners)

We have stagnation and anyone saying it (like me) is subject to attack and ridicule. I have to stay here, for various personal reasons, but for any young person there can be few good reasons to remain.

Compared to the sheer energy of Dublin, our nearest example, this place is a like a morgue, and when I visit Berlin, I am astounded at the vibrancy of the place. It's full of energy. We are parochial. We are poor, and we are not prepared to admit any of this, so we stay that way.

Its all well and good saying you want the best for the city, but your comparing Belfast with some of the great metropolises of the World and then slagging it of cause its not as good, no shit. Its completely ridiculous to compare Belfast with those cities, Belfast is a small city. If you want to be fair compare like with like. Compare Belfast with cities like Hull, Stoke, Wolverhampton, Bradford and Sunderland. They are cities of comparable size and I think Belfast is pretty good for all the size of it.

I assume SnailTrain realises that Belfast, by virtue of it's small size is clearly not going to have the facilities and infrastructure that world cities such as NYC or London can be boastful of.

However, and this where I think he has a point I can agree with, there is nothing to stop us having as ambitious a mindset and outlook as exists in the great cities he mentions. There is a NI tendancy to not 'get ahead of yourself' or 'above your station' which does breed parochialism and a sense of impotence. I'd love to know where it came from, because it certainly wasn't there 100 years ago.

However, and this where I think he has a point I can agree with, there is nothing to stop us having as ambitious a mindset and outlook as exists in the great cities he mentions. There is a NI tendancy to not 'get ahead of yourself' or 'above your station' which does breed parochialism and a sense of impotence. I'd love to know where it came from, because it certainly wasn't there 100 years ago.

100% agree!!

However, and this where I think he has a point I can agree with, there is nothing to stop us having as ambitious a mindset and outlook as exists in the great cities he mentions. There is a NI tendancy to not 'get ahead of yourself' or 'above your station' which does breed parochialism and a sense of impotence. I'd love to know where it came from, because it certainly wasn't there 100 years ago.

Absolutely. As someone said on the Belfast thread a good time ago, Belfast has always punched above it's weight in its short history. But just because there are no current plans (or money available) for trams, it takes us a bit longer to build roads than in the USA and so on, it's no reason to bring out the constant 'belfast is shit, dublin is incredible' theme which seems to come across in so many of his posts.

^^

Exactly, Belfast has never gone with the flow any way, it's also done it's own thing and it will continue to. I don't think people fully understand just how long it can take for a city that literally had its heart ripped out and constantly tread upon for 30 years takes to properly recover.

It takes time for the people to change, the investment to surface and attitudes to change. It will happen...but people need to be a little patient, I have every belief that Belfast will become a truly fantastic city, it already far outperforms other UK cities of a similar size and will continue to grow and develop.

As for this tram nonsense, even Dubliners don't see the point for a tram on what is a ridiculously short route with what.....5 stops if even. Total waste of money. Let the BRT be developed and allow it to be success and then expansion and upgrade will follow.

More "can't be done" visionless negativity. Imagine actually wanting these vile bendy buses.

Who would want to stay here that could move away?

Who would want to stay here that could move away?

I think i would always come back ... would like to live in different places but as even at the moment while in Edinburgh i enjoy coming back because it is here that i have my connections and here that i feel most strongly on issues and want the place to really make a success of itself like it once was before all the nonsense tore it apart. We're moving along ... slowly ... but it will take time ... If you could, would you move away snailtrain? Would you not always want to come back every now and again?

Who would want to stay here that could move away?


I suppose this statement is the reason for you depressive stance. Explains a lot really. You have no option but to stay and so you deride and castigate every thing.

Rather sad really.

Actually, the Irish government has put a lot of money into the North in the recent past, and even more for the future. The A8 dual carriageway between Belfast and Larne, of little importance to Southerners, has been paid for by the Irish taxpayer. The A5 from Aughnacloy to Omagh (and eventually Strabane-Derry) is EU-ROI funding. Unfortunately, there has been little in the way of cross-border public transport, such as the upgrading of the enterprise, or a Derry - Sligo train link.



Well As much as I'm sure we all really want to see those roads go ahead, they aren't much past the design and route selection stage. So whether the money actually materialises and the roads are built is another issue altogether.