Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Infrastructure – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 3:00 pm on 8 June 2026.
Liz Kimmins
Sinn Féin
3:00,
8 June 2026
I thank the Member for his comments. It is all very positive. We have set out very clearly, particularly through the announcement of the prioritisation strategy, what we want to do. It is incumbent on me and everybody involved to continue to work to ensure that that is delivered. The Department continues to work with Translink to look at the potential new halts at Crumlin, Glenavy and Belfast International Airport as part of that Knockmore to Antrim route. The Department is progressing the necessary technical modelling and the development of a business case to assess options for improving services along that corridor. That work in respect of the halts is scheduled for completion later this year, and its findings will inform any future decisions on the viability of new halts and how we can fully realise those in the time ahead.
As I said in response to the previous question, progress on reopening the line is subject to the completion of those business cases, the wider pieces of work, budget availability and securing the required consents. We still have some way to go to get through all of that, but work continues. We are working very closely with Translink, and I hope that we can soon make Members aware of what progress has been made and what we can expect in the near future.