Summer opening for footbridge at station

The new passenger facility, representing an investment of almost £400,000 funded by the Department for Regional Development, forms part of Translink’s drive to improve customer facilities in the area.

Speaking to the Transport Minister and local representatives during a ‘Hard Hat’ tour at Moira Train Station, Translink Project Manager, James Macauley, said the project will improve safety and convenience for customers and employees: “We have just completed a very important phase of this project and are pleased to be able to show the Minister and local politicians our progress after successfully erecting the footbridge.

“Our next focus is on completing a series of key safety features and safety checks before we can officially open the footbridge. We have worked closely with our contractor McLaughlin & Harvey and their steelwork sub-contractor Fabrite, to ensure that safety and innovation are top priorities throughout the project.

“We are on track to complete this project later this summer and would like to thank all our customers, local residents and local representatives for their patience and co-operation as we work hard to improve local rail services and support continued passenger growth.”

The Minister congratulated all those involved in the work completed to date and said: “I have been very impressed by the innovative way the bridge has been constructed at premises in Ballinderry before being erected at the station.

“My key objective in investing in public transport is to provide commuters and other travellers with the choice of whether to use public transport for their journeys or the private car and to encourage them to travel more sustainably.”

MLA Brenda Hale said: “I have been lobbying the DRD Minister on the issues facing commuters using Moira Train Station, for a number of years. I am pleased that the Minister has taken forward this initiative and I welcome that this project will help commuters and local residents with both safety and access.”

Local Councillor Alexander Redpath added: “This footbridge will make Moira station safer and more convenient for passengers. Given the tragic accidents that have occurred in the past and the continued instances of trespass across the rail tracks this footbridge is very welcome.

“I would like to thank my Ulster Unionist colleague Minister Danny Kennedy MLA for his ongoing support for Northern Ireland Railways which has seen rail passenger numbers grow by an unprecedented amount over the past few years.”