Transport Links Critical In The Development Of The Northern Economy

Transport links to Scotland play an important role in the development of the Northern economy said Transport Minister, Conor Murphy this week.

Speaking at the Scottish Transport Conference in Glasgow, the Minister said: "The quick, efficient and reliable movement of goods to the marketplace is vital for economic growth.

"To ensure that our economy remains competitive in a global market we need to be able to move the goods we need efficiently within the region and have good connections beyond it." S

haring a platform with Scottish Minister for Transport, Stewart Stevenson, Mr Murphy said: "Minister Stevenson has outlined how the Scottish Government is working to improve access to and from the gateways. I would now like to say something about the action we are taking to develop our Strategic Road Network.

"The ten year Investment Strategy to 2018 has indicated an investment of £3.1billion in roads infrastructure, of which approximately £2.5billion will be directed to the Strategic Road Network.

"This will include major schemes on the key strategic routes between Belfast and Derry, Derry and Dublin, and Larne through Belfast onto Dublin. "

However, it is the connections to the regional gateways that I would like to mainly focus on today particularly the seaports at Belfast and Larne, which are our main gateways to Scotland.

"Both of these ports are accessed by the North's Eastern Seaboard Corridor. This corridor has been identified as a key transport corridor and extends from Larne through Belfast to Newry, which then leads on to Dublin.

"Over the past number of years much investment has been made on improving this corridor, which is widely recognised as the most important trade route in Ireland.

"This investment continues and currently we have a number of major schemes under construction.

"One of the most significant is the upgrading and widening works on the M1 to M2 Westlink in Belfast.

"These improvements will lead to a decrease in journey times, particularly during peak hours, and greatly improve access to and from the Port of Belfast."

The Minister said: "Further south near Newry, construction has commenced on a 12km dualling scheme. This will greatly improve access to the South with obvious to those using any of the ports in the North, whether it be Belfast, Larne, Warrenpoint or the North-West Ports."

Mr Murphy also mentioned the dualling of the remaining 14km of single carriageway on the Eastern Seaboard Corridor between Belfast and Larne.

This project will see the completion of the final piece of dualling on the Eastern Seaboard Corridor.

This will result in a significant improvement in the accessibility to Larne port, with a minimum standard of dual carriageway extending all the way to Newry, Dublin and beyond.

On investment in public transport the Minister said: "Considerable amounts have been invested in public transport and more is planned over the next few years.

"As a result of substantial investment on the whole of the rail network we saw an 11% increase for 2007-08 in passenger journeys compared to the previous year and rail reliability, punctuality of service and customer satisfaction continue to improve.

Funding of £126million has also been provided by my Department which has allowed the purchase over 900 new buses during the period 2003-04 to 2008-09.

"I am determined to ensure that investment in public transport continues. Over the next three years my Department is providing £45million for more new buses and associated projects and £137million for rail infrastructure and rolling stock."

Concluding the Minister said: "Minister Stevenson has already talked about how we are using the institutions set up under the Good Friday Agreement to work together on transport issues.

"My officials are now using these established channels of communication to share best practice and to ensure that we have a transport strategy that looks beyond our region to the connections north, south, east and west."