18 April 2008

Dear Colleagues,

Yesterday I hosted the Minister for Regional Development, Conor Murphy MP MLA, to see work at Newry's new rail station, which is now underway.  This £14.6million station will be one of our most important developments so far; it will be a great facility for customers, with a new road link and 300 Park and Ride spaces.  It is good news for Newry and for public transport – a first class, modern station that the city can be proud of.  
 
This project was started back in March 2005. The first step of the process was to deal with the land issues which is the responsibility of NITHC within the Group.  To get the project to the point where construction could start, the property people had to negotiate with local landowners to purchase the land needed for the new station and access road.  This involved vesting (negotiating our right to use land which does not belong to us) and providing the funds to purchase the land.
 
Getting value for money during these complex negotiations was all important.  Access to and construction of the station is made more complex due to the need for close cooperation and coordination with Roads Service, who are building the new road to access the station, including a bridge over the soon to be built M1 extension
 
A real strength of our Group is the range of skills we can call upon and the close working together on projects.  Around 200,000 people take the train from Newry every year and this new station will mean even more passengers – local and cross border – will choose to use rail.

Together, as a Group, we have already successfully completed many excellent bus and rail centres throughout Northern Ireland. Our customers and employees enjoy the huge benefits they bring every day. I know I look forward to welcoming our first customers through the doors when the new station in Newry is completed in late 2009.

Catherine Mason,

Group Chief Executive