6 December 2005
Translink’s new £11.4 million Train Care Facility was officially opened today (6 December) by the Permanent Secretary for the Department for Regional Development, Mr Stephen Quinn and Chairman of the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company, Mrs Veronica Palmer OBE.
Stephen Quinn, Permanent Secretary of the DRD, Keith Moffatt, Chief
Executive, Translink and Mrs Veronica Palmer OBE, Chairman, Translink.
Also participating in the official opening Translink Chief Executive, Keith Moffatt explained, “The opening of this new facility reflects our continued commitment to delivering excellent rail transport facilities for the travelling public.”
“It is vitally important that our new trains remain in first class condition and this new train care facility together with our recently established new train cleaning team will allow us to do just that,” he said.
The site at Fortwilliam, which overlooks the M2 Motorway, measures 1km from end to end, and the modern aluminium clad building has been constructed from 300 tonnes of structural steel. Standing 170m long, 30m wide and 10m high it has been specifically designed to accommodate the new C3K trains across the five railroads with two trains on each. The project was funded by a 100% grant from Government.
Speaking at the launch, Veronica Palmer OBE, Chairman of the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company added,” The completion of this new state of the art Train Care Facility marks another milestone in a programme of investments, refurbishments and improvements to deliver a modern, efficient new rail service for Northern Ireland which is already attracting ever more passenger numbers.
“We are committed to improving rail services. The challenging target of 60% increase in passenger growth by 2012 as set out in the Regional Transportation Strategy is one we welcome.
“Already Northern Ireland’s new rail service is starting to take shape. The introduction of the new trains with the associated service improvements are already paying dividends. Passenger numbers on the Bangor to Portadown line have grown by more than 12% from June this year.
“But this is only the start we will continue with our program of service enhancements to attract additional passenger numbers.” She concluded.
Ends.
For further press information, contact Christopher Carson at Morrow Communications Tel: 028 9039 3837 email: c.carson@morrowcommunications.com
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