Chapter 1 | Purpose

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Introduction

The Review has focused on how the rail network across the island could contribute to the decarbonisation of the island’s transport systems, promote sustainable connectivity into and between major cities, enhance regional accessibility, and support balanced regional development and growth.

In April 2021, the Minister for Transport for the Irish Government and the Minister for Infrastructure for the Northern Ireland Executive announced an All-Island Strategic Rail Review (“the Review”). This Report presents the final findings and recommendations from this Review. It aims to inform policy and future strategy for the railways in both jurisdictions on the island of Ireland. It represents a significant moment in the history of the island’s railways, as it is the first time both jurisdictions have worked together to deliver a strategic rail study of this nature.

While the scope was not focused on commuter rail services in major cities or other types of public transport, the Review has carefully considered the interactions between proposed improvements and existing, or planned, commuter rail services. The time horizon for this Review covers the period from today to 2050 to align with both jurisdictions’ stated goals of achieving net zero carbon emissions by this date.

The Review takes account of feedback gathered through two public consultations, including an initial public consultation held from November 2021 to January 2022, as well as a public consultation on a Draft Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) published alongside a Draft Final Report from July to September 2023. A summary of the findings and actions arising from the latter consultation is provided in Appendix A.

Delivering this Review

The Review was guided by a Steering Group formed of representatives and stakeholders from the Irish Government and Northern Ireland Executive departments, the rail operators in both jurisdictions (Iarnród Éireann and Translink), Ireland’s National Transport Authority and the Commission for Railway Regulation.

Final versions of supporting documents for this Review, including the SEA and Appropriate Assessment, are published alongside this Report.

Furthermore, the work was supported by technical experts from the European Investment Bank (JASPERS), who assisted the Department of Transport in the scoping, oversight, and preparation of the Review. The technical content of the Review has been delivered by Arup. The Review was also informed by two public consultations as referred to above.

Scope of this Review

The Review has examined how the island’s railways are currently used, what role rail could play in future, and how the island’s rail network could evolve to better serve the people of both jurisdictions. It has considered a wide range of opportunities for improving the railways, from reopening railways in rural areas to examining the feasibility of developing higher speed (200km/h) and new high speed (300km/h or higher) railways. It has considered both passenger and freight opportunities across the island.

A summary of the approach used to deliver this Review is provided in Appendix B.

Structure of this Report

Next steps

This Report explores the case for investing in the island’s railways and highlights the role the railways could play in delivering a balanced and sustainable economy and society.

This Report has been endorsed by political representatives from both jurisdictions and seeks to inform policy and provide a strategic vision for the future development of the railways in the coming decades for the island. It aims to present an overview of the evidence seen by this Review and describe what appear to be the most promising opportunities and interventions for rail on the island of Ireland. These opportunities respond to the Goals and Objectives of the Review, which are based on an extensive evidence base which was further informed by public consultation.

In Chapter 2 this Report presents the railway as it is today and describes the wider context of the railway’s development across the island of Ireland.

In Chapter 3 the Report outlines the key challenges and opportunities the railway faces and sets out the Vision, Goals, and Objectives for this Review.

In Chapter 4 the Report presents a range of recommendations that this Review considers are best placed to deliver the Goals and Objectives presented in Chapter 3.

Ultimately, it will be for the Irish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive to consider which of the recommendations described in this Report should be taken forward for further development. Each of the recommendations described in this Report would be subject to separate appraisal, environmental assessment and decision in line with applicable governance processes in each jurisdiction.

The benefits and costs of the recommendations outlined in Chapter 4 are summarised in Chapter 5, and a route for delivering the recommendations is provided in Chapter 6.

Final versions of supporting documents that were produced for the Review, along with the Final Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment are published alongside this Report.