Extend rail network - Capitalise on increase in passenger numbers

12.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 27th Sep 2007

Cllr Alan Lawther

Alliance Party Sustainability Spokesperson Alan Lawther has hailed figures showing an increase in rail use and stated that it underlines the need to extend the local rail network. The Department for Regional Development's statistics and research branch today revealed that passenger numbers have risen by 12% to 8.6 million passengers.

Antrim Councillor Alan Lawther said: "These figures are very heartening in that they show that more people are leaving their cars at home and taking the train.

"The Executive must act on this research and look to extending the rail network. Currently rail travel is not option for many local people because of the limited nature of our network.

"Its time to be ambitious about public transport because this not only about improving services, its about protecting the environment.

"More and more people are opening their eyes to the fact that public transport is the way forward and we have to keep up this positive momentum. The best way to keep up this progress is by offering people more frequent trains and a wider network."