A proposal by a Donegal senator to explore the possibility of reconstructing the narrow- gauge railway line from Letterkenny to Burtonport has received cross-party support.
Calling on Donegal County Council to examine its merits, Senator Joe McHugh said a revived railway would serve not only as a flagship tourism project but could facilitate the many people who travel by road to Letterkenny from outlying parts of the county.
There is EU support for the funding of railways in peripheral areas and he said the reopening of part or all of the 49-mile route through some of Ireland's most scenic and bleak countryside would be a boost for the region. The Letterkenny-Burtonport line, which opened in 1903, was constructed through very difficult terrain and included the spectacular Owencarrow viaduct.
This was the scene of a tragedy in 1925 when a train was blown off it during gales, leading to the death of four passengers. The line was closed in January 1947.The director of service for roads and transportation, Mr John Mc- Laughlin, said: "It would appear that any revitalisation of this railway would need to link with other railways in the region." At present, Letterkenny has no rail service. However, its designation as a gateway town in the National Spatial Strategy has rekindled calls for it to be linked by rail to Derry, and also for initiatives to reopen the old Great Northern Railway which linked Derry with Strabane, Omagh, Dungannon and Portadown.
If this line, known as "the Derry Road" was reopened, it would be possible to travel from Donegal or Derry to Dublin via Portadown in under four hours. Few travel by rail from Derry to Dublin as it means going via Coleraine and Belfast and changing trains.