The Department of Environment (Northern Ireland) report, A New Deal for Transport: Better for Everyone, lists a number of options for strengthening the rail system.
Northern Ireland is served by routes from Belfast to Newry (on the Belfast-Dublin line); Belfast to Derry with a spur from Coleraine to Portrush; a connection between Antrim on the Derry line, and Lisburn on the Dublin line; and commuter routes to Larne and Bangor.
The report suggets developing commuter demand for rail services in the Belfast metropolitan area connecting Carrickfergus, Belfast, Lisburn, Antrim, Templepatrick and Bangor with regular shuttle services. The report also suggests that there should be linking services from the lines to Derry, Craigavon, Newry and Larne.
Improvements in infrastructure are proposed on the longer-distance routes from Belfast to Derry to bring it up to the quality of the Belfast-Dublin route; encouraging development in the vicinity of rail links; promoting greater use of rail freight - the total revenue is just £1 million a year; and identifying and safeguarding disused rail track beds from development to retain future options for transport purposes.
