Stormont minister visits local railway

24 July 2024

A LEADING government department is to work alongside the Downpatrick and Co Down Railway to help it reopen after last November’s devastating flood.

The Department for Infrastructure commitment came after the minister in charge visited the heritage railway last week to meet with officials and volunteers who have been left with a repair bill in excess of £3m.

The railway was engulfed by the flood which also swamped a number of town centre businesses, a number of which have not yet reopened.

A number of fundraising events have been held recently after officials appealed for public support to not only reopen for business, but preserve a piece of unique living history for future generations to remember the past.

In the wake of the devastating flood, heritage railway officials have worked tirelessly to navigate the aftermath of the catastrophic incident which they say left the organisation in a state of “disarray and threatening its entire future.”

The flood left a trail of devastating destruction in its wake, with the water causing substantial damage, necessitating urgent repairs to locomotives, carriages, track, bridges, platforms, and buildings.

The financial burden has been described as “substantial” with volunteers describing the task to return the railway to its pre-flood state and operational condition to ensure its long-term viability and continued contribution to the community as “monumental”.

Infrastructure minister John O’Dowd was welcomed to the railway by its chairman Robert Gardiner.

He said the visit provided him with the opportunity to experience the rich railway heritage.

The Downpatrick and Co Down Railway is a private charitable heritage railway organisation which operates steam and diesel train services on three miles of track.

The Department for Infrastructure has a licensing role in respect of heritage rail and an oversight of safety matters and other associated regulations.

Mr O’Dowd said the local railway “brings to life the rich rail heritage of the area and indeed across the island”.

He said the enthusiasm, passion and pride for rail travel past and present was in abundance.

“It was inspiring to see and hear how the volunteers and the local community responded to the autumn flooding events and to hear of the preparations that are being made to become operational again,” he said.

“A feasibility study looking to identify viable flood risk management and engineering solutions will include the railway facility.”

Mr O’Dowd said his department, as the Rail Safety Authority, is working with the heritage railway to ensure safety compliance for the reopening of the facility.

Mr Gardiner said the volunteers greatly appreciated Minister O’Dowd expressing his concern and support for their efforts to restore the railway and to get it open as soon as possible.

“He acknowledged the significant cultural and economic value that the Downpatrick and Co Down Railway brings to the area and the role of heritage railways in promoting tourism and the local economy, as well as providing a training base for the growing rail sector in Northern Ireland,” he said.

Mr Gardiner said the railway is pleased that Mr O’Dowd was receptive to their concerns and was open to exploring avenues for support and collaboration between his department and the heritage railway “strengthening the relationship” between the heritage railway and their regulator.

The railway chairman said the organisation looks forward to working closely with the Department for Infrastructure to ensure it remains a treasured part of Downpatrick’s history and a vibrant attraction for visitors.

During last Wednesday’s meeting, the Stormont minister was provided with a comprehensive tour of the flood-affected areas, including a train journey out to Inch Abbey.

“We were keen to show him the most severely impacted sections of our railway, including where the tracks and buildings were submerged, to convey the extent of the devastation,” Mr Gardiner explained.

“The minister took the time to inspect these areas closely and engaged in detailed discussions with our team about the immediate and long-term challenges we face, especially regarding the River Quoile and are pleased we will now be feeding into the flood review process.”

Mr Gardiner said the railway greatly appreciated Minister O’Dowd’s concern and support for their efforts to restore the railway and get it open as soon as possible.

“We look forward to working closely with the Department for Infrastructure to ensure that our railway remains a treasured part of Downpatrick’s history and a vibrant attraction for visitors.”

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