To ask the Minister for Regional Development for his Department’s assessment of the level of congestion on the Dargan Viaduct.

Translink advises that the Dargan Bridge track section, between Yorkgate and Lagan Junction, is the most heavily utilised single line section on the NI Railways network. For example, during the morning peak from 07:55 to 08:55, 13 services operate between Yorkgate and Belfast Central Station – seven leaving from Belfast Central and six leaving from Yorkgate. Furthermore these services are also required to ‘thread’ through Lagan Junction, co-ordinating with 12 services per hour on the Bangor line - six in each direction.

Whilst the railway timetable is designed to prevent conflicting train paths and hence delays due to congestion, this area of the rail network is now operating close to capacity during the morning and evening peaks, Monday to Friday.