Railways: Will expansion across Ireland really happen?

As we all know, the “money tree” has not been liberally fruiting in recent years and every department has been asked to make savings.

The £310m a year that the review requires of Northern Ireland is for rail alone.

Principal economist at Ulster University’s Economic Policy Centre, Dr Eoin Magennis, said it was significantly more than is normally spent, not just on rail.

“In any given year, our budget for bus, rail and ports as well is about £250m, spent on the three of those together,” he said.

“So to raise that up to £300m for rail alone is certainly ambitious.

“Other priorities would come under pressure or would have to be looked at.

“Some of that could be in loans from the European Investment Bank, but nonetheless you’re talking significant investment.”

That means tough choices.