Belfast to get rapid transit system by 2009

Work has begun on a feasibility study to provide rapid transit service to Belfast, Ireland, by 2009. An unused railway running into the east of the city from Comber, County Down, is being considered as the basis for much of the proposed system but not as a reinstated rail link, reported the Belfast News Letter. Rather than a true bus or rail system, Belfast’s transportation would be more along the lines of bus rapid transit (BRT). A three-year study will look at what form of transportation would be the most viable. Preliminary numbers show that light rail is probably too expensive for the city right now, though it may be considered at a later date if the infrastructure is in place. A study conducted by Translink estimates that about 11,000 people per day would ride the proposed system, reducing the number of private cars on the road, reported The Irish Times. The transit system is part of an investment in Northern Ireland’s economy that includes improvements to the water and sewer systems to help strengthen the local infrastructure.