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File photo of a Enterprise line train at Dublin's Connolly station. philstephenrichards via Flickr/Creative Commons

The Dublin-Belfast railway line is getting a giant facelift

It’s hope it will attract more customers to the Enterprise line.

TRAIN SERVICES BETWEEN Belfast and Dublin are in line for a major facelift worth €21.45 million.

Part of the overhaul will involve the refurbishment of the 129-year-old Drogheda Viaduct, which is need of renovation to ensure its “long-term efficient operation”.

The bulk of the money will be spent by Translink in Northern Ireland to improve the trains used on the line.

This will involve an overhaul of the train’s physical appearance with new livery and interiors, and electronics such as reservation systems and CCTV. The train’s mechanical systems will also be improved.

The EU is providing 75% of the funding, with the remaining 25% coming from the Department of Transport in the Republic of Ireland and the Department for Regional Development in Northern Ireland.

Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe called the funding a “big win” for the rail corridor, and called for strengthened economic links between the two cities.

Boyne Valley Viaduct, Drogheda, County Louth The Boyne viaduct in Drogheda infomatique infomatique

“There should be much more business and travel done between the two cities,” he said.

The economic benefits were echoed by the Special EU Programmes Body’s chief executive and Stormont’s Department for Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy.

He said:

I am confident that these very significant improvements will attract even greater numbers of passengers in the future and help raise awareness, in much wider terms, of the benefits of rail travel.

The work is expected to be completed next year.

Read: Paschal Donohoe won’t get involved in the Irish Rail dispute as All-Ireland day strikes loom >

More: Irish Rail made a typo on Twitter and people were gas about it >

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35 Comments
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    Mute Colin Treacy
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    Oct 31st 2015, 8:09 AM

    Well done on a fabulous month of prizes. Many more happy years to you all on the Journal.

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    Mute Declan Carr
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    Oct 31st 2015, 8:09 AM

    They were all great prizes, well done .

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    Mute Dan Higgins
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    Oct 31st 2015, 8:05 AM

    Liked and shared hun xoxo

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    Mute noodlez
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    Oct 31st 2015, 8:39 AM

    WOW incredible prize it would be a fantastic way to start 2016

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    Mute catkins407
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    Oct 31st 2015, 9:49 AM

    Well I won natin! I like to think that it’s because I’m one of life’s great winners generally and don’t need fabulous prizes. This is my story and I’m sticking with it ok?

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    Mute Paul Dunne
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    Oct 31st 2015, 8:40 AM

    was on royal Caribbean a couple of weeks ago fantastic stuff altogether.

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    Mute Kathleen Henderson
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    Oct 31st 2015, 8:17 AM

    Take me on A Sunday Holidays Royal Carrabean Cruise….please

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    Mute Brianog2
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    Oct 31st 2015, 8:53 AM

    Happy Halloween everybody.

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    Mute Shane Freeney
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    Oct 31st 2015, 8:42 AM

    Oh yes please !

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    Mute The Viking
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    Oct 31st 2015, 8:26 AM

    Now that would be nice.. !!!!!

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    Mute Suzie Sunshine
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    Oct 31st 2015, 8:20 AM

    for the grand finale I hope one of your regular commenters win ! x

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    Mute Suzie Sunshine
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    Oct 31st 2015, 9:06 AM

    ha ha , I was talking about all regular commenters !

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    Mute Jonathan McKee
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    Oct 31st 2015, 10:31 AM

    great prizes all month and what a way to finish :-)

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    Mute Kevin Halpin
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    Oct 31st 2015, 12:04 PM

    Never once twigged after entering a lot of these competitions that I was sending it to the wrong email address. Where’s that Delorean

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    Mute Little Diddy No
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    Oct 31st 2015, 12:09 PM

    Pick your time carefully if you win – extreme heatwaves hotter than ever in human history on this planet predicted for this area! http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/oct/26/extreme-heatwaves-could-push-gulf-climate-beyond-human-endurance-study-shows

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    Mute Jack Mitchell
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    Oct 31st 2015, 12:36 PM

    Amazing price. Good luck too everyone

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    Mute Teresa O'Meara
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    Oct 31st 2015, 7:43 PM

    Entered everyday… I have a feeling I didn’t win anything cos they were waiting to give me this hum dinger of a prize at the end!!!! One can hope!!!!

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    Mute Little Diddy No
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    Oct 31st 2015, 12:07 PM

    Reminds me of this hysterical video of a New Zealand cruise ship caught in a massive storm! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pj9gq6um3FE

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    Mute Anto Curran
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    Oct 31st 2015, 8:37 AM

    *awaits waddlers copy and paste about neo – liberal holiday destinations*

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    Mute Lily
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    Oct 31st 2015, 10:33 AM

    Considering I get really bad motion sickness this would be my worst nightmare, fitting for the day that’s in it.

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    Mute Sandra Turner
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    Oct 31st 2015, 11:14 AM

    Hope you win Hun x

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    Mute Lily
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    Oct 31st 2015, 7:24 PM

    Not in, can’t win. :)

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    Mute Liam Brophy
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    Oct 31st 2015, 10:16 AM

    deadly

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