Funding has been made available to Translink until 2010 to make improvements to 61.9 route miles of rail track which was originally laid between 1976 and 1978.

The works will include converting the route to continuously welded rail, formation repairs at five locations, further repairs will be carried out on ballast shoulders along sections of the route with the provision of additional top ballast where necessary. Works will also include the treatment of 3000 wet spots within the track beds between Ballymena and Derry.

Major benefits for Translink will be achieved from this project the most notable being reduced maintenance costs, increased speed of trains and increased life expectancy of the route by 10 years.