Read on Twitter
Half of NI live outside the Belfast commuter belt, yet have much less access to rail.
If we had equal access to rail, here& #39;s what it would look like.
#EqualRailNI
If we had equal access to rail, here& #39;s what it would look like.
#EqualRailNI
Dots represent towns with train stations, either currently or under my model. Numbers beside them indicate number of train stations under the model.
The & #39;commuter belt& #39; is defined as the four Belfast constituencies, plus the five bordering them.
The & #39;commuter belt& #39; is defined as the four Belfast constituencies, plus the five bordering them.
Populations:
Commuter belt - 870,023
Outer - 940,840
Current stations:
Commuter belt - 39
Outer - 15
Population per station:
Commuter belt - 22,308
Outer - 62,723
The outer region has 64% worse access to rail.
It needs 27 more stations to have equal access.
Commuter belt - 870,023
Outer - 940,840
Current stations:
Commuter belt - 39
Outer - 15
Population per station:
Commuter belt - 22,308
Outer - 62,723
The outer region has 64% worse access to rail.
It needs 27 more stations to have equal access.
How do we decide where the stations go?
1. Set up a spreadsheet to run the d& #39;Hondt formula
2. Put in the populations of all outer region settlements
3. Adjust populations for towns that already have stations
A small snippet:
1. Set up a spreadsheet to run the d& #39;Hondt formula
2. Put in the populations of all outer region settlements
3. Adjust populations for towns that already have stations
A small snippet:
Once I decide this, I draw in the entire route from end to end, until it reaches another train station or the coast. This makes for a more functional network than building the bare minimum track to connect the towns with stations.
Q: Aren& #39;t Craigavon, Ballymena etc part of the commuter belt?
A: Maybe, but this is adjusted to be more politically practical. It covers half the constituencies, meaning it& #39;s represented by half of MLAs. It would be a good sell for everyone, if someone were to campaign for it.
A: Maybe, but this is adjusted to be more politically practical. It covers half the constituencies, meaning it& #39;s represented by half of MLAs. It would be a good sell for everyone, if someone were to campaign for it.
Q: I see some towns/villages in between new lines without dots, would you not build stations there?
A: Of course I wouldn& #39;t be against it - this is just to show the minimum network necessary to have equal rail coverage with the commuter belt and to have a functional network.
A: Of course I wouldn& #39;t be against it - this is just to show the minimum network necessary to have equal rail coverage with the commuter belt and to have a functional network.
Q: What about the Lisburn-Antrim line, to connect Belfast Intl?
A: The model only takes into account towns and their populations. It& #39;d be perfectly sensible to add Lisburn-Antrim, and a Derry Airport station - no one would disagree with it.
A: The model only takes into account towns and their populations. It& #39;d be perfectly sensible to add Lisburn-Antrim, and a Derry Airport station - no one would disagree with it.
