Mr O’Loan was speaking after handing in a petition of almost 1000 signatures of local residents calling for a railway stop in Dunloy to the Department of Regional Development. He said, “I have previously raised this issue in the Assembly Chamber and have been very disappointed and frustrated by Minister Conor Murphy’s negative response.

“It is unfair of the Minister to compare the requirements of Dunloy with that of Cullybackey in terms of potential passenger numbers. Cullybackey is serviced by several bus routes and is only five miles from Ballymena, which also has a rail station, yet he says in his letter that he believes Dunloy is adequately serviced as it has two stops close by at Ballymoney, seven miles away and Cullybackey, ten miles away. The problem of distance is exacerbated by Dunloy having no integrated bus service that could connect with the train at either of these points.

“We handed in almost 1000 signatures of local people calling for a railway halt in Dunloy. There is strong local feeling and support for this halt and the Minister must take the views of local people on board.”

Dunloy residents James Sheppard who organised the petition said, “The lack of integrated public transport in Dunloy is more keenly felt than ever with rising fuel prices. Provision of a train stop would help to take cars off the road and give freedom to travel at a time when public transport is becoming less of an option and more of a necessity.”