Northern Ireland Rail System is 'Third World Service' Says Minister

A Northern Ireland Assembly government member has labelled Northern Ireland Railways a 'third world service' after a section of the Belfast to Londonderry track became warped following the high temperatures at the weekend.

John Dallat, the East Londonderry MLA, slammed the service following reports that hundreds of passengers were forced to resume their journeys by bus after a section of track buckled in the Saturday heat near Culleybackey.

The same stretch of rail tracks remained closed and services along the route were cancelled. Mr Dallat described the incident as a 'scandal' and was adamant that the 25°C heat should not have caused the track to become warped.

"This is a third world service," he said. "What this tells you is that the line has not been upgraded at all. We have been told that this section would be relaid with a continuous line, but the department has failed to invest money into improving the service. In short, it is a scandal."

A spokesperson from Translink confirmed that the section of track had indeed become buckled under the hot weather. A normal service resumed Monday as the line was re-opened.