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Ireland’s railways prepare for Brexit border scenarios

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OPERATORS of the national rail networks on both sides of the Irish border are formulating plans for post-Brexit future operations of cross-border train services.

Since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998 border checks have been consigned to the history books, and free movement has been the norm for the last two decades. 

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However, in spite of the border remaining a matter of diplomatic sensitivity for both governments, neither wants to see a return to physical checks or infrastructure at the border frontier.

Class 201 No. 206 powers the 13.20 Dublin-Belfast ‘Enterprise’ service through Clontarf Road on July 23. NEIL DINNEN

This is where the controversial Northern Ireland ‘backstop’ comes in, which would maintain a seamless border between the two nations, but would require the UK to retain a close relationship with the EU for an indefinite period – something many MPs are opposed to. 

Read more in the September 2019 issue of The RM – on sale now!

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