Government blunder: Northern Irish train appears on cover of National Development Plan

Critics question symbolism and lack of detail after UK-owned train features on major Irish infrastructure documen

Featured on the cover of the updated plan is a Northern Ireland Railways Class 4000, typically used on services around Derry.

The cover of the Government’s new National Development Plan includes a picture of a Northern Ireland Railways train, rather than an Iarnród Éireann model.

Featured on the cover of the updated plan is a Northern Ireland Railways Class 4000. It is an upgrade on the Class 3000, which is occasionally used on cross-border services between Belfast and Dublin. However, the Class 4000 is not used in the Republic. They are owned by Northern Ireland Railways, not Irish Rail.