 |
| Infrastructure and Communications |
|
Larne has provided freight and passenger transport services for
over 140 years through its excellent road and rail networks. The
main road link between Larne and Belfast, a journey of 30 minutes,
has just received a £10m upgrade, providing a further boost to the
economy of east Antrim. The rail link is on the Belfast-Dublin
economic corridor, part of the Trans European Network. The
first-class freight and passenger facilities of Belfast's City
and International Airports are within 25 miles.
In its sheltered position on the County Antrim coast Larne
is one of Ireland's premier ferry ports which in 1998 celebrated
50 years of fast and efficient roll-on-roll-off freight handling
(ro-ro). With its choice of thirty-two ferry arrivals and
departures each day, it is of strategic importance to industry and
tourism. The port has four ro-ro berths, three with twin level
ramps allowing double-deck ferries to load and discharge
simultaneously, and has the capacity for wide and heavy loads up
to 180 tonnes. In 2003 just over 700,000 passengers passed through
the port. There was also a 5% increase in freight traffic. The
Distribution Centre is used by more than thirty leading UK and
Irish Exporters and Importers. Tourists, vehicles and light
freight enjoy a one-hour crossing on P&O's fast ferry service to
Cairnryan, near Stranraer. This is the fastest sea crossing from
any part of Ireland to the G.B. Mainland. |
|
|
