Belfast-Newry railway line
Encyclopedia
The Belfast–Newry railway line (known as the Portadown line by NI Railways) operates from Belfast Central railway station
in County Antrim to Newry
in County Down, Northern Ireland
. The manager for this line is based at Portadown railway station
, although the line extends to the border to include the Scarva
and Poyntzpass
halts and Newry. Newry
is on the fringe of the network, being the last stop before the border with the Republic of Ireland
. The line follows the route of the northern half of the Belfast-Dublin Main Line
, with the exception of calling at Belfast Great Victoria Street
.
Northern Ireland Railways
operates an intensive local service on this line between Belfast
and Lisburn
, with other services operating to and from Portadown
. Local services are operated with C3K trains, constructed by CAF
, Spain
. A less intensive local service operates from Newry, with only four local services a day operating from there.
The station does, however, adequately meet passenger demand as a calling point on the popular Enterprise express service, which operates between Belfast Central and Dublin Connolly
. These trains call at Newry and Portadown stations at two hour intervals throughout the day. The Enterprise also serves Lurgan
, Lisburn
and Botanic
at scheduled frequencies on Sundays. This service is operated in partnerhip with Iarnród Éireann
.
Translink
announced in March 2006 that planning permission was sought from Newry and Mourne District Council
to construct a new railway station to the east of the existing station at Newry. Platform improvement and extension is proposed, as are replacement canopies, a track maintenance building and a new 'Park and Ride' facility. Alongside this, a major upgrade is currently taking place to refurbish all the stations on this line with the exception of Bangor, Central and Great Victoria Street. This project is estimated to cost £7 million
Belfast Central railway station
Belfast Central is a railway station serving the city of Belfast in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is one of the four stations located in Belfast City Centre, the others being Great Victoria Street, City Hospital and Botanic....
in County Antrim to Newry
Newry railway station
Newry railway station serves Newry in Northern Ireland. The station is in the northwest of the town on the Cross Border line next to the 18-arch, high Craigmore Viaduct....
in County Down, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. The manager for this line is based at Portadown railway station
Portadown railway station
Portadown railway station serves Portadown in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. The original Portadown station was sited half a mile east of the present station and opened on 12 September 1842, replacing a temporary station at Seagow that had opened the preceding year. The Portadown station was...
, although the line extends to the border to include the Scarva
Scarva railway station
Scarva railway station serves Scarva in County Down, Northern Ireland. Despite the fact it serves the County Down village, the station itself is in County Armagh, the nearby Newry Canal being the boundary. The station opened on 23 March 1859. The station was formerly the junction for the GNR branch...
and Poyntzpass
Poyntzpass railway station
Poyntzpass railway station serves Poyntzpass in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. The station was opened on 6 January 1862. It was closed by the Ulster Transport Authority in 1965, and reopened in 1984 by Northern Ireland Railways.- Service :...
halts and Newry. Newry
Newry
Newry is a city in Northern Ireland. The River Clanrye, which runs through the city, formed the historic border between County Armagh and County Down. It is from Belfast and from Dublin. Newry had a population of 27,433 at the 2001 Census, while Newry and Mourne Council Area had a population...
is on the fringe of the network, being the last stop before the border with the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. The line follows the route of the northern half of the Belfast-Dublin Main Line
Dublin-Belfast railway line
The Dublin-Belfast main line is a major railway route in Ireland that connects Dublin Connolly station in the Republic of Ireland and Belfast Central station in Northern Ireland.-History:The railway line was built by three separate companies...
, with the exception of calling at Belfast Great Victoria Street
Belfast Great Victoria Street railway station
Belfast Great Victoria Street is a major railway station serving the city centre of Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is one of two major stations in the city, along with , and is one of the four stations located in the city centre, the others being Belfast Central, and . It is near Great Victoria...
.
Northern Ireland Railways
Northern Ireland Railways
NI Railways, also known as Northern Ireland Railways and for a brief period of time, Ulster Transport Railways , is the railway operator in Northern Ireland...
operates an intensive local service on this line between Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
and Lisburn
Lisburn
DemographicsLisburn Urban Area is within Belfast Metropolitan Urban Area and is classified as a Large Town by the . On census day there were 71,465 people living in Lisburn...
, with other services operating to and from Portadown
Portadown
Portadown is a town in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. The town sits on the River Bann in the north of the county, about 23 miles south-west of Belfast...
. Local services are operated with C3K trains, constructed by CAF
Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles
Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles is a rail equipment manufacturer based in Beasain in the Basque Country, Spain. Equipment manufactured by CAF includes light rail vehicles, rapid transit trains, railroad cars and locomotives, as well as variable gauge axles that can be fitted on any...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. A less intensive local service operates from Newry, with only four local services a day operating from there.
The station does, however, adequately meet passenger demand as a calling point on the popular Enterprise express service, which operates between Belfast Central and Dublin Connolly
Dublin Connolly railway station
Dublin Connolly, commonly called Connolly station , is one of the main railway stations in Dublin, Ireland, and is a focal point in the Irish route network. Opened in 1844 as Amiens Street Station, the ornate facade has a distinctive Italianate tower at its centre...
. These trains call at Newry and Portadown stations at two hour intervals throughout the day. The Enterprise also serves Lurgan
Lurgan railway station
Lurgan railway station serves Lurgan in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. The station opened on 18 November 1841.- Service :Mondays to Saturdays there is a half hourly service towards Portadown or Newry in one direction and to Bangor or Belfast in the other, with extra services at peak times and the...
, Lisburn
Lisburn railway station
Lisburn railway station serves the city of Lisburn in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The station was opened on 12 August 1839. It has been renovated, with a new waiting area on platform 1, new toilets and vending machines. addition, on platforms 2 and 3, a coffee shop operates on weekday...
and Botanic
Botanic railway station
.Botanic railway station serves the Botanic area in south Belfast, Northern Ireland and students for Queen's University Belfast. It is named after the nearby Belfast Botanic Gardens...
at scheduled frequencies on Sundays. This service is operated in partnerhip with Iarnród Éireann
Iarnród Éireann
Iarnród Éireann is the national railway system operator of Ireland. Established on 2 February 1987, it is a subsidiary of Córas Iompair Éireann . It operates all internal intercity, commuter and freight railway services in the Republic of Ireland, and, jointly with Northern Ireland Railways, the...
.
Translink
Translink (Northern Ireland)
Translink is the brand name of the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company , a public corporation in Northern Ireland which provides the public transport in the region. NI Railways, Ulsterbus and Metro are all part of Translink....
announced in March 2006 that planning permission was sought from Newry and Mourne District Council
Newry and Mourne District Council
Newry and Mourne District Council is a local council in Northern Ireland. It includes much of the south of County Armagh and the south of County Down and has a population of approximately 93,400. Council headquarters are in Newry, the largest settlement and only city in the area; it has a...
to construct a new railway station to the east of the existing station at Newry. Platform improvement and extension is proposed, as are replacement canopies, a track maintenance building and a new 'Park and Ride' facility. Alongside this, a major upgrade is currently taking place to refurbish all the stations on this line with the exception of Bangor, Central and Great Victoria Street. This project is estimated to cost £7 million