Irish Railway Record Society

NEWS  - NORTHERN IRELAND RAILWAYS - TRANSLINK

INFRASTRUCTURE  

Belfast - Londonderry   Further engineering work was carried out on the line through the autumn. Over the weekends of 28/29 September and 5/6 October, the line was closed between Coleraine and Londonderry to allow excavation and renewal of the track through Castlerock station. The line was closed from 23.20 on the Friday to 05.30 on the Monday, with bus substitution between Londonderry and Coleraine. Point motors were fitted to the turnouts at each end in advance of re-signalling.

On 17 November, the somersault down starting semaphore signal at Castlerock, no. 3, was moved and lowered. It retains an NCC finial on a new shorter post. Castlerock and Portrush are the last remaining locations on NIR with lower-quadrant semaphore signals. Other work carried out included repairs to embankments at MP73¹/₄, installation of drains under the track at MP93¹/₄ and repairs to Greysteel Bridge at MP84³/₄.

The Coleraine-Londonderry line was closed for repairs after the passage of the 13.10 Londonderry-Belfast on Monday 7 October due to the cliff face between the Downhill tunnels becoming unstable. No trains were trapped in Londonderry by the line closure. A substitute bus service departed Londonderry, Bellarena and Castlerock 15-minutes earlier than the rail timetable times and connected into trains at Coleraine. Train services returned to normal on Monday 21 October, but due to speed restrictions at Downhill, departures from Londonderry were advanced by 15-minutes until Monday 4 November when this was reduced to 5-minutes.

Re-laying works in Ballymena continued (see JOURNAL 149). The up and down lines through the station have now been re-laid with CWR on concrete sleepers. This work was completed by December.

At Coleraine, points 865B, from the Portrush branch to the up or down platform, were renewed over the weekend of 7/8 December. Lock level crossing at MP89 was renewed over the weekend of 14/15 December.

Bleach Green Junction - Larne   Prior to its collapse, the Minister for Regional Development told the Northern Ireland Assembly that NIR hoped to start the work to upgrade the line between Bleach Green Junction and Whitehead in the 2002 financial year. 'However, only £2 million of the total estimated cost of £18 million is currently available. I have bid for the remaining £16m in this year's Budget. The section between Belfast and Bleach Green has already been upgraded and the future of the section between Whitehead and Larne depends upon the Assembly's future Budgetary decisions in relation to the Regional Transportation Strategy'. He also said that NIR intends to use single line working from Monday to Friday, using bus substitution as and when required. At weekends, there will be total closure of the line with bus substitution for the cancelled train services.

In September, the Minister told the Assembly that 'Significant work is also planned, subject to securing the necessary funding, to upgrade the track between Bleach Green Junction and Whitehead. This will include upgrading sea defences, repairing the Whitehead tunnel, and the relay of the twin track. Upon completion of the track relay, line speed will be raised to 70-mph between Belfast and Whitehead'. In December, the Government announced further funding of £40 million for track renewal and other safety improvement projects, which will allow work start on the project.

Other   Having installed point-motor heaters in Great Victoria Street and over the Dargan Bridge, the programme has now moved to the York Road-Larne line.

The turnout from Adelaide yard to the Belfast-Dublin line was renewed over the weekend of 14/15 December.

SIGNALLING

Newry   Additional routes have been commissioned on signals PD5 and PD7 at Newry to facilitate signalled run-rounds.

Portrush   The mechanical interlocking in the signal cabin has been refurbished.

Customer Information System   NIR has advertised for the design and project management of the supply and installation of a real time customer information system. It will be installed in up to sixty stations and halts throughout the network. The system will provide visual displays and audio messages on each platform and must interface with the existing train describer system. It is anticipated that a contract will be placed by March 2003, with the projected to be completed by March 2005.

Train Radio   W.S. Atkins has been awarded a contract for development of a specification and invitation to tender, selection of the supplier and consultancy support for the implementation of a GSM/R network

AWS (Automatic Warning System)   NIR is currently installing infrastructure for AWS throughout the network. In addition, to comply with new regulations, the Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS) is to be installed, starting with Enterprise liveried 201-class locomotives, De Dietrich driving trailers and 450-class railcars.

STATIONS

Belfast Central   The refurbishment of Belfast Central, which has been ongoing since 2001, is almost complete and should be complete by February 2003. All platforms have been returned to full use. The concourse area has been greatly enlarged and is equipped with modern train information displays, a seating area, and new retail outlets, all of which are on the left-hand side as you enter. The booking office is as before and a new Translink Travel Office is under construction and will cater for both rail and bus services. The whole area presents a modern, bright appearance. The design includes an improved lighting and heating system, with doors to retain the heat.

Access to the platforms is by two "air bridges" served by lifts, escalators and stairs. They are interconnected by a bridge from which the trains can be viewed. The bridge provides connection between platforms without exiting the ticket barriers. The floors of the air bridges are carpeted. The air bridges are in two sections to retain heat. There are further seating areas within the environs of the air bridges before exiting through automatic doors on to the platforms.

The car park and road link to the station are being enlarged and enhanced, providing an additional fifty car spaces and a better link to the Centre Link bus service. A lift has been provided between the concourse and the car park / bus stop levels. Automated pay stations will also be installed inside and outside the station, which will substantially reduce exit and entry times. A new vehicle control system in the area will allow for easier flow of traffic and more clearly designated pick up and set down points. In addition, a new lighting system will offer increased security for passengers

The entrance to the Translink administration offices on the concourse has been remodelled and a new staff canteen has been provided.

To complement the upgraded station facilities, Translink has contracted Group 4 to provide new Customer Service Representatives. They will be stationed at entrances and exits to help passengers with any queries they have. They have received extensive training in customer care and will assist passengers and provide station security on a 24-hour basis. They will also offer directions, help with train times and advice on station facilities, onward transportation and local amenities.

The food court area in the station has been extensively revamped as part of the refurbishment. Operated by Select Service Partnership, part of EUREST, the food court offers a range of meals, drinks and snacks.

Carrickfergus   Further investment of £850,000 in Carrickfergus station will see a new subway, canopy, staircase and lifts as well as a drainage system and CCTV. Work is expected to be completed by Spring 2003. The existing subway closed on 7 November to facilitate the works. A temporary footbridge was erected. The loop platform, no. 3, was reduced to a terminal platform, accessible from the Belfast end only, for the duration of the work.

To facilitate construction of the new subway, there were closures of the lines through Carrickfergus in the quiet period between Christmas and the New Year. From 19.40 on 27 December until 16.30 on 31 December, there were no through Belfast-Larne trains. Platform 3 remained open, with platforms 1 and 2 out of use. Bus substitution operated between Carrickfergus and Downshire on the Saturday and Monday and between Carrickfergus and Whitehead on the Sunday.

LOCOMOTIVES

Hunslet locomotive 102 is out of use and GMs 111 and 112 are awaiting overhaul.

ROLLING STOCK

De Dietrich   The overhaul programme is proceeding to schedule and is concentrating on standard class carriages (See JOURNAL 149).

Mk IIf (ex-Gatwick Express)   The train of generator van and six carriages is now the regular performer on peak-period Newry services. On 24 September, 8113 + Van + 6 Mk IIf worked the 07.20 Newry - Belfast Great Victoria Street (GVS). Its other regular link is the 17.12 GVS-Newry.

The train has been observed laying-over in GVS between morning and evening trips. NIR are exploring options regarding push-pull operation to avoid the complicated run-round at GVS. The second generator van has not yet entered service and the train remains to be cleared for service on the IÉ network.

Mk III   NIR are exploring options regarding acquiring surplus Mk III carriages from Britain.

Railcars   Power car 67, derailed at Downhill on 4 June, is currently stored in the old shed at York Road pending evaluation.

Wagons   NIR have ordered 7 new bogie flat wagons for engineering trains from RFS, Doncaster. NIR have purchased the six bogie flats built by Wabtec in 2001 for the Bangor line re-laying contractor Mowlem. The wagons are numbered 7531-7536.

 DEPOTS

Last summer, NIR advertised for contractors to construct a new train cleaning facility at Fortwilliam, to extend the running shed and to upgrade and extend the fuelling bay at York Road. The train cleaning facility will be a 165-metre long by 30-metre wide building, representing an investment of £5 million, including services and power. It is to be completed by December 2003.

The existing train maintenance shed at York Road is 200-metres long and has three covered roads. NIR propose to extend two roads by 30-metres to facilitate maintenance of the 23-metre long CAF railcars currently on order. This work has to be complete by September 2003. The investment is estimated at £600,000. The upgrade to and extension of the existing fuelling facility is to be completed by June 2003, representing an investment of £300,000. There was a separate advertisement for consultants to prepare detailed designs of these facilities, preparation of tender documents and supervision of the contracts. NIR also advertised for a fume extraction system for York Road depot.

OPERATIONS

The All-Ireland Senior Hurling Final in Croke Park, Dublin, on Sunday 22 September was played between Armagh and Kerry. For Armagh supporters, specials were scheduled from Belfast Central at 08.15, 09.00, 10.15 and 10.30 to Connolly, in addition to the regular Enterprise at 10.00. However, suspicious objects were placed along the track in the Portadown area with the objective of disrupting these trains. The first alert near Portadown was cleared before 09.30. The 08.15 special, 8087 + four + 8084 + two + 8068, arrived in Dublin at 11.04, instead of the scheduled 10.42. The 09.00 special, 9004 + 7 De Dietrich pushed by 207, arrived at 12.00 instead of 11.30. The 10.00 regular Enterprise, 9003 + 7 De Dietrich pushed by 206 arrived at 12.50 instead of 12.17. All trains were full, with passengers requiring advance booking on the regular Enterprise as well as specials.

A further security alert prevented the 10.15 and 10.30 specials from getting through. Passengers were bussed from Portadown to Newry, where they transferred to the 10.00 Connolly-Central set, which was turned back. It arrived in Connolly at 13.41 and was formed by 9001 + 7 De Dietrich pushed by 209.

There were also specials from Dundalk at 11.10, 6-piece push-pull (DT6103) pushed by 227, and 12.00, 072 + GSV + 6 Cravens. An extra unscheduled 4-car 2800-class also operated from Drogheda, arriving in Connolly at 12.18. The line was cleared at 16.25 and two empty railcar sets ran to Connolly to form return specials departing at 18.20, 8081 + four + 8097 and at 18.40, 8089 + four + 8093 + two + 8083. The 19.25 special was formed by a nine-car set with power cars 8068/8084/8087.

On Sunday 20 October, the 10.00 Belfast-Dublin was formed by a 6-car railcar, 8089 + four + 8099 instead of the usual De Dietrich set.

Ireland played Fiji at Lansdowne Road, Dublin, in rugby on Sunday 17 November. A 9-car special operated at 09.40 from Belfast Central to Dublin Connolly. It consisted of 8089 + two + 8085 + four + 8068.

Copyright © 2003 by Irish Railway Record Society Limited
Revised: January 07, 2004 .