Irish Railway Record Society

NORTHERN IRELAND RAILWAYS

FUTURE OF NETWORK

The Regional Strategic Transport Network (RSTN) Transport Plan, which was published by the Department for Regional Development in September, again questions the future of parts of the existing network. The £1 billion over ten years plan is largely roads based. It notes the investment plans for new rolling stock and plans for new fixed interval timetables but says, ‘The long-term future of services north of Ballymena and Whitehead is dependent on the success of these rolling stock, infrastructure and timetable improvements’. It notes that plans to provide a rail link to Aldergrove Airport are unlikely to be developed within the next 10 years.

The RSTN noted ‘Translink have recognised that a fundamental review and repositioning of all aspects of customer services is required to optimise the opportunity presented by the introduction of the new rolling stock. Dependent on the results of public consultation and other research, it is possible that future rail timetables will be clock face operations and based round a hub and spoke arrangement (i.e. Bangor , Portadown and Larne line services could be centred on Great Victoria Street whilst Cross Border and Londonderry could be centred on Central)’.

It said ‘However, enhancement of the network by either new train capacity or expansion to bring back services to the Antrim-Knockmore line, with or without the introduction of an innovative circular route configuration Belfast – Bleach Green–Antrim–Lisburn–Belfast with connections to Belfast International Airport, is considered to be outside the RSTN time period’.

It also noted the following investment timetable: AWS/TPWS in 2003/5, 80-class replacement in 2004/5, additional Enterprise set in 2008, Belfast Metropolitan Transportation Plan capacity improvement and/or 450 Class replacement in 2012, new parkway station at Templepatrick 2007, new bus-rail interchange in Portadown in 2004, new station in Newry in 2005, track re-laying Belfast-Whitehead 2004/5 and completion of track relaying 2008-12.

Translink said it 'was confident that positive results will follow from the current investment programme in the railways, including the introduction of 23 new trains which will make a clear and self evident case for continued investment in the network'. The plan was criticised by politicians from the northwest and by Derry Chamber of Commerce.

It was also reported that Regional Development Minister John Spellar asked his officials to cost an upgrade of the lines beyond Ballymena and Whitehead, bringing fears for the future of the lines. The costs were to include new signalling and train protection systems. Mr Spellar said he believed there was a case for considering the future of the non-core network ‘in the shorter term’. The Minister was quoted as saying: ‘Ensuring a sustainable and affordable railway network in Northern Ireland may require difficult decisions as to investment priorities on the understanding that it would be futile to fund projects of limited value to the network or the wider transportation needs of the region'. One of the objectives of the now suspended Assembly's Regional Transportation Strategy was to retain and maintain the non-core network, subject to the current phase of investment proving successful. A spokesman for the DRD said: ‘The Minister has no pre-ordained outcome in mind. He wishes to look at the various costs, options and benefits and will consider the matter thereafter’.

Following public outcry, the Department for Regional Development issued a statement about the future of the Londonderry line north of Ballymena and from Whitehead to Larne Harbour: 'In accordance with the Regional Transportation Strategy for Northern Ireland 2002-2012, the strategic direction and underlying principles of which were agreed by the Northern Ireland Assembly on July 3, 2002, decisions on major investments in the non-core lines (i.e. the lines from Whitehead to Larne and from Ballymena to Londonderry and Portrush) will be taken when the benefits of the current programme of major investments in the core network and the new rolling stock can be assessed. It should also be remembered that the Department has continued to meet the annual running cost deficit incurred by Northern Ireland Railways. This has increased from around £9m per annum in the late 1990s to over £16m in the current year. Much of this increase has been due to increased safety related expenditure undertaken by Northern Ireland Railways. Clearly there is no question of Northern Ireland Railways being starved of funds or of the Department failing to discharge its statutory duty. DRD is actively implementing the policy and resourcing decisions established by Ministers to improve railways and public transport in general across Northern Ireland ’.

The Chief Executive of Translink, Mr. Keith Moffat, said the current review of the future of the non-core rail network should be seen more as an opportunity than a threat. He said the review of the future of the lines to Londonderry and Larne provided a chance to identify how much funding would be required. ...’There is no doubt that we will need further investment for parts of the railway if we are to deliver on the target set in the Regional Transportation Strategy of passenger growth of 60% over the next 10 years. … My view is that our job is to operate whatever railway system we are asked to run in a safe and efficient manner. Decisions over the size of the network are ultimately up to the politicians but as a railway man I want to maximise our potential’.

NIR is reviewing all aspects of the rail business in preparation for the delivery of the new railcars in 2004. A new Rail Service Implementation Team has been set up to ‘concentrate on all the passenger and service delivery issues that must be in place to offer a brand new rail service’.

LISBURN - ANTRIM

One train continues to be scheduled to operate on weekdays in each direction to maintain driver route knowledge of the line for use as a diversionary route.

INFRASTRUCTURE

Belfast - Londonderry   The line between Coleraine and Castlerock was closed from 23.00 on Friday 24 until 17.00 on Sunday 26 October for formation and bridge repairs between MP63¹/₂-64. A substitute bus service operated, departing Londonderry 15-minutes earlier than the regular scheduled time

Belfast - Dublin    Renewal of sleepers on the down line over Craigmore viaduct resulted in single line working over the up line between Newry and Poyntzpass in the week ending 18 October. The new sleepers are steel and have two guard rails installed between the running rails.

Renewal of the track between Central Junction and City Junction saw the diversion of trains via Great Victoria Street on Sundays 23 and 30 November. The up road between City Junction and Central Junction and between Central Junction and Fane Street footbridge north of Adelaide (MP111³/₄-112) was renewed using welded rail on steel sleepers.

Other   Scottish Woodlands Ltd, Ballymena, have been awarded a contract for vegetation clearance and control on track sides

SIGNALLING

On 10 October, bi-directional signalling was brought into use between Portadown-Poyntzpass-Newry.

ROLLING STOCK

De Dietrich   Refurbishment of Enterprise carriages continues at York Road Works with eight out of twenty-eight vehicles dealt with by mid-October. NIR are refurbishing both their own and IÉ carriages, with IÉ overhauling locomotives at Inchicore.

80-Class   Power car 8082 returned to service in December after a major overhaul.

Train Cleaning   NIR has sought tenders for the 'Provision of labour for train cleaning at locations to be agreed across the NIR Network. The contract period would be initially for two years, with the option, exercisable by NIR, of extension annually for up to two further years’. It was anticipated that the contract would commence in February 2004.

OPERATIONS

The Senior All Ireland Football Final in Croke Park , Dublin , on Sunday 28 September was an all Ulster affair, with Tyrone playing Armagh . On 11 September, the Translink website stated that 'Translink would like to advise any passengers wishing to travel to the All Ireland Football Final in Dublin on 28th September to make alternative arrangements as tickets for the Special Services have now been sold out'.

Morning services were delayed by the failure of 230 near Newry while working the 10.00 Belfast-Dublin Enterprise . It was towed into Dundalk , but resumed charge for the remainder of the trip to Dublin . It passed Mosney 57-minutes late and 230 was taken off the train on arrival in Dublin .

Return specials from Connolly station that evening commenced with the 17.45 to Dundalk , 081+GSV+6 Cravens, which departed at 17.43 with approximately 400 passengers. The 18.00 Enterprise was 209+8 De Dietrich (DT9004) and departed full at 18.03. The next departure was a special to Belfast at 18.09 and was formed by 8068+two+8096+four+8090 and was full. It was followed by a Dundalk special, a 4-car 2800-class, which departed at 18.15 with 250/300 passengers.

The 18.30 Enterprise , 207+8 De Dietrich (DT9003) departed with 330/350 passengers at 18.34. It was followed by the 18.40 Dundalk special, an 8-car 2900-class railcar at 18.41 with about 350 passengers. The next departure was a Belfast special, 8093+two+8069+four+ 8091, which departed at 18.57 with 450/500 passengers. The 19.00 Dundalk special was an 8-car 2900-class and departed with approximately 200 passengers at 19.05, immediately behind an all stops DART. The 19.20 Belfast special, 8099+four+8092+two+ 8083 was very full and departed at 19.22. The 19.35 Belfast special was 080+Generator Van+8 Mk IIf and departed at 19.46 with approximately 200 passengers.

On 16 December, failure of the 10.30 Belfast-Dublin Enterprise saw the 13.20 Dublin-Belfast formed by a 2900-class railcar from Connolly to Dundalk . From Dundalk 175+7 Cravens+GSV took over and also worked the 16.10 Belfast-Dublin. This Cravens set is only now used at weekends and is stabled in Dundalk from Monday to Friday.  

Copyright © 2004 by Irish Railway Record Society Limited
Revised: March 10, 2004 .