Irish Railway Record Society

JOURNAL 168 TRANSLINK - NORTHERN IRELAND RAILWAYS

BELFAST-LONDONDERRY

In September, the Minister for Regional Development advised the Northern Ireland Assembly: ‘The re-lay of the track between Coleraine and Derry is still at the design stage and once completed an Economic Appraisal will be submitted to my Department for approval. However in relation to the questions raised I would make the following comments’.

‘The location of the passing loop has still to be decided. Options are being considered with Ballykelly one of them ... It is expected that the passing loop will be constructed during the Derry-Coleraine track re-lay. Work on the reconstruction and re-laying of the railway line between Coleraine and Derry is currently scheduled to commence in 2011 with completion in 2013’.

‘The establishment of an hourly service will follow soon after completion of the re-lay, achievement of the required line speed and full commissioning of the required signalling. There are no plans at present to establish a direct service between Derry and Dublin. The priorities for investment in the railways network at this time include increasing frequency and capacity on the Belfast to Derry line and improving frequency of the Enterprise services’.

In November, NIR said initial track life extension work was nearing completion between Ballymena and Coleraine. This involved the repair of 'wet spots' that caused areas of weakness on the track and was responsible for significant temporary speed restrictions.

In December, the Minister for Regional Development advised the Assembly: ‘The work required to repair the wet spot problem on the line has been extended because additional wet spots have been identified. However, this element of the project will be completed before Christmas. The contract for the main works has now been signed and work on site has commenced. The work will continue through 2009 and will involve the closure of the line between Ballymena and Coleraine from the end of March 2009 for 14 weeks. A replacement bus service will be provided during this period. The project is expected to be fully completed by mid-2010’.

In November, NIR said re-laying of 5 miles between Ballymena (Broughdone) and Ballymoney would require 1,200 tonnes of ballast being dropped per week, 1,200 tonnes of new rail, 4,000 welds, 5,000m of new drains, tamping and lining, stressing rail, bridge maintenance and replacement work. Translink's General Manager for Rail Services Mal McGreevy said ‘The Londonderry line is already extremely successful with passenger journeys up by over 20% this year. This project together with the arrival of the additional new trains will result in an improved timetable and enhanced frequency to further boost passenger numbers and local economic growth. While the work will cause no disruption for passengers initially, a period of complete closure between Ballymena and Coleraine is planned for next year from late March to June... Although some work will need to be carried out at night, every effort will be made to keep noise to a minimum’.

McLaughlin & Harvey have been awarded the contract for the track upgrade. In late November, a ballast train hauled by a GM locomotive operated from Antrim at night to deposit ballast between Ballymoney and Coleraine.

Temporary facilities, including a servicing pit, have been constructed in Coleraine. These will be used during the planned 14 week line closure between Ballymena and Coleraine and will permit operating a full Coleraine-Londonderry and Coleraine-Portrush service.

In November, the Minister for Regional Development told the Assembly: ‘The work undertaken to date by Translink would indicate that a passing loop is required in the general area of Carrowreagh, which is approximately 1.5 miles from Bellarena Halt. This being the case, it would appear that the land at Ballykelly would not [be] required. Some detailed design work must be completed before Translink can determine the precise location. Additionally, there may also be geographical or land acquisition issues that would need to be considered’.

INFRASTRUCTURE AND SIGNALLING

Belfast-Dublin In October, the Minister for Regional Development advised the Assembly: ‘Planning is underway to re-lay an 11 mile stretch of the track between Knockmore and Lurgan, with work programmed to start in 2009. Current indications are that this project would cost in the region of £55m’.

‘My Department’s Roads Service has advised that a study was carried out, in September 2007, to assess the William Street crossing in Lurgan. The report considered a number of engineering options including an overpass, an underpass and a tunnel. The cost of the options ranged from approximately £20m to £250m. None of the options performed well under economic appraisal and all had significant environmental consequences for the William Street / Lough Road area of Lurgan’.

In December, the Minister advised the Assembly: ‘A project to upgrade the pedestrian crossing at the railway crossings at Meeting House Lane and Glebe Road in Dunmurry has been approved. The project is scheduled to be completed in February 2010 at an estimated cost of £2.5m’.

‘As part of the project to purchase 20 new trains, several of which will be deployed to increase frequency and capacity on the line between Belfast and Portadown, some of the platforms on the railways network will have to be extended. ... This will involve work at Dunmurry - £115,000, Derriaghy - £243,000, Lambeg - £154,000, Hilden - £191,000.’

Station Upgrades In October, The Minister advised the Assembly of planned work at Waterside station: ‘As part of a project to upgrade stations and halts to comply with Disability Discrimination legislation and Translink’s New Rail Vision, work costing £290,000 will be completed later this year to provide the station with tactile paving, improved lighting and signage, improved toilets and general painting. In the longer term options for the future of the station at Derry will be considered as part of the planning process for the re-lay of the railway line between Derry and Coleraine’.

He told the Assembly ‘Translink are providing 457 Park & Ride spaces on the Belfast to Larne line and 254 between Belfast and Ballymena on the Belfast to Derry line’. ‘NIR will be seeking approval from my Department to provide additional Park & Ride facilities at Lisburn Station. If all goes to plan, this will be in place by December 2011 at a cost of £3m. There are also plans to provide additional Park & Ride facilities in Moira by January 2011, at a cost of £675,000’.

Good progress is being made on construction of the new station facilities at Newry. The up platform has re-opened to accommodate seven De Dietrich carriages.

LOCOMOTIVES AND ROLLING STOCK

80-class Power car 8082 returned from refurbishment on 15 September. Its place was taken by 8069. Power cars 8097 and 8082 were used to spray Sandite during the autumn season. The latter was in the new livery, while the former was not. Refurbished four-car 80-class set 8093 + two + 8094 entered service on Monday 3 November. The class are normally used on Larne line services.

OPERATIONS

Sunday 21 September The All Ireland Gaelic football final at Croke Park, Dublin, was between Kerry and Tyrone. Specials operated at 09:05, 09:35 and 09:55 from Belfast Central to Dublin Connolly.

Saturday 15 November The Ireland V New Zealand Rugby match at Croke Park saw specials from Belfast Central to Dublin Connolly at 08:35, 09:05 and 09:25. The 08:00 Belfast-Dublin failed in Belfast and passengers travelled on the 08:35 special, 3006 +3004.

 Thursday 18 December The 06:50 Belfast Central – Dublin Connolly and 09:35 Dublin-Belfast were worked by 111 + 4 Mk II (Gatwick) + generator van 8911. This was due to the failure of 230 the previous evening. The 06:50 was preceded by a 4-car 29000-class relief from Dundalk.

Timetable The new timetable commenced on 14 December. Changes are minimal. The weekdays 08:00 Belfast-Dublin now additionally calls at Newry. The 05:40 Londonderry-GVS now runs at 06:05.

Copyright © 2009 by Irish Railway Record Society Limited
Revised: March 01, 2009 .