Belfast-Larne railway line
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The Belfast–Larne railway line is a picturesque line for the most part. It runs as double track along the majority of its route up the east Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...

 coastline from 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...

 to Larne
Larne
Larne is a substantial seaport and industrial market town on the east coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland with a population of 18,228 people in the 2001 Census. As of 2011, there are about 31,000 residents in the greater Larne area. It has been used as a seaport for over 1,000 years, and is...

 serving commuters and ferry passengers. Recently refurbished between Carrickfergus
Carrickfergus
Carrickfergus , known locally and colloquially as "Carrick", is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is located on the north shore of Belfast Lough, from Belfast. The town had a population of 27,201 at the 2001 Census and takes its name from Fergus Mór mac Eirc, the 6th century king...

 and Larne, track quality has improved and services have become more reliable.

Belfast

From Belfast Central, the line crosses the River Lagan
River Lagan
The River Lagan is a major river in Northern Ireland which runs 40 miles from the Slieve Croob mountain in County Down to Belfast where it enters Belfast Lough, an inlet of the Irish Sea. The River Lagan forms much of the border between County Antrim and County Down. It rises as a tiny fast...

, branches from the Bangor Line, recrosses the Lagan parallel to the M3 motorway on the Dargan Bridge and reaches its first stop, Yorkgate
Yorkgate railway station
Yorkgate railway station serves the north of the city of Belfast, Northern Ireland. The station opened in 1992, replacing the previous York Road station nearby.-York Road Railway Station:...

, which replaced the former York Road terminus in 1992. Parallel to the dual five-lane M2 motorway (once the UK's widest), the line now heads northeast, past the main 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...

 engineering depot and engine sheds, along the coast towards Whitehouse, a former halt. The M2 branches north, and the railway travels along the Causeway Coastal Route (the A2 road) all the way to Larne.

Whiteabbey

At Whiteabbey
Whiteabbey
Whiteabbey is a townland in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is within the urban area called Newtownabbey and the wider Newtownabbey Borough...

, the line enters a cutting and climbs towards Bleach Green Junction. The station is long gone here too, but the lines diverge here from the Antrim Line. Next stops Jordanstown
Jordanstown railway station
Jordanstown railway station serves Jordanstown and the University of Ulster in Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland. Its station is due to get a new park and ride facility shortly in the hope it will ease congestion on the main Jordanstown Road....

 (University of Ulster
University of Ulster
The University of Ulster is a multi-campus, co-educational university located in Northern Ireland. It is the largest single university in Ireland, discounting the federal National University of Ireland...

, level crossing
Level crossing
A level crossing occurs where a railway line is intersected by a road or path onone level, without recourse to a bridge or tunnel. It is a type of at-grade intersection. The term also applies when a light rail line with separate right-of-way or reserved track crosses a road in the same fashion...

), Greenisland
Greenisland railway station
Greenisland railway station serves Greenisland in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The station opened on 11 April 1848 as Carrickfergus Junction. It was renamed on 10 January 1893...

 (former junction) and Trooperslane (level crossing) are still a few hundred yards inland, and Belfast Lough
Belfast Lough
Belfast Lough is a large, natural intertidal sea lough at the mouth of the River Lagan on the east coast of Northern Ireland. The inner part of the lough comprises a series of mudflats and lagoons. The outer lough is restricted to mainly rocky shores with some small sandy bays...

 can be seen from time to time where development is sparse. After Trooperslane, the line passes through a former halt at Mount
Mount railway station
Mount was a station located near the town of Carrickfergus in Northern Ireland. At one time it formed part of a tight cluster of stations, each located one minute from the other, from itself all the way through to Kilroot....

. This station was closed in the early 1970s.

Carrickfergus

Carrickfergus
Carrickfergus
Carrickfergus , known locally and colloquially as "Carrick", is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is located on the north shore of Belfast Lough, from Belfast. The town had a population of 27,201 at the 2001 Census and takes its name from Fergus Mór mac Eirc, the 6th century king...

 town still boasts three stations, Clipperstown, Carrickfergus
Carrickfergus
Carrickfergus , known locally and colloquially as "Carrick", is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is located on the north shore of Belfast Lough, from Belfast. The town had a population of 27,201 at the 2001 Census and takes its name from Fergus Mór mac Eirc, the 6th century king...

 and Downshire
Downshire
Downshire may refer to the following in Northern Ireland:* County Down* Marquess of Downshire* Downshire railway station, Carrickfergus, County Antrim* Downshire School, Carrickfergus, County Antrim* Downshire Young Men F.C., Hillsborough, County Down...

. The former halt at Barn
Barn railway station
Barn was a station located in the town of Carrickfergus in Northern Ireland. At one time it was part of a tight cluster of stations, each located one minute from the other, between Mount and Kilroot. The station closed in 1977 when Northern Ireland Railways nationalised their services...

 has been closed since 1977. At Downshire bridge the line crosses the A2 road once more and from here north, it hugs the coastline at low level, offering spectacular views over the lough towards County Down
County Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...

 and the Copeland Islands
Copeland Islands
The Copeland Islands is a group of three islands in the north Irish Sea, north of Donaghadee, County Down, Northern Ireland consisting of Lighthouse, Mew and Copeland Island.-Area of Special Scientific Interest :...

.

Downshire

From Downshire, the line runs through a former halt at Eden
Eden railway station
Eden was a station located in the townland of Eden, in and around the town of Carrickfergus in Northern Ireland. At one time it formed part of a tight cluster of stations, each located almost one minute from the other, from Mount through to Kilroot.The station closed in 1977 when Northern Ireland...

. The station here was closed back in 1977. Erosion has played havoc with the minimal maintenance along this section, and the line singles now at Kilroot
Kilroot
Kilroot is a townland in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It lies to the east of Eden, on the outskirts of Carrickfergus on the northern shore of Belfast Lough. It is within the Carrickfergus Borough Council area.-History:...

 (closed halt
Kilroot railway station
Kilroot was a station located in the village of Kilroot, close the town of Carrickfergus, in the shadow of Kilroot power station in Northern Ireland....

, power station) where previously it carried on as double track to Whitehead
Whitehead, County Antrim
Whitehead is a small seaside town on the east coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland, lying almost midway between the towns of Carrickfergus and Larne. It lies within the civil parishes of Island Magee and Templecorran, the barony of Belfast Lower, and is part of Carrickfergus Borough Council...

. The outer up track has been removed (officially temporarily) for safety reasons. At Whitehead Station, there is a passing loop
Passing loop
A passing loop is a place on a single line railway or tramway, often located at a station, where trains or trams in opposing directions can pass each other. Trains/trams in the same direction can also overtake, providing that the signalling arrangement allows it...

 and a spur to the former Excursion Station which is the headquarters of the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland
Railway Preservation Society of Ireland
The Railway Preservation Society of Ireland is an Irish railway preservation group operating in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1964. The Society has its headquarters at Whitehead, County Antrim, Northern Ireland and a base at Mullingar, County Westmeath...

.

Larne

Then north to Larne as single track, there are three intermediate halts, Ballycarry
Ballycarry
Ballycarry is a village in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is midway between Larne and Carrickfergus, overlooking Islandmagee. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 981.-Archaeology:...

, Magheramorne
Magheramorne
Magheramorne is a hamlet in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is about 5 miles south of Larne on the shores of Larne Lough. It had a population of 75 people in the 2001 Census. It is within the Larne Borough Council area....

, and Glynn
Glynn
Glynn is a small village in the Larne Borough Council area of County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It lies a short distance south of Larne, on the shore of Larne Lough. Glynn had a population of 641 people in the 2001 Census.-History:...

, each serving villages en route. On the coastal side, the peninsula of Islandmagee
Islandmagee
Islandmagee is a peninsula on the east coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland, located between the towns of Larne and Carrickfergus. It is part of the Larne Borough Council area and is a sparsely populated rural community with a long history since the mesolithic period.As part of an...

 blocks views of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...

, but forms the wildlife wetlands of Larne Lough
Larne Lough
Larne Lough is a sea lough or inlet in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The lough lies between Islandmagee and the mainland. At its mouth is the town of Larne...

. Small sections of the track at the Larne end are built on causeways, forming ponds landside of the railway.

On entering the town, the railway again crosses the road inland to Larne Town station
Larne Town railway station
Larne Town railway station serves Larne in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The station was opened on 1 October 1862. Goods traffic ceased on 4 January 1965...

 before reaching its terminus at Larne Harbour station
Larne Harbour railway station
Larne Harbour railway station, Larne, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, serves the ferry port for ferries to Cairnryan and Troon, Scotland and Fleetwood, England...

, sharing its building with the ferry terminal for the Port of Larne.

Services

On a Monday to Friday trains run every half hour during the off peak period between Belfast Central
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....

 and Carrickfergus
Carrickfergus railway station
Carrickfergus railway station serves Carrickfergus in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. There are two more railway stations serving Carrickfergus town: Clipperstown and Downshire.Carrickfergus station opened on 1 October 1862....

 with one train per hour continuing through to Larne Harbour
Larne Harbour railway station
Larne Harbour railway station, Larne, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, serves the ferry port for ferries to Cairnryan and Troon, Scotland and Fleetwood, England...

. On peak hours some services start and end at Whitehead
Whitehead railway station
Whitehead railway station serves Whitehead in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.The station has two platforms with a waiting room on each and the station is signalled in both directions and remains manned during commuter hours by a Senior Porter, who luckily for the commuters is a fully trained...

 or Larne Town
Larne Town railway station
Larne Town railway station serves Larne in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The station was opened on 1 October 1862. Goods traffic ceased on 4 January 1965...

 with a few proceeding to Great Victoria Street in Belfast. The service runs hourly in the evenings between Belfast and Larne Harbour. The Saturday service is similar to the weekday timetable but instead of trains terminating at Belfast Central they all operate to and from Great Victoria Street.

On Sundays there is a reduced service with trains running at 90 minute intervals between Great Victoria Street and Larne Harbour.

Future

Services on the Belfast-Larne line are operated by the ageing Class 80 and 450 trains due to the lack of Class 3000 sets that were introduced in 2005. The new Class 4000 trains are due to arrive shortly and these are to be deployed on the Larne line replacing the existing stock. Work is currently under way to extend the platforms at most of the stations on the line to allow the new trains to stop at them.

Official website

http://www.translink.co.uk
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