Lisburn-Antrim railway line
Encyclopedia
The Lisburn–Antrim railway line is a 20 miles (32.2 km) line of Northern Ireland Railways
. It links Knockmore Junction
on the Belfast–Newry railway line with on the Belfast–Derry railway line.
until 1876, and by the Ulster Railway's successor the Great Northern Railway
thereafter. In 1879 the D&A Junction ceased to be a separate company and was absorbed by the GNR.
have all been closed.
Translink's
reason for closing the line was that it was unable to maintain two routes to Antrim. The — Antrim line which had been closed since 1978 was reopened in 2001, providing a faster route between , Antrim and . Translink operated a skeleton service on the line but then gave notice that it would be shut.
The route is still maintained and is used for crew training and train diversions, for example for passenger services on 09 and 23 October 2011 when there were weekend engineering works at . Speculation remains that the line could one day re-open under plans to operate a Belfast — Lisburn — Antrim — Belfast circular route, with the possibility of a station for Belfast International Airport
which is close to the line at Aldergrove
.
Translink's future plans include re-opening this line allowing trains from to run once per hour on an alternating pattern between Bleach Green and Knockmore.
In 2010 NIR removed the passing loops at Ballinderry and Crumlin, making the line into a long siding.
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...
. It links Knockmore Junction
Knockmore railway station
Knockmore railway station was a station on the Belfast–Newry railway line. The station served the suburb of Knockmore in Lisburn, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The Great Northern Railway opened Knockmore station as a halt in 1932. Northern Ireland Railways closed the station on March 25th...
on the Belfast–Newry railway line with on the Belfast–Derry railway line.
History
The line opened in 1871 as the Dublin and Antrim Junction Railway. The train service on the line was provided by the Ulster RailwayUlster Railway
The Ulster Railway was a railway company operating in Ulster, Ireland. The company was incorporated in 1836 and merged with two other railway companies in 1876 to form the Great Northern Railway .-History:...
until 1876, and by the Ulster Railway's successor the Great Northern Railway
Great Northern Railway (Ireland)
The Great Northern Railway was an Irish gauge railway company in Ireland.The Great Northern was formed in 1876 by a merger of the Irish North Western Railway , Northern Railway of Ireland, and Ulster Railway. The Ulster Railway was the GNRI's oldest constituent, having opened between Belfast and...
thereafter. In 1879 the D&A Junction ceased to be a separate company and was absorbed by the GNR.
Current status
The line is currently closed to passengers after all rail services were withdrawn from the line in June 2003. The stations at , , and CrumlinCrumlin railway station, Northern Ireland
Crumlin railway station served Crumlin in County Antrim, Northern Ireland but is currently closed to passengers.The station was built for the Dublin and Antrim Junction Railway and opened on 13 November 1871. Translink withdrew passenger services from the line when it reopened the more direct – ...
have all been closed.
Translink's
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....
reason for closing the line was that it was unable to maintain two routes to Antrim. The — Antrim line which had been closed since 1978 was reopened in 2001, providing a faster route between , Antrim and . Translink operated a skeleton service on the line but then gave notice that it would be shut.
The route is still maintained and is used for crew training and train diversions, for example for passenger services on 09 and 23 October 2011 when there were weekend engineering works at . Speculation remains that the line could one day re-open under plans to operate a Belfast — Lisburn — Antrim — Belfast circular route, with the possibility of a station for Belfast International Airport
Belfast International Airport
Belfast International Airport is a major airport located northwest of Belfast in Northern Ireland. It was formerly known and is still referred to as Aldergrove Airport, after the village of the same name lying immediately to the west of the airport. Belfast International shares its runways with...
which is close to the line at Aldergrove
Aldergrove
Aldergrove is the name of multiple places:* Aldergrove, British Columbia* Aldergrove, Northern Ireland, a village close to the site of:**RAF Aldergrove**Belfast International Airport* Aldergrove, Edmonton, a neighbourhood....
.
Translink's future plans include re-opening this line allowing trains from to run once per hour on an alternating pattern between Bleach Green and Knockmore.
In 2010 NIR removed the passing loops at Ballinderry and Crumlin, making the line into a long siding.