Warning over Translink Christmas engineering works on Belfast and …
Translink has announced details of essential engineering works on the railway line between Belfast and Portadown this Christmas[1].
Designed to enhance the local railway network it will result in a line closure from Monday, December 25th until Monday, January 1st inclusive between Belfast Great Victoria Street and Portadown stations.
Translink[2] will undertake multiple project works during this closure period and passengers are being advised to plan ahead over the festive period.
The main work will see the continuation of a major signalling upgrade at Lisburn[5]. In addition, there will be essential engineering works in the Belfast area for the new Belfast Grand Central Station, and platform extension work at Derriaghy Train Station.
Bus substitution services will be in place for local rail passengers between Belfast and Portadown, with cross-border Enterprise passengers transferred between Belfast Lanyon Place and Newry by coach.
Normal rail services will operate between Portadown and Dublin Connolly.
Translink’s John Glass, Director of Infrastructure and Projects, said: ‘‘We are undertaking a significant investment programme to upgrade and protect Northern Ireland’s rail infrastructure.
‘‘The upgrade works in the Lisburn area have made good progress already, and this intensive engineering period will ensure the timely completion of this project.
“Our engineers will be working throughout the festive period, maximising our resources to also complete additional engineering works for Belfast Grand Central Station and Derriaghy to minimise future passenger impact.
“This tried and tested approach has been carefully planned to take advantage of the lower passenger numbers and minimise disruption.
“Our teams will be hosting pop-up information days at stations along the line during December, and I encourage the public to come and meet with them to find out more about these works and the impact.
“I want to thank all our passengers and local neighbours for their support and patience as we progress these essential works,” he concluded.
Passenger pop-up information days will be held at the following stations:
- Lanyon Place – Tuesday, 5th Dec, 7am-9am
- Botanic – Tuesday, 5th Dec, 4pm-6pm
- Great Victoria Street – Wednesday, 6th Dec, 7am-9am
- Lisburn – Wednesday, 6th Dec, 4pm-6pm
- Portadown – Monday, 11th Dec, 4pm-6pm
- Lurgan – Tuesday, 12th Dec, 7am-9am
- Newry – Tuesday, 12th Dec, 4pm-6pm
A holiday timetable will be in place, with no services operating on Monday, 25th December or Tuesday, 26th December.
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Portadown line
Monday 25 th December 2023 – Monday 1 st January 2024 inclusive
- Line closure between Belfast Great Victoria Street and Portadown
- Bus substitution services will operate between Belfast Great Victoria Street and Portadown, servicing Adelaide, Balmoral, Finaghy, Dunmurry, Derriaghy, Lambeg, Hilden, Moira and Lurgan.
- Bus substitutions services will operate from main road bus stops.
- Limited bus substitutions will extend to and from Newry, via Scarva and Poyntzpass
- In Scarva, this will depart Station Road
- In Poyntzpass, this will depart Church Street
- Please check before you travel, as bus substitution times may differ from usual scheduled rail departure times.
- Train tickets will also be valid for use on Ulsterbus and Metro scheduled services.
- A shuttle service will operate between Belfast Lanyon Place and Great Victoria Street.
- Botanic and City Hospital Stations will be closed during this period.
- Normal services will operate between Belfast Lanyon Place and Bangor, Larne, and Derry~Londonderry. A holiday timetable will operate, and no services will be in place on Monday 25 th December and Tuesday 26 th December.
Enterprise
Monday 25 th December 2023 until Monday 1 st January 2024 inclusive
- Enterprise services will operate as normal between Portadown and Dublin Connolly.
- Coach substitution services will operate from Belfast Lanyon Place to Newry
- Return trains from Dublin will connect with substitution services at Newry for Belfast Lanyon Place.
- Passengers should expect delays of up to 30 minutes on arrival times at Belfast Lanyon Place.
- We would advise passengers with accessibility requirements to contact us at least 24 hours in advance of travel so that we can try to ensure the bus substitution service can best accommodate your needs.
Train tickets will also be valid for use on Ulsterbus and Metro scheduled services. Passengers are advised to check online at www.translink.co.uk[8] or use the Journey Planner before they travel and to allow extra time for their journey.
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References
- ^ Christmas (www.belfastlive.co.uk)
- ^ Translink (www.belfastlive.co.uk)
- ^ New £200m station hub set to transform Northern Ireland’s public transport (www.belfastlive.co.uk)
- ^ Translink workers to strike on first day of late night Christmas services (www.belfastlive.co.uk)
- ^ Lisburn (www.belfastlive.co.uk)
- ^ Click this link (chat.whatsapp.com)
- ^ Privacy Notice (www.reachplc.com)
- ^ www.translink.co.uk (www.translink.co.uk)
- ^ here (www.belfastlive.co.uk)
- ^ sign up to our daily newsletter (www.belfastlive.co.uk)