Every "Circle Line" Train Station: A thread 🧵...
BUILD the Circle Line already!
1/ Antrim
Antrim Train Station already has a 4 track bay capacity and would serve as a hub station connecting with Derry services and local bus services.
Antrim has 1200 new jobs, 750 new homes and developments @JunctionAntrim all in the pipeline. Antrim is set to boom!
2/ Templepatrick - Ballymartin Park&Ride
Opened in 2015 at a cost of £3.8m, with 428 car parking spaces, however demand has meant that the P&R has already been expanded.
@ANBorough also passed a motion supporting such a station.
3/ Ballyclare
Cut off from rail in 1930, Ballyclare, ever a commuter town could be connected to the Bleach Green Line by a mere 3 miles of track, connecting with local bus services, Sixmilewater Park and Doagh-Larne Greenway.
4/ Mossley West
Adjacent to a huge development at Global Point with SENSATA Technologies HQ(500 jobs) and @UlsterUni/@QUBelfast Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC) coming soon.
@Translink_NI also planning 200+ space P&R.
Greenway: 3 Mile Water/Newtownabbey Greenway.
5/ Whiteabbey
Serving as a hub station, allowing Larne/Carrick services to run "Express" to city centre while Circle Line services run "local".
Greenway: Loughshore Path.
6/ @abbeycentre
A station on derelict land at ShoreRd/LongwoodRd. Currently land is being used to store railway sleepers. The station would integrate with local bus services and connect with Greenways: Loughshore Path and Glas na Braden Glen.
7/ Loughside Park
A project to refurb Loughside Park with not just a new station but athletics track/football pitch, foot/bike bridge to Newtownabbey Greenway and Giants Park.
Giants Park is a HUGE development accessible only by road so a rail connection is so so important.
8/ York Street(Yorkgate)
Currently under a rebuild York Street Station has the potential to serve the growing Sailortown population as well as connect to greenways: @NBCycleCampaign > Yorkgate Train Station > @StJoesBelfast > @TitanicQuarter + @BelfastBikes
9/ Cathedral Quarter
On the corner of Gamble Street and Corporation Street, a new station in-situ Dargan Bridge(dualled) serving @UlsterUni(15k students) and Cathedral Quarter connecting with @belfastbikes, River Lagan and proposed bridge at City Quays to @SSEBelfastArena.
10/ Titanic Quarter
@TitanicQuarter is always growing and despite a recent Relief Road project, traffic in the area persists. Increased rail services fed by @glider @belfastbikes and a new autonomous minibus will support current/future residential/commercial developments.
11/ Victoria Park
Reopening Victoria Park Halt(closed 1988), with connections to @ConnsGreenway, @combergreenway, @Glentoran, Victoria Park, CS Lewis Square, Banana Block and wider East Belfast(with @BelfastBikes).
12/ @BELFASTCITY_AIR
Moving Sydenham Train Station to a new dedicated "hub" station with elevators and bridge connection to the Airport, located behind Blanchflower Stadium/@weldersfc connecting with Bangor services, proposed Sydenham Greenway and @belfastbikes.
@BELFASTCITY_AIR @WeldersFC @BelfastBikes 13/ Lanyon Place
Still considered to be "Central" Station, Lanyon is surrounded by developments notably: Sirocco Works, Lanyon Tunnels and a new Gasworks residential development. This knits nicely with the city's busiest cycling route, @belfastbikes and future Gasworks Bridge.
@BELFASTCITY_AIR @WeldersFC @BelfastBikes @MDABelfast 14/ Botanic
A dense student pop, Botanic Gardens, @UlsterMuseum, @belfastEmpire and many other bars/restaurants makes this area a key component. Add in connections with @LinenQuarterBID, future @belfastchamber "Green Spine" and a long talked of Shaftsbury Square revamp.
15/ City Hospital
Serving a dense student and Sandy Row population, large numbers of hospital staff and if the Donegall Road bike lane is maintained, a connection to the Forth Meadow Greenway at Broadway Roundabout.
16/ Grand Central
Bells, whistles and hopefully more services. Grand Central/Weavers Cross currently under construction will create a new quarter, connecting Bus, Rail, Bike and errrr...@glider(a few streets away). Imperative that Circle Line services are fed/feed regional rail.
17/ Adelaide
Serving South Belfast, Windsor Park Stadium and commercial developments on the Boucher Road. A new wheelchair accessible pedestrian bridge is required to connect Lisburn Avenue with a new Windsor Park access path as well as new Boucher Road developments.
@RoyMcGIvern @PaulaJaneB @little_pengelly @MatthewOToole2 18/ Balmoral
Serving South Belfast, Musgrave Hospital, King's Hall Health and Wellbeing Village and provides a "near" rail connection to the new Casement Park.
19/ Finaghy
Serving Upper Lisburn Road, and again provides a "near" rail connection to the new Casement Park.
20/ Dunmurry
Technically the only train station in West Belfast with 20k people living within 1 mile of the train station.
21/ Derriaghy
A missed opportunity here to integrate @GliderBelfast services with rail and walking/cycling(Lagan Towpath) as the Glider terminates only 1/2 mile away from the station with an existing turning circle.
@distilleryworld only 20 min walk from the station as well.
@GliderBelfast @distilleryworld @PhillipBrett21 22/ Lambeg
With access to the Lagan Towpath via Station Road.
@GliderBelfast @distilleryworld @PhillipBrett21 23/ Hilden
Access to the Lagan Towpath and good vibes @hildenbrewery.
24/ Lisburn
Another "hub" station with Regional services running Express from here until Grand Central. Commute, work, shop or play.
@Lisburn_Museum @bowstreetmall
@Lisburn_Museum @bowstreetmall @MarcusKeeley 25/ Lisburn West
Planning approved on a new station that is much needed in an area that is set to see any number of housing developments. Includes 374 parking spaces, bus connection and bridge elevators.
26/ Ballinderry
On the dormant Knockmore Line, Ballinderry could be supplemented with a Park&Ride given its more rural setting.
27/ Glenavy
On the dormant Knockmore Line, the halt may require a lick of paint before coming back into service.
28/ Crumlin
On the dormant Knockmore Line, the existing station is to the rear of an @UlsterbusNI depot and in the centre of a swelling Crumlin village.
29/ @belfastairport
...and finally Belfast International Airport.
4000 staff, 6.2 million passengers and soon to be 2 hotels on site. The airport is the gateway to N.Ireland and it is now time to introduce a rail connection.
@belfastairport @niplanner @threadreaderapp unroll
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