Thread by @FundTheNINE

(1)

The future of Northern Ireland's railway network, a megathread.

During my meeting with Translink, I met 5 executives who laid out some pretty bold plans.

Those executives were:

- Graeme Smyth

- Brendan Harkin

- Helen Halliday

- Hilton Parr

- Conor McLornan

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Our inital discussion was of course the genisis for my railway campaign, the Knockmore Line.

I was informed that the All Island Rail Review will likely progress the need for the development to a more 'crucial' manner.

But at the current moment, Translink hope

(2a)

to appoint a consultant to undertake the feasibility study within the next 6 months, with the feasibility study taking around 8~ months to complete.

Additionally, the overall timeframe for reopening the Knockmore Line is around 4-6 years from the time of the meeting.

(2b)

All of the 'pre 2003' stations may not return when the line reopens, but this will be at the mercy of the feasibility study.

Crumlin is a definite, but Glenavy and Ballinderry are up in the air.

However, Glenavy has a fair chance given how rapidly it has been growing.

(2c)

Tripling of the track between Lisburn - Belfast is on the cards for the long term.

This is because with a reopened Knockmore Line and a Portadown - Armagh connection, the current 2 track wide Belfast - Newry line won't be able to handle the extra rail traffic.

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Great Victoria Street's transition to Grand Central Station will take place in Q4 2024.

The transition will be seamless, meaning that on a Friday you would take the bus to the Europa Buscentre, and on the Saturday you would take the bus into Grand Central Station.

(3a)

In terms of how the transition will work, the station and its components (i.e; building, bus platforms, maintenance area, train platforms etc.) will be constructed in full.

(3b)

Then after the station is opened in 2024, all rail services into the centre of Belfast will be halted, whilst bus operations transition over to the new station.

This is to allow the engineers to connect the new rail station to the existing line.

(3c)

Once the rail services are suspended, GVS and the Boyne Bridge will be demolished and Durham Street repaved at grade with the station.

(3d)

All rail services between Lisburn and Lanyon will also be halted for a period of time whilst they realign the new tracks and get the rails ready for the new services to Grand Central Station.

All suspended rail connections will have bus replacements during the closure.

(4)

Dualling of the Belfast - Londonderry Line is on the cards for the far future.

However, re-dualling of the Monkstown - Ballymena section is much more likely sooner.

This is because Translink want to increase the number of services between Ballymena & Belfast.

(4a)

Their goal is to have a reversal service between Belfast & Ballymena at a frequency of 2tph alongside the existing Belfast - Londonderry service.

This is to help ease congestion on the trains in and out of Belfast as they get most crowded at Antrim & Ballymena (both ways).

(4b)

Dualling of this section along with a new service would mean Translink can finally open a new station for #Templepatrick at the #Ballymartin Park & Ride.

This would allow the Belfast - Londonderry service to go uninterrupted with an extra station on the line.

(4c)

However, reopening the Knockmore Line may mean that dualling this section wouldn't be necessary.

Essentially, the Knockmore Line could become the 'second track', with every other L'derry - Belfast service taking the alternate route and calling at the Intl Airport.

(4d)

This would mean two things.

A) With half of the services bound for Belfast now going the other way, that might free up enough space in the timetable to operate a new Belfast - Ballymena service without re-dualling the Monkstown to Ballymena section.

(4e)

B) It also means that people travelling from the North Coast would have one direct train to the Intl Airport every two hours, meaning no faffing about having to change trains at Antrim every single time.

Same applies for vice-versa.

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The @abcb_council has undertaken a feasibilty study to reopen the Portadown to Armagh railway line, to which Translink has fed into.

However, for Translink to be able to move on the results of the feasibility study, we need clear government support and additional funding.

(6)

The tender for the new Enterprise trains has gone out, to which various coachbuilders will compete for the contract.

The new trains will be bi-mode, which means that they will first run on diesel until the line is electrified, before being converted to be fully electric.

(6a)

As for electrifcation itself, initial electrification will be on the line stretching from Newry to Belfast, and Belfast to Bangor. (Newry to Drogheda also)

This coincides with Translink's plans to aquire 12 3-car bi-mode trains between 2027 & 2029.

(7)

Ticket Vending Machines (TVMs) will go live at all @nirailways stations before the end of 2023.

Then, in 2024, automated ticket barriers will be installed at all major stations (i.e; Grand Central Station, Lanyon Place, Coleraine, Londonderry,
Portadown, etc.)

(7a)

Contactless payments and ticket validators will also be introduced within that timeframe, and the new 'ePurse' system will be launched too.

(7b)

The new ePurse system will be similar to the Oyster Card and will require you to make an account with translink.

Once that is done, it will compile your journeys each time you 'tap-on' or 'tap-off' at each station. It will then offer you the best price for your journeys.

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FInally, Translink has a few announcements to make 'shortly', but I won't spoil the suprise, you'll just have to wait and see what great things they have in store for #nagrul & #anemyllab 😉

#RebuildOurRailways #OpenKnockmore #translink