Belfast–Larne line: Difference between revisions

Larne Line
Larne Line
	NIR Class 4000 train at Magheramorne station in 2012
Overview
Status	Operational
Locale	Northern Ireland
Termini	Belfast Grand Central; Larne Harbour / Whitehead; Carrickfergus (peak only); Larne Town (peak only);
Stations	18
Service
Type	Commuter rail; Regional rail; Heavy rail
System	NI Railways
Services	Belfast-Larne Harbour; Belfast-Whitehead; Belfast-Carrickfergus (peak only); Belfast-Larne Town (peak only)
Operator(s)	NI Railways
Rolling stock	Class 3000 "C3K"; Class 4000 "C4K"
Technical
Number of tracks	Double track (Belfast - Downshire); Single line (Downshire - Larne)
Track gauge	1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) Irish gauge
Electrification	Un-electrified
Operating speed	70 mph (110 km/h)
Route map
Route map
	Legend
	Year
	closed
	Belfast-Dublin line
	to Portadown, Newry and Dublin Connolly
	Belfast–Bangor railway line
	to Bangor
	Belfast–Derry railway line
	to Derry~Londonderry
	Belfast–Derry railway line
	via Monkstown
	Harbour branch line
	to Carrickfergus Harbour
	Whitehead Excursion
	RPSI depot
	Ballymena and Larne Railway
	to Kilwaughter, Ballyclare and Ballymena
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The Belfast–Larne line, or Larne Line, is a railway line in Northern Ireland, operated by Northern Ireland Railways. It runs as double track along the majority of its route north along the scenic east Antrim coastline from Belfast to the coastal seaport town of Larne, serving commuters and ferry passengers.

Route

Belfast

From Lanyon Place, the line crosses the River Lagan on the Lagan Viaduct, branches from the Bangor line, recrosses the Lagan parallel to the M3 motorway on the Dargan Bridge and reaches its first stop, York Street, which replaced the former Yorkgate station in 2024. This in turn replaced the line's original 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 engineering depot and engine sheds, along the coast towards Whitehouse, a former halt. The line then continues north along the coast of Belfast Lough.

Whiteabbey

At Whiteabbey, the line enters a cutting and climbs towards Bleach Green Junction. The station is long gone here too (1977), but the lines diverge here, with the Derry~Londonderry line continuing to Mossley West and Antrim. The next stops – Jordanstown (University of Ulster, level crossing), Greenisland (former junction) and Trooperslane (level crossing) – are still a few hundred yards inland, and Belfast Lough can be seen from time to time where development is sparse. After Trooperslane, the line passes through a former halt at Mount. This station was closed in the early 1970s.

Carrickfergus

Carrickfergus town still has three stations, Clipperstown, Carrickfergus and Downshire. The former halt at Barn has been closed since 1977 (around the same time as Bleach Green Halt). At Downshire bridge the line crosses the A2 road once more and from here north, it follows the coastline at low level, offering views over the lough towards County Down and the Copeland Islands.

Downshire

From Downshire, the line runs through a former halt at Eden. The station here was closed back in 1977 (similar to Barn and Bleach Green Stations). Erosion has affected maintenance along this section, and the line becomes single track now at Kilroot power station (site of a closed halt), where previously it carried on as double track to Whitehead. The outer up track has been removed (officially temporarily) for safety reasons. At Whitehead Station, there is a passing loop and a spur to the former Excursion Station which is the headquarters of the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland.

Larne

Then north to Larne as single track, there are three intermediate halts, Ballycarry, Magheramorne, and Glynn, each serving villages en route. On the coastal side, the peninsula of Islandmagee blocks views of Scotland, but forms the wildlife wetlands of Larne Lough. 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 before reaching its terminus at Larne Harbour station, sharing its building with the ferry terminal for the Port of Larne.

Services

On weekdays, trains run half-hourly from Belfast Grand Central, with the outbound terminus alternating every half an hour between Larne Harbour and Whitehead. Extra services operate at peak times to and from Carrickfergus and Larne Town. The service reduces to hourly operation after 8pm.

On Saturdays, a similar pattern is maintained to that of the weekday service, minus additional peak-time trains.

On Sundays, the line reduces to hourly operation from Grand Central, with the outbound terminus alternating every hour between Whitehead and Larne Harbour. First services on Sunday are later and last services are earlier.^[1]

Ferry connections

P&O Ferries operates ferries to the Scottish terminal of Cairnryan throughout the year.

Onward rail connections

The nearest railway station to Cairnryan is at Stranraer, with Girvan the next nearest. A two-hourly bus service operates between Ayr or Girvan and Stranraer, operated by Stagecoach West Scotland as services 358 and 360, calling at Cairnryan ferry terminal and both Girvan and Stranraer railway stations.^[2] However, this is not designed to connect with timetabled ferry services.

References

^ Northern Ireland Railways (October 2024). "NIR Larne Line Timetable October 2024". Retrieved 13 October 2024.
^ Stagecoach. "Service 358/360". Retrieved 1 January 2025.

External links

[1] Northern Ireland Railways (October 2024). "NIR Larne Line Timetable October 2024". Retrieved 13 October 2024.

[2] Stagecoach. "Service 358/360". Retrieved 1 January 2025.

[1]

[2]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Short description|Railway line along Antrim coast, Northern Ireland}}
-{{refimprove|date=March 2017}}
+{{more citations needed|date=March 2017}}
-{{EngvarB|date=February 2017}}
+{{EngvarB|date=June 2024}}
-{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}}
+{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}}
 {{Infobox rail line
-|name        = Larne line
+| name                            = Larne Line
-|color       = {{rcr|NI Railways|Larne}}
+| color                           = {{rcr|NI Railways|Larne}}
-|logo        =
+| logo                            =
-|logo_width  =
+| logo_width                      =
-|image       = Approaching Larne Town station - geograph.org.uk - 244830.jpg
+| image                           = Train, Magheramorne (2012-1) - geograph.org.uk - 2923273.jpg
-|image_width = 321px
+| image_width                     = 300px
-|caption     = [[NI Railways]] Class 450 at [[Larne]].
+| caption                         = [[NIR Class 4000]] train at Magheramorne station in 2012
-|type        = [[Commuter rail]]<br>[[Regional rail]]<br>[[Heavy rail]]
+| type                            = [[Commuter rail]]<br>[[Regional rail]]<br>[[Heavy rail]]
-|system      = [[NI Railways]]
+| system                          = [[NI Railways]]
-|status      = Operational
+| status                          = Operational
-|locale      = [[Northern Ireland]]
+| locale                          = [[Northern Ireland]]
+| start                           = [[Belfast Grand Central station|Belfast Grand Central]]
-|start       = {{stnlink|Great Victoria Street}}
-|end         = {{stnlnk|Larne Harbour}} / {{stnlink|Whitehead}}
+| end                             = {{stnlnk|Larne Harbour}} / {{stnlink|Whitehead}}<br />{{stnlink|Carrickfergus}} <small>(peak only)</small><br />{{stnlink|Larne Town}} <small>(peak only)</small>
-|stations    = 18
+| stations                        = 18
-|routes      = Belfast-Larne Harbour<br />Belfast-Whitehead<br />Belfast-Carrickfergus <small>(peak only)</small><br />Portadown-Larne Harbour <small>(once daily)</small>
+| routes                          = Belfast-Larne Harbour<br />Belfast-Whitehead<br />Belfast-Carrickfergus <small>(peak only)</small><br />Belfast-Larne Town <small>(peak only)</small>
-|daily_ridership =
+| daily_ridership                 =
-|open        =
+| open                            =
-|close       =
+| close                           =
-|owner       =
+| owner                           =
-|operator    = [[NI Railways]]
+| operator                        = [[NI Railways]]
-|character   =
+| character                       =
-|depot       =
+| depot                           =
-|stock       = [[NIR Class 3000|Class 3000]] "C3K"<br>[[NIR Class 4000|Class 4000]] "C4K"
+| stock                           = [[NIR Class 3000|Class 3000]] "C3K"<br>[[NIR Class 4000|Class 4000]] "C4K"
-|linelength  =
+| linelength                      =
-|tracklength =
+| tracklength                     =
-|tracks      = [[Double track]] from [[Great Victoria Street railway station|Belfast]] - [[Downshire railway station|Downshire]]<br>[[Single track (rail)|Single line]] from [[Downshire railway station|Downshire]] - [[Larne Harbour railway station|Larne]]
+| tracks                          = [[Double track]] ([[Belfast Grand Central station|Belfast]] - {{stnlnk|Downshire}})<br>[[Single track (rail)|Single line]] ({{stnlnk|Downshire}} - [[Larne Harbour railway station|Larne]])
-|gauge       = {{track gauge|1600mm}} [[Irish gauge]]
+| gauge                           = {{track gauge|1600mm}} [[Irish gauge]]
-|electrification = Un-electrified
+| electrification                 = Un-electrified
+| speed_mph                       = 70
-|routenumber = NIR Service 2
+| elevation                       =
-|speed_mph   = 70
+| map                             = {{switcher
-|elevation   =
+| [[File:Belfast–Larne line.png|300px]]<br />([[:commons:File:Belfast–Larne line.png|Click to expand]])
-|map         = {{Belfast–Larne railway line routemap}}
+| Show map
-|map_state   = collapsed
+| {{Belfast–Larne railway line routemap|inline=y}}
-|box_width   =
+| Show route diagram
 }}
+}}
-<!--{{Belfast–Larne railway line}}-->
-The '''Belfast–Larne line''', or '''Larne line''', is a railway line in [[Northern Ireland]], operated by [[Northern Ireland Railways]]. It runs as double track along the majority of its route north along the scenic east [[County Antrim|Antrim]] coastline from [[Belfast]] to the coastal seaport town of [[Larne]], serving commuters and ferry passengers.
+The '''Belfast–Larne line''', or '''Larne Line''', is a railway line in [[Northern Ireland]], operated by [[Northern Ireland Railways]]. It runs as double track along the majority of its route north along the scenic east [[County Antrim|Antrim]] coastline from [[Belfast]] to the coastal seaport town of [[Larne]], serving commuters and ferry passengers.
 ==Route==
 ===Belfast===
-From {{stnlink|Lanyon Place}}, the line crosses the [[River Lagan]] on the [[Lagan Viaduct]], branches from the [[Belfast–Bangor line|Bangor line]], recrosses the Lagan parallel to the [[M3 motorway (Northern Ireland)|M3 motorway]] on the Dargan Bridge and reaches its first stop, {{stnlink|York Street}}, which replaced the former Yorkgate station in 2024. This in turn replaced the former York Road terminus in 1992. Parallel to the dual five-lane [[M2 motorway (Northern Ireland)|M2 motorway]] (once the UK's widest), the line now heads northeast, past the main [[Northern Ireland Railways]] engineering depot and engine sheds, along the coast towards Whitehouse, a former halt. The line then continues north along the coast of [[Belfast Lough]].
+From {{stnlink|Lanyon Place}}, the line crosses the [[River Lagan]] on the [[Lagan Viaduct]], branches from the [[Belfast–Bangor line|Bangor line]], recrosses the Lagan parallel to the [[M3 motorway (Northern Ireland)|M3 motorway]] on the Dargan Bridge and reaches its first stop, {{stnlink|York Street}}, which replaced the former Yorkgate station in 2024. This in turn replaced the line's original {{stnlink|York Road}} terminus in 1992. Parallel to the dual five-lane [[M2 motorway (Northern Ireland)|M2 motorway]] (once the UK's widest), the line now heads northeast, past the main [[Northern Ireland Railways]] engineering depot and engine sheds, along the coast towards Whitehouse, a former halt. The line then continues north along the coast of [[Belfast Lough]].
 ===Whiteabbey===
-At [[Whiteabbey]], the line enters a cutting and climbs towards [[Bleach Green|Bleach Green Junction]]. The station is long gone here too (1977), but the lines diverge here, with the [[Belfast–Derry railway line|Londonderry line]] continuing to [[Mossley West railway station|Mossley West]] and [[Antrim railway station|Antrim]]. The next stops – [[Jordanstown railway station|Jordanstown]] ([[University of Ulster]], [[level crossing]]), [[Greenisland railway station|Greenisland]] (former junction) and [[Trooperslane railway station|Trooperslane]] (level crossing) – are still a few hundred yards inland, and [[Belfast Lough]] can be seen from time to time where development is sparse. After Trooperslane, the line passes through a former halt at [[Mount railway station|Mount]]. This station was closed in the early 1970s.
+At [[Whiteabbey]], the line enters a cutting and climbs towards [[Bleach Green|Bleach Green Junction]]. The station is long gone here too (1977), but the lines diverge here, with the [[Belfast–Derry line|Derry~Londonderry line]] continuing to {{stnlnk|Mossley West}} and {{stnlnk|Antrim}}. The next stops – {{stnlnk|Jordanstown}} ([[University of Ulster]], [[level crossing]]), {{stnlnk|Greenisland}} (former junction) and {{stnlnk|Trooperslane}} (level crossing) – are still a few hundred yards inland, and [[Belfast Lough]] can be seen from time to time where development is sparse. After Trooperslane, the line passes through a former halt at {{stnlnk|Mount}}. This station was closed in the early 1970s.
 ===Carrickfergus===
-[[Carrickfergus]] town still has three stations, [[Clipperstown]], [[Carrickfergus railway station|Carrickfergus]] and [[Downshire railway station|Downshire]]. The former halt at [[Barn railway station|Barn]] has been closed since 1977 (around the same time as Bleach Green Halt). At Downshire bridge the line crosses the A2 road once more and from here north, it follows the coastline at low level, offering views over the lough towards [[County Down]] and the [[Copeland Islands]].
+[[Carrickfergus]] town still has three stations, {{stnlink|Clipperstown}}, {{stnlnk|Carrickfergus}} and {{stnlnk|Downshire}}. The former halt at {{stnlnk|Barn}} has been closed since 1977 (around the same time as Bleach Green Halt). At Downshire bridge the line crosses the A2 road once more and from here north, it follows the coastline at low level, offering views over the lough towards [[County Down]] and the [[Copeland Islands]].
 ===Downshire===
-From Downshire, the line runs through a former halt at [[Eden railway station|Eden]]. The station here was closed back in 1977 (similar to Barn and Bleach Green Stations). Erosion has affected maintenance along this section, and the line becomes single track now at [[Kilroot]] ([[Kilroot railway station|closed halt]], power station) where previously it carried on as double track to [[Whitehead, County Antrim|Whitehead]]. The outer up track has been removed (officially temporarily) for safety reasons. At Whitehead Station, there is a [[passing loop]] and a spur to the former Excursion Station which is the headquarters of the [[Railway Preservation Society of Ireland]].
+From Downshire, the line runs through a former halt at {{stnlnk|Eden}}. The station here was closed back in 1977 (similar to Barn and Bleach Green Stations). Erosion has affected maintenance along this section, and the line becomes single track now at [[Kilroot power station]] (site of a [[Kilroot railway station|closed halt]]), where previously it carried on as double track to {{stnlink|Whitehead}}. The outer up track has been removed (officially temporarily) for safety reasons. At Whitehead Station, there is a [[passing loop]] and a spur to the former Excursion Station which is the headquarters of the [[Railway Preservation Society of Ireland]].
 ===Larne===
-Then north to Larne as single track, there are three intermediate halts, [[Ballycarry]], [[Magheramorne]], and [[Glynn, County Antrim|Glynn]], each serving villages en route. On the coastal side, the peninsula of [[Islandmagee]] blocks views of [[Scotland]], but forms the wildlife wetlands of [[Larne Lough]]. Small sections of the track at the Larne end are built on causeways, forming ponds landside of the railway.
+Then north to Larne as single track, there are three intermediate halts, {{stnlink|Ballycarry}}, {{stnlink|Magheramorne}}, and {{stnlink|Glynn}}, each serving villages en route. On the coastal side, the peninsula of [[Islandmagee]] blocks views of [[Scotland]], but forms the wildlife wetlands of [[Larne Lough]]. 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 railway station|Larne Town station]] before reaching its terminus at [[Larne Harbour railway station|Larne Harbour station]], sharing its building with the ferry terminal for the [[Larne|Port of Larne]].
 ==Services==
-On weekdays, trains run half-hourly from {{stnlink|Great Victoria Street}}, with the outbound terminus alternating every half an hour between {{stnlink|Larne Harbour}} and {{stnlink|Whitehead}}. Extra services operate at peak times to and from {{stnlink|Carrickfergus}}. Evening services are reduced to hourly operation after 8pm between Larne Harbour and Great Victoria Street and the last trains of the day in each direction typically at around 11:20pm only operate to or from Lanyon Place. The last train arrives into Larne Harbour at 12:20am.
+On weekdays, trains run half-hourly from [[Belfast Grand Central station|Belfast Grand Central]], with the outbound terminus alternating every half an hour between {{stnlink|Larne Harbour}} and {{stnlink|Whitehead}}. Extra services operate at peak times to and from {{stnlink|Carrickfergus}} and {{stnlink|Larne Town}}. The service reduces to hourly operation after 8pm.
-On Saturdays, there are no extra peak time services, but the service pattern is similar to the weekday operation.
+On Saturdays, a similar pattern is maintained to that of the weekday service, minus additional peak-time trains.
-On Sundays, the line reduces to hourly operation from Great Victoria Street, with the outbound terminus alternating every hour between Whitehead and Larne Harbour. First services on Sunday are later and Last services are earlier.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.translink.co.uk/Documents/timetables/NIR%20Winter%202012/NIR%20Future%20PDFs/NIR2.pdf|title=NIR Service 2 Timetable|author=Northern Ireland Railways|date=January 2013|accessdate=6 January 2013}}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
+On Sundays, the line reduces to hourly operation from Grand Central, with the outbound terminus alternating every hour between Whitehead and Larne Harbour. First services on Sunday are later and last services are earlier.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.translink.co.uk/Timetable/Download/34031f37f59cdfa38be36cafbd790248f830ee07f0825628c1e5971f3f54e2ff|title=NIR Larne Line Timetable October 2024|author=Northern Ireland Railways|date=October 2024|accessdate=13 October 2024}}</ref>
 ==Ferry connections==
-[[P&O Ferries]] operate ferries to [[Cairnryan]] throughout the year.
+[[P&O Ferries]] operates ferries to the Scottish terminal of [[Cairnryan Harbour|Cairnryan]] throughout the year.
-===Onward rail connections from Stranraer===
+===Onward rail connections===
-The nearest railway station to [[Cairnryan]] is [[Stranraer railway station]]. This is around fifteen minutes away by a dedicated connecting bus, route number 350 operated by McLeans.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.dumgal.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=13006&p=0| title=350: Stranraer - Railway Station - Cairnryan Ferry Ports| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021075931/http://www.dumgal.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=13006&p=0| archivedate=21 October 2013| website=Dumfries & Galloway Council| url-status=dead| df=dmy-all}}</ref> Local buses provide additional journeys between [[Cairnryan]] and [[Stranraer]]. From [[Stranraer railway station|Stranraer station]] [[ScotRail]] trains operate to [[Glasgow Central station|Glasgow Central]]. Sometimes a change is required at [[Ayr railway station|Ayr]].
+The nearest railway station to Cairnryan is at {{stnlnk|Stranraer}}, with {{stnlink|Girvan}} the next nearest. A two-hourly bus service operates between Ayr or Girvan and Stranraer, operated by [[Stagecoach West Scotland]] as services 358 and 360, calling at Cairnryan ferry terminal and both Girvan and Stranraer railway stations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stagecoachbus.com/routes/west-scotland/360/ayr-stranraer/XTCO360.O|title=Service 358/360|author=Stagecoach|accessdate=1 January 2025}}</ref> However, this is not designed to connect with timetabled ferry services.
-{{Commons category|Belfast–Larne railway line}}
 == References ==
@@ Line 78: / Line 79: @@
 == External links ==
+{{Commons category|Belfast–Larne railway line}}
 * http://www.translink.co.uk
 * [https://web.archive.org/web/20130930005647/http://www.llpg.org.uk/ Larne Line Passenger Group]

v t e Railway lines in Northern Ireland
InterCity lines	Belfast–Dublin line
Main lines	Belfast–Derry line
Belfast commuter lines	Belfast–Bangor line Belfast–Larne line Belfast–Newry line
Other lines	Coleraine–Portrush line Lisburn–Antrim line (closed)
Heritage lines	Downpatrick and County Down Railway Giant's Causeway and Bushmills Railway
Railway museums	Foyle Valley Railway Museum Railway Preservation Society of Ireland Ulster Folk and Transport Museums
Lines in italics are proposed routes - Railway lines in Republic of Ireland