NORTHERN IRELAND RAILWAYS (NIR)
High winds caused damage and disruption on May 22. A fallen tree near Templepatrick Loop, between Antrim and Mossley West stations, saw the 12.38 Londonderry to Belfast Great Victoria Street (GVS) delayed at Antrim. The 14.10 GVS to Londonderry was also delayed until the obstruction was removed.
The 08.55 Bangor-Portadown on May 27 was cancelled between Bangor and GVS, a replacement train departed from GVS at 09.41.
On May 29, the late running 13.02 GVS to Bangor was terminated at Lanyon Place. As a consequence, the 13.55 ex-Bangor started from Lanyon Place.
The delayed 09.15 PortadownBangor on May 30 did not serve any intermediate stations between Lanyon Place and Bangor. This was to enable the unit to work its booked return service on time. The 12.25 BangorLisburn the same day was terminated at GVS because of the earlier problems and, as a consequence, the 13.40 Lisburn to GVS was cancelled.
MPV No. 11 was active systemwide on weed control duties during the period under review.
On June 1, the Millburn Road overbridge between Coleraine and Castlerock was struck and damaged by an excavator being carried on a trailer. The Coleraine to Castlerock section was closed at 10.02 and an inspection confirmed that the damage was serious. Bustitution was introduced between Coleraine and Castlerock. A train service continued as per timetable between Castlerock and Londonderry using DMUs Nos. 3002 and 3013, which were on the Londonderry side of the closure. A road tanker was used to refuel each of the units at Bellarena on June 2.
This was carried out on the up platform loop at the station, with access for the tanker being via vacant railway land. Repairs were carried out to the bridge and normal working resumed at around 12.00 on June 3; however, delays were subsequently experienced because of a temporary speed restriction at the bridge.
The 06.55 Lanyon Place to Whitehead and 08.15 return on June 8 were cancelled because of ‘operational issues’. Later the same day, the unit working the 13.10 GVS to Londonderry was failed at Coleraine. A unit that was working the Portrush branch was used instead to work the 13.10 forward to Londonderry and the 15.38 return to GVS. As a consequence, the 15.45 Coleraine to Portrush and 16.03 return were cancelled.
Signalling problems on the Londonderry line on June 16 saw the 09.10 GVS to Londonderry delayed, and as a result it was terminated at Bellarena. The 11.38 ex-Londonderry started from Bellarena.
The ‘Enterprise’ service continued to be operated by three-car DMUs during the period under review. On May 26, the 14.00 Dublin Connolly to Belfast Lanyon Place was worked by NIR unit No. 3005, while the 16.05 ex-Lanyon Place was worked by ‘Trainbow’ No. 3006. This unit also worked the 14.00 ex-Connolly on the 28th, while No. 3001 worked the 16.05 ex-Lanyon Place.
On June 1, ICR DMU No. 22x06 worked the 16.00 Connolly to Lanyon Place and 19.05 return, while
Nos. 3003 and 3006 were also on Cross-Border duties the same day.
No. 22x03 was noted in use on June 7, 13 and 17, while Nos. 3002 and 3004 were each working on the route on June 13. Unit No. 22x04 worked the 19.05 ex Lanyon Place on June 21.