NORTHERN IRELAND RAILWAYS (NIR)

■ TRAFFIC AND TRACTION:

The first three new CAF-built 4000 Class intermediate cars have been incorporated into unit No. 4017 at York Road. The six-car unit has undergone static testing. Gauging trials and test runs have also been carried out. A further 18 cars are to be delivered from Spain in a rolling programme, with revenue earning service scheduled for the autumn. Signalling problems disrupted services, particularly on the Londonderry and Larne lines, during the period under review. Areas affected included Killagan loop between Cullybackey and Ballymoney on May 28, Cullybackey and Londonderry/Bellarena on May 30 and Killagan again on the 31st. Bustitution was introduced between Londonderry and Bellarena on June 8 until repairs in that area were completed. On June 12, all services between Belfast Lanyon Place and Ballymena/Larne Harbour were cancelled from start of service until repairs were completed at around 09.30. Bustitution also occurred between Belfast and Ballymena, with passengers elsewhere in the affected area advised to use parallel bus services on which rail tickets would be honoured. NIR stated that the first trains to operate were the 09.45 Belfast Great Victoria Street (GVS) to Whitehead, 09.55 Larne Harbour to GVS and 10.10 GVS to Londonderry. Disruption was experienced during the remainder of the day and was also reported on the Portrush branch, with bustitution in use there for some time. Signalling issues also affected GVS during the evening peak period on June 14, with delays experienced until repairs were completed. Warm weather during the period under review saw heavy passenger numbers, particularly on many weekend trains destined for the coastal towns of Portrush and Bangor. Demand for travel to the popular resort of Helens Bay on the Bangor line was so great on occasions that in order to reduce passenger numbers tickets to it were withdrawn from sale.

■ TIMETABLE: A new systemwide timetable was introduced on and from June 14 and is valid until December 11. The main changes to the previous timetable of March 22 (see June issue) are on the Belfast to Londonderry line. On M-F there are stopping services at 05.50 from Coleraine to Lanyon Place and at

06.52 from Coleraine to Belfast

Great Victoria Street (GVS), while the 21.38 ex-Londonderry is extended from Coleraine to Lanyon Place.

In the opposite direction, Lanyon

Place dispatches stopping services to Coleraine at 16.46 and 17.46 on M-F. Whiteabbey has reappeared on the Londonderry line timetable with the station served on M-F by the

05.50 Coleraine-Lanyon Place, 06.12 Londonderry-GVS and the 16.46 and 17.46 Lanyon Place-Coleraine services.