NORTHERN IRELAND RAILWAYS (NIR)
■ TRAFFIC AND TRACTION: The weekend of July 24/25 saw extra passenger numbers systemwide as the period of hot weather continued. ‘Full and standing' was reported on many services on these days. The trains affected included the 11.10 Belfast Great Victoria Street (GVS) to Londonderry (from Lanyon Place) and 12.45 PortadownBangor (from Dunmurry) on the
25th. Speed restrictions were again in place because of high track temperatures and delays were experienced, particularly on the Belfast-Londonderry line during each afternoon and evening.
The hot weather ended on
July 26. Services on the Londonderry line were disrupted during the afternoon of July 27 after a lightning strike damaged lineside equipment between Ballymena and Ballymoney. On August 2, the 16.05 Portadown-GVS, 16.43 GVS-Lisburn, 17.15 Lisburn-Bangor and 18.17 Bangor- Portadown were cancelled because of ‘operational issues'. The same reason was given on August 9 when the 15.43 GVS-Lisburn, 16.32 Lisburn-Bangor, 17.37 BangorPortadown and 19.45 Portadown-GVS were cancelled. It is possible that train crew were unavailable because of Covid-19 isolation measures.
The departure of the 06.05 GVSLondonderry on August 10 was delayed, which resulted in the service being terminated at Bellarena. The return working, 08.38 ex-Londonderry was started from Bellarena. The 12.10 ex-GVS was terminated at Bellarena on the
16th after being delayed en route. The return working, 14.38 exLondonderry, started from Bellarena.
■ 4000 CLASS: The first 3-car 4000 Class DMU to be extended to six cars, No. 4017, was active on test and mileage accumulation trips during the period under review. On July 29 the unit ran from York Road to Portadown and return. It was also noted on August 6, 11, 12 and 17 running from Carrickfergus to Newry and return.
It is believed that No. 4017 was to undertake 2000 miles of fault-free running before it could enter revenueearning service. Further new CAF-built intermediate cars from Spain were unloaded at Dublin Port on August 10, with two delivered by road to Belfast York Road on the 12th.
■ NEWS: Covid-19's impact on passenger numbers has seen Translink's latest financial figures reveal that it has suffered a shortfall of £77 million in its accounts.
Belfast's Yorkgate station is to be rebuilt after a £10 million plan to upgrade its passenger facilities and platforms was approved. A new university campus and a commercial centre in the area are expected to provide extra patronage. Enabling work for the Belfast Transport Hub at the Grosvenor Road site is continuing and a major upgrade of the Blackstaff River culvert has been completed.
An 840-metre section of the Londonderry main line on the Belfast side of Whiteabbey is being upgraded. The £19 million project includes the demolition of a redundant bridge, renewal of formation and track, building retaining walls, improving drainage and installing new signalling cables.
A 200-space park and ride facility is under construction at Trooperslane on the Larne line. The up platform at Derriaghy between Belfast and Lisburn is to be extended by 44 metres at the Lisburn end in order to accommodate a six-car train. The down platform is to be replaced because the restricted site rules out an extension and the new platform is to be built on the Belfast side of the adjacent road bridge.