NORTHERN IRELAND RAILWAYS (NIR)

■ TRAFFIC AND TRACTION: The 07.33 Larne Harbour to Belfast Great Victoria Street (GVS) on October 3 was cancelled because of a “train fault”. A bridge strike at around

10.30 in the Antrim area on October 5 saw disruption to Londonderry line services until the structure was inspected and declared safe. Irish

Rail TRV No. EM50 traversed the NIR system during the period October 7 to 10, when it returned south to Dundalk and thence to North Wall, where it was noted stabled on the 12th.

Signalling issues continued to see disruption caused to Londonderry line services. The 07.38 LondonderryGVS started from Coleraine on the 8th, with knock-on delays experienced by other trains. A major signalling problem from start of service on the 10th saw services suspended between Ballymena and Ballymoney until around 09.00. Passengers were advised to use parallel bus services until substitute buses were arranged. Knock-on delays were experienced until midday.

A “train fault” saw the 12.38 exLondonderry delayed at Coleraine on the 11th and as a result the 12.10 GVS to Londonderry was terminated at Bellarena. The return working, the 14.38 ex-Londonderry, started from Bellarena. A bridge strike between Ballymoney and Ballymena on the 18th at around 14.00 saw services suspended until around 16.30, with knock-on delays experienced until end of service.

■ PRESERVATION: The long-term restoration of the Irish Traction Group (ITG) ex-CIE/Irish Rail ‘Metro-Vick’

No. 226 is almost complete at the group’s Carrick on Suir premises, with one of the final tasks being a total repaint. No. 226 was the first locomotive to be purchased for preservation by the ITG and October 23 marked the 30th anniversary of that notable occasion. The Connemara Railway Project at Maam Cross has acquired Irish Rail well wagon No. 649A. The vehicle was delivered by road from Sallypark Yard, Waterford, on October 15.