Belfast–Bangor line

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Bangor line
NI Railways Class 3000 approaching Seahill.
Overview
StatusOperational
LocaleNorthern Ireland
Termini
Stations14
Service
TypeCommuter rail
Regional rail
Heavy rail
SystemNI Railways
ServicesBelfast-Bangor
Portadown-Bangor
Lisburn-Bangor (peak and Saturdays only)
Route numberNIR Service 1
Operator(s)NI Railways
Rolling stockClass 3000 "C3K"
Class 4000 "C4K"
Technical
Number of tracksDouble track
Track gauge1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in)
ElectrificationUn-electrified
Operating speed70 mph (110 km/h)
Route map

Great Victoria Street Belfast-Derry railway line Belfast-Larne railway line Belfast-Newry railway line
City Hospital Belfast-Derry railway line Belfast-Larne railway line Belfast-Newry railway line
Botanic Tunnel
Botanic Belfast-Derry railway line Belfast-Larne railway line Belfast-Newry railway line
Lanyon Place Belfast-Derry railway line Belfast-Dublin railway line Belfast-Larne railway line Belfast-Newry railway line
Titanic Quarter
(Bridge End)
Belfast Queen's Quay
Ballymacarrett
Victoria Park
Sydenham Belfast City Airport
Holywood
Marino
Cultra
Craigavad
closed 1957
Seahill
Helen's Bay
Carnalea
Bangor West
Bangor Bus interchange

The Belfast to Bangor line (known simply as the Bangor line by NI Railways[1]) is a railway line in Northern Ireland, originally part of the Belfast & County Down Railway. All services are operated by NI Railways, the only operator for Northern Ireland (NI). Unlike the rest of the United Kingdom, no railway in NI is part of the National Rail network and none is owned by Network Rail. Services run every half-hour, with up to six trains per hour in each direction (3 express and 3 stopping services) at peak times.[2]

Nearly all NIR services on this line continue on through Great Victoria Street and terminate at Lisburn, Portadown or Newry, stopping at stations in between. Trains usually run between Portadown and Bangor on weekdays and Sundays, and Lisburn and Bangor on Saturdays.[2]

Rail Air Link[edit]

The Belfast-Bangor Line is part of the key link into Belfast city centre. Trains run from Belfast Great Victoria Street to Sydenham for planes from George Best Belfast City Airport.

Museum rail access[edit]

The Bangor Line serves important museums including the Ulster Museum, where passengers can alight at Botanic and for the Ulster Folk & Transport Museum alight at Cultra.

There is a private rail siding at Cultra[3] which is used occasionally for access by the museum to the main rail network, but is not used by passenger services.

The Odyssey & Titanic Quarter[edit]

Passengers can alight at Titanic Quarter station for the Odyssey Arena and the Titanic Quarter.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "NI Railways Route Map" (PDF). Translink. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 April 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Bangor-Portadown Line Timetable". Translink. Archived from the original on 29 March 2024. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  3. ^ "Northern Ireland Railways Network Statement 2025" (PDF). Translink. 31 January 2024. p. 15. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 April 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2024. There are some connections to private sidings at Whitehead and Cultra.