Coleraine-Portrush railway line
Encyclopedia
The Coleraine-Portrush line is a short branch railway line
in Northern Ireland
between the town of Coleraine
in County Londonderry
and the seaside resort of Portrush
in County Antrim
. The line, which is operated by Northern Ireland Railways
, now has two intermediate stopping places and connects to the main Belfast-Derry line at Coleraine
.
and Portrush
during off peak hours and during peak hours a few extra services start and end at Great Victoria Street in Belfast
. On Sundays there is a reduced service running every two hours between Coleraine and Portrush.
The route has long been used by diesel multiple units and currently the weekday services are operated by the NIR 450 Class
apart from through services to and from Belfast. On Weekends the newer NIR 3000 Class
operate on the line as there is a spare set that fills in for the 450 Class set.
and the contractor and major sponsor of the line was William Dargan
. It was opened in 1855. In 1860 a junction with the Derry line was made at Coleraine, leaving the line from there to the terminus at Portrush
as a branch.
Winter services were suspended from 1960, but opening of the New University of Ulster
near Coleraine saw them restored, together with the addition of new halts at University
(1968) and Dhu Varren
(1969), to cater for student travel.
The intermediate station for Portstewart
(via the Portstewart Tramway) was located at Cromore and closed in 1964. It also reopened in 1968 but closed again in 1988.
Branch line
A branch line is a secondary railway line which branches off a more important through route, usually a main line. A very short branch line may be called a spur line...
in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
between the town of Coleraine
Coleraine
Coleraine is a large town near the mouth of the River Bann in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is northwest of Belfast and east of Derry, both of which are linked by major roads and railway connections...
in County Londonderry
County Londonderry
The place name Derry is an anglicisation of the old Irish Daire meaning oak-grove or oak-wood. As with the city, its name is subject to the Derry/Londonderry name dispute, with the form Derry preferred by nationalists and Londonderry preferred by unionists...
and the seaside resort of Portrush
Portrush
Portrush is a small seaside resort town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, on the County Londonderry border. The main part of the old town, including the railway station as well as most hotels, restaurants and bars, is built on a mile–long peninsula, Ramore Head, pointing north-northwest....
in County Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
. The line, which is operated by Northern Ireland Railways
Northern Ireland Railways
NI Railways, also known as Northern Ireland Railways and for a brief period of time, Ulster Transport Railways , is the railway operator in Northern Ireland...
, now has two intermediate stopping places and connects to the main Belfast-Derry line at Coleraine
Coleraine railway station
Coleraine railway station serves the town of Coleraine in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It shares facilities with the town's Ulsterbus bus depot.The station opened on 4 December 1855 and was closed for goods traffic on 4 January 1965...
.
Services
On weekdays (including Saturday) services run every hour between ColeraineColeraine
Coleraine is a large town near the mouth of the River Bann in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is northwest of Belfast and east of Derry, both of which are linked by major roads and railway connections...
and Portrush
Portrush
Portrush is a small seaside resort town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, on the County Londonderry border. The main part of the old town, including the railway station as well as most hotels, restaurants and bars, is built on a mile–long peninsula, Ramore Head, pointing north-northwest....
during off peak hours and during peak hours a few extra services start and end at Great Victoria Street in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
. On Sundays there is a reduced service running every two hours between Coleraine and Portrush.
The route has long been used by diesel multiple units and currently the weekday services are operated by the NIR 450 Class
NIR 450 Class
The Class 450 is a type of diesel multiple unit used by Northern Ireland Railways.-History:In the mid 1980s, Northern Ireland Railways was in the process of upgrading its rolling stock. Having already purchased three new locomotives, it then proceeded to purchase replacements for its Class 70...
apart from through services to and from Belfast. On Weekends the newer NIR 3000 Class
NIR 3000 Class
The Class 3000 is a class of diesel multiple unit in service with Northern Ireland Railways.-History:At the beginning of the 21st century, the majority of rail services in Northern Ireland continued to be operated using Class 80 DEMUs, which had been in service since the mid 1970s, and were...
operate on the line as there is a spare set that fills in for the 450 Class set.
History
The line was built as part of the Ballymena, Ballymoney, Coleraine and Portrush Junction Railway, authorised in 1853. The engineer was Charles LanyonCharles Lanyon
Sir Charles Lanyon DL, JP was an English architect of the 19th century. His work is most closely associated with Belfast, Northern Ireland.-Biography:Lanyon was born in Eastbourne, Sussex in 1813...
and the contractor and major sponsor of the line was William Dargan
William Dargan
William Dargan , an engineer, often seen as the father of Irish railways, came from Killeshin, County Laois, Ireland. Born in 1799, he constructed Ireland's first railway from Dublin to Dún Laoghaire in 1833. He constructed over of railway to important urban centres of Ireland...
. It was opened in 1855. In 1860 a junction with the Derry line was made at Coleraine, leaving the line from there to the terminus at Portrush
Portrush railway station
Portrush railway station is the terminus of the Northern Ireland Railways Coleraine-Portrush line serving the seaside town of Portrush, County Antrim, Northern Ireland.-History:The station, which is 67¾ miles from Belfast, was opened on 4 December 1855...
as a branch.
Winter services were suspended from 1960, but opening of the New University of Ulster
University of Ulster at Coleraine
The University of Ulster at Coleraine is the Coleraine campus of the University of Ulster. It houses the administrative headquarters of the university and is the most traditional in outlook, with a focus on science and the humanities. It was founded in 1968 as the New University of Ulster...
near Coleraine saw them restored, together with the addition of new halts at University
University (Coleraine) railway station
University halt is a halt serving the University of Ulster at Coleraine in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is within the townland of Ballysally in the north of Coleraine....
(1968) and Dhu Varren
Dhu Varren railway station
Dhu Varren is a railway halt in the townland of Glenmanus at the western edge of Portrush in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is an unstaffed halt on the Coleraine-Portrush railway line, less than a mile from the terminus, with a single platform....
(1969), to cater for student travel.
The intermediate station for Portstewart
Portstewart
Portstewart is a small town in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It had a population of 7,803 people in the 2001 Census. It is a seaside resort neighbouring Portrush. Of the two towns, Portstewart is decidedly quieter with more sedate attractions. Its harbour and scenic coastal paths form an...
(via the Portstewart Tramway) was located at Cromore and closed in 1964. It also reopened in 1968 but closed again in 1988.