Templepatrick railway station
Encyclopedia
Templepatrick railway station was a railway station serving the village of Templepatrick
in County Antrim
on the line between Belfast
and Derry
. The station was opened in 1848 as part of the Belfast & Ballymena Railway, which would ultimately become part of the Northern Counties Committee
group of lines owned by the LMS
. Following the nationalisation of the railways, traffic on the line was reduced until eventually the route between Belfast and Londonderry was diverted via the Lisburn-Antrim railway line
, with the stations on the old route, including Templepatrick, closed. Templepatrick was closed in 1981.
In 1994, Northern Ireland Railways
gained funding approval for the restoration of the Bleach Green section of the Derry line, which would allow more direct services into the centre of Belfast. As part of this project, NIR planned to recommission two new stations, and Templepatrick. Mossley West opened in 2001, but as yet there has been no movement in a new station for Templepatrick. However, Translink
, the public company responsible for public transport in Northern Ireland
, has proposed to build a major transport interchange, featuring both a bus and railway station beside the M2
at Templepatrick. This would then potentially serve as a park and ride
for towns and villages in the area of South Antrim.
Templepatrick
Templepatrick is a village in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is northwest of Belfast, and halfway between the towns of Ballyclare and Antrim. It had a population of 1,556 in the 2001 Census. It is also close to Belfast International Airport and the village has several hotels...
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...
on the line between 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...
and Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
. The station was opened in 1848 as part of the Belfast & Ballymena Railway, which would ultimately become part of the Northern Counties Committee
Northern Counties Committee
The Northern Counties Committee was a railway that served the north-east of Ireland. It was built to Irish gauge but later acquired a number of narrow gauge lines...
group of lines owned by the LMS
London, Midland and Scottish Railway
The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four...
. Following the nationalisation of the railways, traffic on the line was reduced until eventually the route between Belfast and Londonderry was diverted via the Lisburn-Antrim railway line
Lisburn-Antrim railway line
The Lisburn–Antrim railway line is a line of Northern Ireland Railways. It links Knockmore Junction on the Belfast–Newry railway line with on the Belfast–Derry railway line.-History:The line opened in 1871 as the Dublin and Antrim Junction Railway...
, with the stations on the old route, including Templepatrick, closed. Templepatrick was closed in 1981.
In 1994, 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...
gained funding approval for the restoration of the Bleach Green section of the Derry line, which would allow more direct services into the centre of Belfast. As part of this project, NIR planned to recommission two new stations, and Templepatrick. Mossley West opened in 2001, but as yet there has been no movement in a new station for Templepatrick. However, Translink
Translink (Northern Ireland)
Translink is the brand name of the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company , a public corporation in Northern Ireland which provides the public transport in the region. NI Railways, Ulsterbus and Metro are all part of Translink....
, the public company responsible for public transport 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...
, has proposed to build a major transport interchange, featuring both a bus and railway station beside the M2
M2 motorway (Northern Ireland)
The M2 is a motorway in Belfast and County Antrim in Northern Ireland. It is in two sections, the southern section running from north Belfast to Antrim and the northern section acts as a bypass of Ballymena, with the A26 road linking the two sections. In total it is 22 miles...
at Templepatrick. This would then potentially serve as a park and ride
Park and ride
Park and ride facilities are car parks with connections to public transport that allow commuters and other people wishing to travel into city centres to leave their vehicles and transfer to a bus, rail system , or carpool for the rest of their trip...
for towns and villages in the area of South Antrim.