Rail Transport in Northern Ireland - Northern Ireland Railways - G

Rail Transport in Northern Ireland - G

Northern Ireland Railways

The potential to reopen a number of railway lines in Northern Ireland has included speculation on such lines as the line between Antrim and Castledawson.

The reopening of the third line between Great Victoria Street and Adelaide may be tied into the proposed Belfast Transport Hub.

In July 2020, during a North/South Ministerial Council meeting, it was proposed to undertake a feasibility study on a possible high-speed line between Belfast and Cork via Dublin.

Ireland Station Changes

In February 2018 the Irish Independent reported that the National Transport Authority favoured building four new DART stations, three linked to a new DART operation from Heuston, including near Cross Guns Bridge in Cabra, within Glasnevin, and at a Docklands location, along with a new station north of Bray, at Woodbrook. Calls to open or reopen stations on existing lines have included proposals for Kishoge railway station, which (as of 2019) was structurally complete but had yet to be opened.

In Northern Ireland, Translink have proposed new transport hubs in both Belfast and Derry.

Ireland Rolling Stock

In 2017, increasing demand led Iarnród Éireann to issue tenders for the refurbishment of 10 2700 class sets, which had been held in storage for 6 years with the intention of planned use around Limerick from early 2019. The displaced trains are intended for use in the Greater Dublin Area.

As of early 2018, Iarnród Éireann proposed to place an order for new DART stock capable of running off diesel or electric.

As of 2018, NI Railways had plans to invest in a third wave of new trains to meet growing demand.

As of 2018, a campaign was underway to preserve four 80 Class vehicles at the Downpatrick and County Down Railway, with hopes of bringing them to the heritage railway by the end of 2018. Also in 2018, one of the two Cavan and Leitrim Railway steam locomotives, No. 3 ''Lady Edith'', was proposed to be repatriated by the West Clare Railway (from the New Jersey Museum of Transportation).

Rail Transport in Ireland Operation

Ireland Major Operators: Iarnród Éireann & NIR
Ireland Ridership:
50 million (Republic of Ireland, 2019)
15 million (Northern Ireland, 2017)
Ireland System Length Total: 2,733 km (1,698 mi)
Ireland Electrified Lines: 53 km (33 mi)
Ireland Freight Only Lines: 362 km (225 mi)
Ireland MainTrack Gauge: 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in)
Ireland Electrification:
1500 V DC DART in Dublin
Ireland No. Stations: 147