New Rail Timetable Available
Go on take a lie in; Bangor to Belfast in 17 minutes, Lisburn to Belfast in 10 and up to 6 trains an hour...
19 May 2005
A radical and improved new rail timetable described as the first phase of an ‘all new rail service’ has been unveiled by Translink; the timetable will provide huge benefits to passengers and is in operation from 6 June 2005.
As Translink’s Chief Executive, Keith Moffatt explains; “Passengers travelling along the Bangor to Portadown rail corridor will benefit significantly from the first phase of our all new rail service programme. The line will eventually be operated entirely by our new C3K trains and will see six trains arriving every hour in peak periods; passengers will also enjoy express journey times from Belfast of 10 minutes to Lisburn, 17 minutes to Bangor and 33 minutes to Portadown.
“This new timetable is all about more trains, more seats and faster journeys to get people out of their cars and onto the railway. We have chosen the ‘Bangor to Portadown’ corridor to ‘show case’ the improvements due to the quality of track and geographical reach.
Mr Moffatt also explained; “Passengers will also notice that our on-going programme of station upgrades to enhance waiting facilities, signage, lighting and passenger information is well underway and will complement the new levels of customer care offered by our station staff who are proud of the new service we can offer and are happy to assist passengers needs.
He continued; “I know this new service will clearly demonstrate return on the recent investments in the railway network in Northern Ireland and clearly make the case for continued investment and network improvements.
Commenting on the L’Derry line Mr Moffatt said; “While service patterns to L’Derry remain unchanged for now, we look forward to significant improvements being introduced later in 2005 when we plan to introduce regular half hourly departures to and from Antrim. The funding to maintain services on the line which was announced by Government last year will also mean that we can address infrastructure and track renewal issues to benefit passengers in the longer term.
“This new rail service is all a part of our strategy to deliver growth in passenger numbers within the context of the Regional Transportation Strategy. The changes complement those already implemented in bus operations under Goldline and Metro and we are striving to deliver a growing integrated public transport network in the future.” He concluded.
The new rail timetables are available from local rail and bus stations. For further information passengers can call 028 90 66 66 30 or click www.translink.co.uk
Notes
Increases in Capacity:
Morning Peak:
Current Timetable 6th June 2005
Bangor to Belfast Central 9 services 2,000 seats 14 services 2,800 seats
Portadown to Gt Victoria Street 4 services 800 seats 9 services 2,000 seats
Lisburn to Gt Victoria Street 10 services 2,200 seats 13 services 2,800 seats
Evening Peak:
Current Timetable 6th June 2005
Belfast Central to Bangor 9 services 2,000 seats 14 services 2,800 seats
Gt Victoria Street to Portadown 6 services 1,200 seats 8 services 1,800 seats
Gt Victoria Street to Lisburn 8 services 1,600 seats 12 services 2,600 seats
How the timetable has changed:
• 20 New C3K trains have been delivered to date. 16 are currently in service. All 23 will be in service by the end of July 2005.
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