Major work to enhance NI’s Rail Infrastructure this Christmas - Passengers advised to plan ahead

Translink will be carrying out essential engineering work on the railway line between Belfast and Portadown this Christmas, with a line closure planned from Monday 25^th December until Monday 1^st January 2024 inclusive between Belfast Great Victoria Street and Portadown stations.

Translink will undertake multiple project works during this closure period. The main work will see the continuation of a major signalling upgrade at Lisburn.  In addition, there will be essential engineering works in the Belfast area for the new Belfast Grand Central Station and platform extension work at Derriaghy Station.

Bus substitution services will be in place for local rail passengers between Belfast and Portadown with cross-border Enterprise passengers transferred between Belfast Lanyon Place and Newry by coach. Normal rail services will operate between Portadown and Dublin Connolly.

Passengers are advised to check the website, www.translink.co.uk or Journey Planner before they travel, and allow extra time for their journey.

Announcing this year’s work, Translink’s John Glass, Director of Infrastructure and Projects said:

‘‘We are undertaking a significant investment programme to upgrade and protect Northern Ireland’s rail infrastructure. The upgrade works in the Lisburn area have made good progress already, and this intensive engineering period will ensure the timely completion of this project. 

“Our engineers will be working throughout the festive period, maximising our resources to also complete additional engineering works for Belfast Grand Central Station and Derriaghy to minimise future passenger impact.

“This tried and tested approach has been carefully planned to take advantage of the lower passenger numbers an minimise disruption.

“Our teams will be hosting pop-up information days at stations along the line during December, and I encourage the public to come and meet with them to find out more about these works and the impact.

“I want to thank all our passengers and local neighbours for their support and patience as we progress these essential works”, John concluded.

Passengers and residents seeking further details on this work:
Visit: www.translink.co.uk/lineimprovements
Project pages Lisburn Area Renewals – www.translink.co.uk/LAR
Belfast Grand Central Station – www.translink.co.uk/bth
Attend the passenger pop-up information days at the following stations:

• Lanyon Place – Tuesday 5^th Dec, 7am-9am
• Botanic – Tuesday 5^th Dec, 4pm-6pm
• Great Victoria Street – Wednesday 6^th Dec, 7am-9am
• Lisburn – Wednesday 6^th Dec, 4pm-6pm
• Portadown – Monday 11^th Dec, 4pm-6pm
• Lurgan – Tuesday 12^th Dec, 7am-9am
• Newry –  12^th Dec, 4pm-6pm

A holiday timetable will be in place, with no services operating on Monday 25^th December or Tuesday 26^th December.

Portadown line: Monday 25^th December 2023 until Monday 1^st January 2024

• Line closure between Belfast Great Victoria Street and Portadown
• Bus substitution will operate between Belfast Great Victoria Street and Portadown, servicing Adelaide, Balmoral, Finaghy, Dunmurry, Derriaghy, Lambeg, Hilden, Lisburn, Moira and Lurgan.
• Bus substitutions will operate from main road bus stops.
• Limited bus substitutions will extend to and from Newry, via Scarva and Poyntzpass 
• In Poyntzpass, a bus substitution will depart Church Street
• In Scarva, a bus substitution will depart Station Road
• Please check before you travel, as bus substitution times may differ from usual scheduled rail departure times.
• Train tickets will also be valid for use on Ulsterbus and Metro scheduled services.
• A shuttle service will operate between Belfast Lanyon Place and Great Victoria Street.
• Botanic and City Hospital Stations will also be closed during this period. 
• Normal services between Belfast and Bangor, Larne, Portrush and Derry~Londonderry. 

Enterprise: 27^th December 2023 until Monday 1^st January 2024

• Enterprise services will operate as normal between Portadown and Dublin Connolly.
• Coach substitution services will operate from Belfast Lanyon Place to Newry
• Return trains from Dublin will connect with substitution services at Newry for Belfast Lanyon Place. 
• Passengers should expect delays of up to 30 minutes on arrival times at Belfast Lanyon Place.
• We would advise passengers with accessibility requirements to contact us at least 24 hours in advance of travel so that we can try to ensure the bus substitution service can best accommodate your needs.