The railway line between Ballymena and Coleraine was re-opened to passengers today (Monday 29th June) following a 13 week closure to facilitate track relay work.
This work concludes the next phase of a £12.5 million Londonderry Railway Line Upgrade Project and aims to improve passenger experience of train travel. The Londonderry railway line has seen significant growth in passenger numbers and is now carry ca
rrying over one million passengers per year. Translink Infrastructure Executive Clive Bradberry believes that these latest improvements will encourage more people to choose the train:
"We are pleased to complete this work on schedule and on budget. It marks real progress for our customers who can now enjoy a range of benefits including more comfortable, smoother and quieter train journeys as well as the maintenance of high safety standards. We have taken advantage of longer days and better weather conditions to complete the work efficiently and are ready for the expected increased volumes of summer traffic particularly with our range of summer fare deals which will be available from 1st July.
"We plan to introduce a new timetable this autumn to allow this new track time to settle. Passengers can then expect faster journeys with the removal of current speed restrictions so that trains can run at an optimum 70mph. To realise the full benefit of this project there is more work to be done on the line. Further investment is required to complete the wider renewals project, which will see passing loops constructed and signalling equipment upgraded, and could deliver an hourly timetable service on the Londonderry line.
"I would like to thank passengers for their continued patience and co-operation throughout the project and remind the local community to take care when using local crossings and impress upon young people the dangers of playing near railway lines, especially due to the quieter trains now in operation. I would also like to thank the Department for Regional Development for their commitment to improving the local rail network and the European Union for part financing this work through the Trans European Transport Network.," concluded Mr Bradberry.
Londonderry Line passengers are reminded that train services will now revert to the December 2008 Translink NI Railways timetable. Weekly and monthly fare changes, deferred during the closure period, will be introduced from June 30. For further information click www.translink.co.uk/derrylineupgrade.asp or call (028) 9066 6630.
