NI Railways facts for kids
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Class 3000 trains at Castlerock
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| Overview | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Main region(s) | Northern Ireland | ||
| Fleet size | 47 | ||
| Stations called at | 54 | ||
| Parent company | NITHCo (Translink) | ||
| Dates of operation | 1967– | ||
| Predecessor | Ulster Transport Authority | ||
| Technical | |||
| Track gauge | 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) Irish gauge | ||
| Electrification | Unelectrified Network | ||
| Length | 333 kilometres (207 mi) | ||
| Operating speed | Max Speed: 90 miles per hour (140 km/h) | ||
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NI Railways, also known as Northern Ireland Railways (NIR), is the main train company in Northern Ireland. It's part of a bigger transport group called Translink. Translink also runs buses like Ulsterbus and Metro.
NI Railways is special because it's one of the few train operators in the United Kingdom that is owned by the public. It also manages everything about its railway network itself. This includes running the trains, fixing them, and looking after the tracks.
The train tracks in Northern Ireland are different from those in Great Britain. They use a wider track size called Irish Gauge, just like in the Republic of Ireland. This means trains from Great Britain can't easily run on Northern Irish tracks.
NI Railways works with Iarnród Éireann, the train company in the Republic of Ireland, to run the special Enterprise train. This train connects Belfast and Dublin. In 2019, over 15 million people traveled with NI Railways!
Contents
History of NI Railways
For many years, until 1948, there were three main train companies in Northern Ireland. These were the Great Northern Railway Ireland (GNRI), the Northern Counties Committee (NCC), and the Belfast and County Down Railway (BCDR).
In 1948, a new company called the Ulster Transport Authority (UTA) was created. The UTA took over all these smaller railway companies. Under the UTA, the railway network in Northern Ireland became much smaller. It went from about 1,450 kilometers (900 miles) of track down to 362 kilometers (225 miles).
In 1967, the UTA was split up. The train parts became the company we know today: Northern Ireland Railways (NIR).
Challenges and New Trains
In the 1960s, the railway network faced many challenges. There were disruptions and damage to the tracks and trains during a difficult period known as the Troubles. This meant the trains and tracks became quite old and worn out. The last steam trains were stopped in 1970.
In 1970, NIR brought back the popular Enterprise train service between Dublin and Belfast. They used new diesel locomotives and carriages. Even with frequent interruptions, this service has continued to run.
As older trains were retired, new ones were introduced:
- The Class 80 trains arrived between 1974 and 1977. These trains were known for their unique "thumping" sound. They were used all over the network until 2012.
- In the 1980s, NIR bought some Class 111 diesel locomotives for freight and passenger use.
- More new trains, the 450 Class, were built between 1985 and 1987. These had sliding doors and were used until 2012.
- In 1994, NIR bought two Class 208 locomotives. These are used to pull the modern Enterprise trains.
Modernizing the Fleet
Since 2002, NI Railways has worked hard to get new, modern trains.
- They ordered 23 new Class 3000 diesel trains from a Spanish company called CAF. These trains arrived in 2004 and 2005. They offered more space and were easier to get on and off.
- Next, 20 more new trains, the Class 4000s, were built between 2010 and 2012. These trains helped replace all the older models.
- Recently, NI Railways bought 23 more carriages. These will make some of the Class 4000 trains longer, going from three cars to six cars. This will add much more space for passengers.
In 2021, Translink updated its logo and the logos for NI Railways, Ulsterbus, and Metro. The new design aims to look more modern and simple.
How NI Railways Performs
NI Railways is very good at getting trains to their destinations on time. According to recent figures, 99% of trains arrive within five minutes of their scheduled time, and 100% arrive within ten minutes.
In 2008, NI Railways even won the UK Rail Business of the Year Award!
In 2014–15, NI Railways carried 13.4 million passengers. This number grew to 15.8 million passenger journeys in 2018–2019, which was the highest in the company's 50-year history.
| Year | Total |
|---|---|
| 2010 - 2011 |  10.4 million |
| 2011 - 2012 | 10.7 million |
| 2012 - 2013 | 11.5 million |
| Final ageing 80 and 450 Class trains are replaced with modern C4K railcars | |
| 2013 - 2014 | 12.5 million |
| 2014 - 2015 | 13.4 million |
| 2015 - 2016 | 13.5 million |
| 2016 - 2017 | 14.2 million |
| 2017 - 2018 | 15.0 million |
| NI Railways' 50th Anniversary | |
| 2018 - 2019 | 15.8 million |
| COVID-19 pandemic begins, bringing with it long periods of travel restrictions | |
| 2019 - 2020 |  15.1 million |
| 2020 - 2021 | 3.3 million |
| 2021 - 2022 | 8.7 million |
| End of COVID-19 travel restrictions | |
| 2022 - 2023 | 11.5 million |
Trains Used by NI Railways
NI Railways uses different types of trains for passengers and for maintaining the tracks.
Current Trains
| Class | Image | Type | Top speed | Number Delivered | Routes operated | Built | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mph | km/h | ||||||
| Passenger trains | |||||||
| Class 3000 | _(cropped).jpg) |
Diesel multiple unit | 90 | 145 | 23 | Belfast – Derry~Londonderry Belfast – Newry Belfast – Bangor Belfast – Larne Coleraine – Portrush |
2003–2005 |
| Class 4000 |  |
20 | 2010–2012 | ||||
| Trains for track maintenance | |||||||
| Class 111 |  |
Diesel locomotive | 90 | 145 | 3 | Used for track work | 1980–1984 |
| IE 201 Class |  |
Diesel locomotive | 102 | 164 | 2 | Used for track work, and cross-border passenger services | 1994–1995 |
| MPV |  |
Diesel multiple unit | 62 | 100 | 1 | Used for special track cleaning (Sandite duties) | 2016 |
NI Railways also owns half of the special carriages used for the Enterprise service between Belfast and Dublin. These carriages have their own unique look.
Past Trains
| Class | Image | Type | Built | Withdrawn | Notes |
| Class Z |  |
Steam locomotive | 1949 | 1969 | These were steam trains. |
| Class WT |  |
1946–1950 | 1969–1971 | These steam trains were called "Jeeps" because they could do many different jobs. They were some of the last steam trains used in Ireland. | |
| AEC | _-_geograph.org.uk_-_991887.jpg) |
Diesel multiple unit | 1948–1950 | 1972 | 10 of these trains came from the UTA. |
| BUT |  |
1956–1958 | 1975–1980 | Some of these were changed to be pulled by other trains. | |
| MED |  |
1952–1954 | 1973–1978 | Used for local services around Belfast. | |
| MPD |  |
1957–1962 | 1981–1984 | Used for longer journeys and the Enterprise service. | |
| 70 Class |  |
1966–1968 | 1985–1986 | Passenger trains. Their engines were later used in the 450 Class trains. | |
| 80 Class |  |
1974–1979 | 2011–2017 | Passenger trains nicknamed 'Thumpers'. They were used on all routes. | |
| 101 Class |  |
Diesel locomotive | 1970 | 2002 | Used to pull the Enterprise trains. |
| 104 Class |  |
1956–1957 | 1997 | Six of these trains came from another company in 1986. | |
| 450 Class |  |
Diesel multiple unit | 1985–1987 | 2011–2012 | Passenger trains called the Castle Class by some fans. They were named after castles in Northern Ireland. |
| RB3 |  |
Diesel railcar | 1980 | 1990 | This was a test train. It is now kept at a railway museum. |
| Class 1 |  |
Diesel locomotive | 1969 | 1989 | These were shunting trains, used for moving carriages around. |
Train Routes
NI Railways runs trains on several lines:
- Belfast–Dublin line: This is the Enterprise service, connecting Belfast to Dublin. It runs with Iarnród Éireann.
- Belfast–Portadown line: Most trains on this line start from Bangor and go to Portadown. Some go to Lisburn or Newry during busy times.
- Belfast–Bangor line: Most trains here start from Portadown.
- Belfast–Larne line: This line runs along the coast and ends at Larne Harbour.
- Belfast–Derry line: This is the longest route. It connects the two main cities of Northern Ireland.
- Coleraine–Portrush line: This short line has only four stations and is often used by holidaymakers.
- Lisburn–Antrim line: This line has not had passenger trains since 2003. It is sometimes used if other lines are closed. There are plans to study if it can be reopened, possibly with a link to Belfast International Airport.
Train signals are controlled from different places: Coleraine (for Coleraine to Portrush), Portadown (for the border to Lisburn), and Belfast Lanyon Place (for Lisburn to Belfast and the rest of the network).
Train Services
NI Railways runs regular passenger trains on weekdays:
Northern Ireland Railways  |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Route | tph | Calling at | |
| Newry and Portadown – Bangor | 2 |
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| Belfast Great Victoria Street – Whitehead (and Larne Harbour) | 2 |
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| Belfast Great Victoria Street – Derry~Londonderry | 1 |
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| Coleraine – Portrush | 1 |
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| Enterprise | |||
| Route | tph | Calling at | |
| Belfast Lanyon Place – Dublin Connolly | 1⁄2 |
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Future of NI Railways
Improving railways in Northern Ireland is important for the economy and for reducing traffic on roads. One big challenge for NI Railways is having enough trains, especially during busy times. If a train breaks down, it can cause delays across the whole network.
Since 1998, the Northern Ireland Assembly has invested a lot of money to make improvements. This included buying the new Class 3000 trains and upgrading the tracks on the Belfast-Larne line.
There are many ideas for how to make the railway network even better:
- Reopening old railway lines that are currently closed, like the Lisburn-Antrim railway line.
- Improving the tracks on the Belfast-Derry~Londonderry line. This would allow more trains to run and at faster speeds.
Some groups want to protect old railway routes where the tracks have been removed. They hope these lines can be put back in the future to help people travel to work and school, instead of building more roads.
In 2008, a proposal called Northern Ireland Network Enhancement (NINE) suggested a big expansion of the network. This would bring train services back to towns like Omagh, Strabane, and Dungannon.
Translink also plans to introduce a new ticketing system. This will include ticket machines at stations and a "smart card" system, similar to what is used in other places, where you can tap your card to pay.
Track Improvements
The railway network mostly focuses on Greater Belfast. The lines to Bangor and Larne have been recently upgraded, which helps trains run on time.
The line between Belfast and Derry~Londonderry is mostly a single track. This means trains have to wait for each other, which makes journeys slower. The journey by train takes longer than by bus. Groups are pushing for better rail links to the North West to help the economy.
In 2007, the government announced plans to upgrade the Belfast-Londonderry line north of Coleraine. This project, costing £64 million, started in 2011 and finished in 2016. It included new signals and a new crossing loop to allow more trains. The goal is to reduce journey times between Belfast and Derry~Londonderry by up to 30 minutes and have more frequent services.
There are also plans to improve the Belfast-Dublin line to make journeys faster and more frequent, possibly allowing an hourly Enterprise service.
Airport Connections
There are ongoing discussions about reopening the Lisburn-Antrim railway line. This line passes close to Belfast International Airport. The airport itself has listed a new train station as a future plan. Having a train link to the airport would make it easier for travelers and help the local economy.
There have also been calls for a train station near City of Derry Airport. However, the government believes there aren't enough passengers using that airport to justify a new station right now.
Future Trains
The new Class 3000 trains were a success, but they mostly replaced older trains rather than adding more. To run more frequent services, NI Railways needs more trains and better tracks.
The "New Trains Two" project bought 20 new Class 4000 trains. These replaced the remaining older trains and added more capacity. The first of these trains started running in 2011.
In 2021, Translink announced a new plan to have zero-emission trains by 2040. As part of this, NI Railways plans to buy new trains from 2026 to 2027. These new trains will likely be "bi-mode" or "tri-mode," meaning they can use different types of power, and some will be for the Enterprise service, focusing on low-carbon technology.
Images for kids
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Logo used from 1987 to 1996
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Extended train 4017 at Portadown.
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Class 3000 units at Great Victoria Street.
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Remains of an old railway bridge, Ballybrannon Road, Armagh.
See also
- Rail transport in Ireland
- History of rail transport in Ireland
