The Future of Northern Ireland's Railways | A Meeting with Translink

Today's video is a break from the Glider series as I recently had a meeting with ‪@TranslinkNI‬ that required me to hastily put this video together.
I hope you enjoy the plethora of information that was granted to me by the Translink team, and thank you to Graeme Smyth who initially suggested the idea of meeting for a chat.
I look forward to working together with Translink in the future!
Our Twitter: FundTheNINE
Our Instagram: fund_the_nine
Our Facebook: people/Fund-The-NINE/100088717765301
Intro 0:00
The Knockmore Line 01:18
Belfast Grand Central Station 03:46
Belfast - Londonderry Dualling 05:26
Portadown - Armagh Rail Connection 07:09
Enterprise Fleet Replacement & Line Electrification 07:48
Translink Future Ticketing System 09:27
Additional Notes 11:17
Outro 11:59
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DISCLAIMER: All media featured in our videos are found readily available online. If you have any issues with the content in this video or want credited for an image or other piece of media, then please feel free to get in touch at [e-mail]
#FundTheNINE #Translink #TranslinkNI #NIRailways #Railways #Railway #Trains #Buses #Enterprise #NorthernIreland #NI #UK #Belfast #Dublin #DFI #Construction #Infrastructure #Future #NIExecutive #AIRR #Ireland #IrishRail #IarnrodEireann #BelfastGrandCentralStation #KnockmoreLine #OpenKnockmore #Bi-Mode #Armagh #TVMs #TFTS #TicketBarriers

[@travelbyplanestrainsandcruise]

Well done, your doing a great service to the people of Northern Ireland 👍

[@fundthenine]

Thank you very much! Our goal is to keep the public informed, educated and invigorated about the future of our public transport network. Without public support, none of what we do would be possible!

[@howardwilliamsmith]

Excellent and very interesting. Exciting in fact! Do you think the spur to actually connect to the Belfast International airport building is in their plans or do we need to await the feasibility study?

[@fundthenine]

I would say awaiting the feasibility study is the best bet. It will be what decides whether there is a spur, with a station built onto the departures terminal, or whether they just put a halt on the side of the tracks and shuttlebus people to & from the terminal.

[@RunawayTrain2502]

Would the doubleing of the (London)Derry line also enable Direct Belfast - Portrush service? (and re-opening of Portstewart Railway Station)

[@fundthenine]

Such an idea was not discussed, but there are already a few Belfast - Portrush services as of current. Any expansion to that service would need to see a serious increase in demand or an opportunity to induce demand.

[@gavinbamford1095]

Lisburn West station was not mentioned in this summary presentation. What did the Translink team have to say about its development? Lisburn platform 3 extension is another project on which there has been little comment.

[@fundthenine]

I did not mention Lisburn West as I have already been briefed on it by MLA David Honeyford. In essence, Translink have two projects in that area awaiting to commece. Moria's new Park & Ride and Lisburn West Station. Whichever project starts first will be given full attention, with Lisburn West due to be open by 2026.

[@tanyacoulter3907]

Great summary :) Lisburn West can't come fast enough!

[@fundthenine]

@@tanyacoulter3907 I couldn't agree more! Hopefully it takes precedence over the Moira Park & Ride, as in my personal opinion the new station is vastly more important to the local population.

[@Parso77]

@@fundthenine I would say Moira is pretty important - it's a growing town with no road bypass, so rail/bus links are essential.

[@fundthenine]

@@Parso77 Of course, but Lisburn is in dire need of a new railway station. Those living in the West of Lisburn are seriously disadvantaged when it comes to getting to a rail connection.

[@bill-a-bongbill6228]

could this open up a enterpise service type or a intercity for derry/londonderry to dublin service via the knockmore line with bimode trains?? That could services the international airport also

[@fundthenine]

No plans for such a service as of current, but if anything develops in that aspect I will be sure to post an update!

[@legoinventions6056]

Any idea what the electrification voltage would be? 25kV AC would be the standard but maybe they'd adopt 1.5kV DC to match the Dublin area electrification? Probably multi-voltage trains would be the best option.

[@fundthenine]

Rather embarassingly they did tell me what electrification method they were going to use, as it has already been agreed upon. But due to the fast-paced nature of the meeting and me not wanting to waste time as we were on a very limited schedule, I forgot to jot it down in the moment and carried on. I will get in contact with Translink and see if they can provide an answer, to which then I will get back to you.

[@legoinventions6056]

@@fundthenine don’t go out of your way, but would be interesting to find out!

[@fundthenine]

@@legoinventions6056 Email sent, awaiting response!

[@davidlally592]

Mm it would seem better to adopt 25KV AC ..tho this would mean the Dublin DART would have to be rewired from the old existing DC system, it currently has..

[@done-ahhh578]

I'm placing my bets that the Enterprise will get IET based stock and the bimode NIR trains will be FLIRTs

[@fundthenine]

If you end up being right I'll buy you a pint hahaha

[@davidlally592]

If IETs, make sure Hitachi dont leave both NIR and IE with the same problems that GWR have..!!

[@nirailwaystrainspooterbelf3134]

The knockmore line should be opend to avoid pressure at lanyon so derry trains can terminate at lisburn and go express to antrim until gvs is completed then open the stations along the line

[@nitrainspotter7622]

Derry trains should Not go to Lisburn under any circumstances

[@nirailwaystrainspooterbelf3134]

@@nitrainspotter7622 why they went in 2014 and 2012 when there were works at mossely west

[@samuelknox2613]

Ever wonder if they will rebuild Queens Quay Railway station in 100 years time? 😁

[@jonathandavis6800]

No word about reopening the derry to enniskillen railway line 😕

[@fundthenine]

That was not part of the meeting as it was a focus on our campaign efforts.

[@minecraftbuilds1960]

Its pretty ridiculous that Translink still are not commited to the North-West, the line from Derry-Belfast should be dualled all the way to Derry to allow for a North West commuter service to run between Waterside station and coleraine, calling at new halts at strathfoyle, LDY, Ballykelly, Limavady etc. Translink should also have reviewed the opening of the Letterkenny-Derry-Portadown Line, as this would be hugely significant to all of NI, with so many of the countrys towns cut off from the network reinstated, such as Omagh, Strabane, Dungannon Etc. It would also allow electrified services between Derry and Belfast and the potential for through services from the North West to Dublin.

[@fundthenine]

Translink have plans to reopen the Portadown - Omagh line, but its more of a pipedream as of current. Translink would gladly do all of that and more, but horrendously poor government support & funding, combined with us having no Executive, means that Translink really do have their hands ties and are at the mercy of the DFI.

[@Parso77]

@@fundthenine You also have to balance the practical viability of a rail service to specific halts versus a bus service which can stop almost anywhere. Even what you have outlined, which in practice runs to the late 2030s, is phenomenally expensive and, frankly, I'm doubtful we'll see it all completed. But, as you imply, I think we should commend Translink for what is a realistic vision - here's hoping!

[@minecraftbuilds1960]

@@fundthenine Honestly, if Translink's funding is so tight, would it not be smarter to Invest the upgrade of a clearly overcrowded line, which is becoming more overcrowded as the years progress, Derry/Londonderry train station has seen passengers grow from 96k per year in 2003 to over 750k last year. surely it would be far more economical to upgrade that line rather than reopening the knockmore Line and electrifying the Bangor line, which already has a completely sufficient service, unlike the one the north west has which is far below standard for a developed western European nation

[@fundthenine]

@@minecraftbuilds1960 Well they want to, but there's no executive. There's nobody to sign off any further projects like the Coleraine - Londonderry track renewal which has been on ice for a while thanks to an insufficient government.

[@TheHoveHeretic]

Re: doubling and reopening / provision of stations, may I offer two words for your consideration? "Passive Provision" would ensure no current construction precludes future expansion.

[@fundthenine]

Unfortunately 'forward thinking' is in short supply here in NI. But Translink have made strides to ensure any future expansions/upgrades are not complicated by other developments.

[@TheHoveHeretic]

​@@fundthenineWere it otherwise, the Derry Road would still be with us. The policies of the UTA regarding rail were ....... (know what? I'm hard pushed to express my views concerning the UTA in a manner fit for publicly visible comments!).

[@RailsandSky]

Can someone please tell me what NINE stands for.

[@fundthenine]

N.I.N.E is the acronym for the 'Northern Ireland Network Enhancement'. The N.I.N.E was a proposal by Dublin based independent transport researcher, Brian Guckian. Brian put forward a framework to the Northern Ireland Executive as to how they could rebuild Northern Ireland's railway network, restoring basically every former mainline service to their former glory. The NI Executive essentially ignored the proposal, and little is known about the details of the plan, apart from a few rare news articles from the time, and a map that was published of the proposal. Brian has reportedly passed away in 2015, but FundTheNINE believes his ideals were very ahead of their time, and that we wish to see the N.I.N.E finally realised after all these years. Hope this helps your query!

[@RailsandSky]

@@fundthenine Thank you so much for your very informative reply.

[@fundthenine]

@@RailsandSky Not a problem, I understand that the campaign name is confusing to most people. So explaining it comes part in parcel haha

[@michaelcoleman6198]

I think that it is a big mistake to take the rail lines and platforms away from Great Victoria Street. What is the point of moving farther out from the city centre, europa etc . Example , a future train traveller from the airport will now have a longer walk if he / she is staying in the Europa , not thought through .

[@fundthenine]

Grand Central Station will be less than 500ft from Great Victoria Street Station, the additional walking distance will to Great Victoria Street will be even less. Also, Grand Central Station is set to have 8 platforms, 4 more than GVS currently has. Without GCS, our railway network cannot be expanded or upgraded as GVS is far too tiny and constrained.

[@michaelcoleman6198]

They should have kept 4 or even 2 at GVS Station and create platforms in the new location. Both could have co existed .

[@ewanduffy]

To electrify Dublin Belfast as is with the existing curves at Drogheda, Poyntzpass and Portadown is a bad move.

[@AndalusianIrish]

Why? Please elaborate.

[@fundthenine]

Translink have plans to rectify that, but electrification must happen ASAP.

[@ewanduffy]

@@AndalusianIrish the 3 curves slow down traffic permanently and in an ideal world, would not exist. If you spend taxpayers' money electrifying these sections, you have effectively declared them to be a permanent feature of your network.

[@ewanduffy]

@@fundthenine Do IR have plans for Drogheda? I doubt it and either the development of Drogheda as a commuter town for Dublin, I doubt a viable route past Drogheda exists any more.

[@fundthenine]

@@ewanduffy The entire NIR network will eventually be electric, so having the Portadown line electrified after the Enterprise takes a new route wouldn't matter as NIR will have electric trains for regional journeys by the end of the decade anyway. Furthermore, I have not yet reached out to IR in any regard, as very little of their developments could/would impact Northern Ireland.

[@paulmccausland996]

Nothing for Tyrone and Fermanagh as usual

[@fundthenine]

These projects do not represent the overall scope of what Translink wish to accomplish. There is a lot in the works to restore rail to Tyrone, Fermanagh and other parts of County Armagh, but these projects are much more massive in scale and are thus under wraps and slated to take longer to complete. I hope this helps.