Ballymena railway station

Last updated

Ballymena
Logomark NI Railways.svg
Ballymena (2).jpg
General information
Location Ballymena
Northern Ireland
Coordinates 54°51′51″N6°17′5″W / 54.86417°N 6.28472°W / 54.86417; -6.28472
Owned by NI Railways
Operated by NI Railways
Line(s) Derry~Londonderry
Platforms2
Tracks2
Construction
Structure typeAt-grade
Key dates
11 April 1848Original station opened
4 December 1855Station relocated
1904Rebuilt
1981Current station opened
2008Refurbished
Passengers
2022/23661,364 [1]
Route map
NI Railways network.svg
(Click to expand)
Year
closed
BSicon exKBHFa.svg
Great Victoria Street
2024
BSicon KINTa.svg
BSicon exSTR.svg
Belfast Grand Central NIRsymbol Bangor.svg NIRsymbol Dublin.svg NIRsymbol Larne.svg NIRsymbol Newry.svg
BSicon bSHI2+rxl.svg
BSicon CONTgq.svg
BSicon ABZgr+r.svg
BSicon INT.svg
City Hospital NIRsymbol Bangor.svg NIRsymbol Larne.svg
BSicon INT.svg
Botanic NIRsymbol Bangor.svg NIRsymbol Larne.svg
BSicon INT.svg
Lanyon Place NIRsymbol Bangor.svg NIRsymbol Larne.svg
BSicon hbKRZWae.svg
BSicon CONTgq.svg
BSicon ABZgr.svg
BSicon dWASSERq.svg
BSicon hKRZWa.svg
BSicon dWASSERq.svg
BSicon hSTRe.svg
BSicon INT.svg
York Street NIRsymbol Larne.svg
BSicon eHST.svg
Yorkgate
2024
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon KDSTa.svg
York Road depot
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon eBHF.svg
York Road
1992
BSicon ABZg+l.svg
BSicon STRr.svg
BSicon STR+l.svg
BSicon ABZgr.svg
BSicon KDSTe.svg
BSicon STR.svg
Fortwilliam Traincare Depot
BSicon pBHF.svg
Whiteabbey NIRsymbol Larne.svg
BSicon CONTgq.svg
BSicon ABZgr.svg
BSicon exCONTgq.svg
BSicon eABZg+r.svg
1963
BSicon eHST.svg
Monkstown
1981
BSicon eHST.svg
Mossley
1982
BSicon BHF.svg
Mossley West
BSicon eHST.svg
Ballyclare Junction
1961
BSicon exCONTgq.svg
BSicon eABZgr.svg
Ballyclare branch line
to Lisnalinchy, Ballyclare
1930
BSicon eHST.svg
Ballyrobert
1920
BSicon eHST.svg
Doagh
1970
BSicon eBHF.svg
Templepatrick
1981
BSicon eHST.svg
Dunadry
1954
BSicon eHST.svg
Muckamore
1961
BSicon ABZg+l.svg
BSicon CONTfq.svg
BSicon BHF.svg
Antrim
BSicon eHST.svg
Cookstown Junction
1976
BSicon eABZgl.svg
BSicon exCONTfq.svg
1955
BSicon eHST.svg
Kellswater
1971
BSicon eHST.svg
Andraid
1850
BSicon exdCONTgq.svg
BSicon STR~L.svg
BSicon exSTR+r.svg
BSicon STR~R.svg
1950
BSicon exdBHF-L.svg
BSicon dBHF-R.svg
Ballymena
BSicon exdCONTgq.svg
BSicon STR~L.svg
BSicon exSTRr.svg
BSicon STR~R.svg
1940
BSicon BHF.svg
Cullybackey
BSicon eHST.svg
Glarryford
1973
BSicon eHST.svg
Killagan
1973
BSicon eHST.svg
Dunloy
1976
BSicon exdKBHFa-L.svg
BSicon dBHF-R.svg
Ballymoney
BSicon exdCONTgq.svg
BSicon STR~L.svg
BSicon exSTRr.svg
BSicon STR~R.svg
1950
BSicon eABZg+l.svg
BSicon exCONTfq.svg
1950
BSicon eHST.svg
Macfin
1954
BSicon INT.svg
Coleraine NIRsymbol Portrush.svg
BSicon eABZgl.svg
BSicon exKDSTeq.svg
Coleraine Harbour
1963
BSicon CONTgq.svg
BSicon ABZgr.svg
BSicon hbKRZWae.svg
BSicon eABZg+l.svg
BSicon exKBHFeq.svg
Coleraine Waterside
1861
BSicon eHST.svg
Barmouth
1856
BSicon BHF.svg
Castlerock
BSicon TUNNEL2.svg
Castlerock Tunnel
BSicon TUNNEL2.svg
Downhill Tunnel
BSicon eHST.svg
Downhill
1973
BSicon eHST.svg
Umbra
1861
BSicon eHST.svg
Magilligan
1976
BSicon BHF.svg
Bellarena
BSicon hbKRZWae.svg
BSicon eABZg+l.svg
BSicon exCONTfq.svg
BSicon eHST.svg
Limavady Junction
1976
BSicon eHST.svg
Ballykelly
1954
BSicon eHST.svg
Carrichue
1954
BSicon eHST.svg
Faughanvale
1859
BSicon eHST.svg
Eglinton
1973
BSicon hbKRZWae.svg
BSicon KBHFe.svg
Derry~Londonderry
Location
United Kingdom Northern Ireland adm location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Ballymena
Location in Northern Ireland
Island of Ireland location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Ballymena
Location on the Island of Ireland
Ballymena railway station

Ballymena railway station serves the town of Ballymena in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is located just outside Ballymena town centre on the Galgorm Road, and is integrated with the local bus station. It is situated on the Derry line between Antrim and Cullybackey. The station is operated by Northern Ireland Railways.

Contents

History

The first station in Ballymena opened on 11 April 1848 by the Belfast and Ballymena Railway. [3] This initial station was rebuilt and relocated on 4 December 1855[ citation needed ] when the Ballymena, Ballymoney, Coleraine and Portrush Junction Railway extended the line northwards.

At one time, there were several other stations in the Ballymena area, however the only other one which survives to this day is Cullybackey.

In addition to mainline services between Belfast York Road and Coleraine, the station provided a terminus for two narrow gauge railways:

The station buildings were rebuilt in 1903-1904 [4] to designs by Berkeley Deane Wise. The rebuilding cost in excess of £15,000 (equivalent to £2,041,387 in 2023). [5] The clock was provided by Sharman D. Neill of Belfast, and iron water storage towers were constructed by Cowan Sheldon and Company of Carlisle. On 19 May 1921 the station suffered an arson attack by the Irish Republican Army.

The original station buildings were removed in 1981-1982 during a modernisation programme by Northern Ireland Railways.

Ballymena railway station - geograph.org.uk - 2357186.jpg
Station exterior
Rebuilding Ballymena station - (2) - geograph.org.uk - 2474111.jpg
Platform 1 during rebuilding works
Ballymena station in 1980 prior to the 1981 modernisation
Railway station, Ballymena - geograph.org.uk - 2428572.jpg

Current services

Ballymena railway station consists of two platforms and serves as a passing point on the mainly single-track Belfast–Derry line.

On Mondays to Saturdays, there is an hourly service to Belfast Grand Central. In the other direction, there is an hourly service to Derry~Londonderry, with the last service terminating at Coleraine.

On Sundays services alternate between going to Derry~Londonderry or Portrush and the last service terminating at Coleraine. In the other direction there is an hourly service to Belfast Grand Central.

Future plans involve the reinstatement of the original double-track between Antrim and Ballymena.

Preceding station  Logomark NI Railways.svg Northern Ireland Railways  Following station
Antrim   Northern Ireland Railways
Belfast-Derry
  Cullybackey
  Historical railways  
Andraid
Line open, station closed
  Belfast and Ballymena Railway
York Road-Ballymena
 Terminus
Terminus  Ballymena, Ballymoney,
Coleraine and
Portrush Junction Railway

Ballymena-Portrush
  Cullybackey
Line and station open
Terminus  Ballymena, Cushendall
and Red Bay Railway

Ballymena-Retreat
  Ballygarvey
Line and station closed
Terminus  Ballymena and Larne Railway
Ballymena-Larne
  Kells
Line and station closed

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NI Railways</span> Parastatal rail transport organisation of Northern Ireland (NIR)

NI Railways, also known as Northern Ireland Railways, is the railway operator in Northern Ireland. NIR is a subsidiary of Translink, whose parent company is the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company (NITHCo), and is one of nine publicly owned train operators in the United Kingdom, the others being Direct Rail Services, Caledonian Sleeper, Northern Trains, Transport for Wales Rail, Southeastern, LNER, ScotRail, and TransPennine Express. It has a common Board of Management with the other two companies in the group, Ulsterbus and Metro.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lanyon Place railway station</span> Station in Belfast, Northern Ireland

Belfast Lanyon Place is a railway station serving the city of Belfast in Northern Ireland. Located on East Bridge Street in the Laganside area of central Belfast, it is one of four stations in the city centre, the others being City Hospital, Botanic, and Belfast Grand Central.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Derry ~ Londonderry railway station</span> Railway station in Northern Ireland

Derry ~ Londonderry railway station, also known as North West Transport Hub or Waterside railway station, is a railway terminus in Derry, Northern Ireland, on the east bank of the River Foyle, operated by Northern Ireland Railways and its 7th busiest station across the network with 952,126 passengers boarding or alighting at the station in the 2023/24 financial year. It is on the Belfast–Derry railway line, terminating at Belfast Grand Central. Derry/Londonderry has the longest platforms on the NIR Network, at 258.3 metres in length.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coleraine railway station</span> Station in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland

Coleraine railway station serves the town of Coleraine in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It shares facilities with the town's Ulsterbus bus depot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lisburn railway station</span> Station in County Antrim, Northern Ireland

Lisburn railway station serves the city of Lisburn in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antrim railway station</span> Station in County Antrim, Northern Ireland

Antrim railway station opened 1848 and serves the town of Antrim in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belfast–Derry line</span> Northern Irish railway line

The Belfast–Derry line is an intercity railway line, running from Belfast to Derry in Northern Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coleraine–Portrush line</span> Railway line in Northern Ireland

The Coleraine–Portrush line is a short railway branch line in Northern Ireland between the town of Coleraine in County Londonderry and the seaside resort of Portrush in County Antrim. The line, which is operated by NI Railways, has two intermediate halts and connects to the main Belfast–Derry line at Coleraine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dhu Varren railway station</span> Railway station in Portrush, Northern Ireland

Dhu Varren is a railway halt in the townland of Glenmanus at the western edge of Portrush in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is an unstaffed halt on the Coleraine-Portrush railway line, less than a mile from the terminus, with a single platform.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portrush railway station</span> Station in County Antrim, Northern Ireland

Portrush railway station is the terminus of the Coleraine-Portrush railway line and serves the seaside town of Portrush, County Antrim, Northern Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ballymoney railway station</span> Railway station in Ballymoney, Northern Ireland

Ballymoney railway station serves the town of Ballymoney in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cullybackey railway station</span> Railway station in County Antrim, Northern Ireland

Cullybackey railway station serves the village of Cullybackey in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mossley West railway station</span> Railway station in Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland

Mossley West railway station is located in the townland of Ballyhenry in the north of Newtownabbey, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, owned and operated by NI Railways, a subsidiary of Translink.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whiteabbey railway station</span> Railway station in Northern Ireland

Whiteabbey Railway Station serves the village of Whiteabbey in Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yorkgate railway station</span> Station in Belfast, Northern Ireland

Yorkgate railway station served the north of the city of Belfast, Northern Ireland. The station opened in 1992, replacing the previous York Road railway station nearby. The station was in turn replaced by the nearby York Street station in 2024, with the new station re-using the existing platforms of Yorkgate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moira railway station</span> Railway station in County Down, Northern Ireland

Moira railway station serves Moira in County Down, Northern Ireland. Despite the station serving the County Down town, the station itself is located in County Antrim, the neighbouring Lagan Canal being the boundary. Moira station is the oldest building on the NI Railways network today having been opened on 18 November 1841. The old, now redundant, signal box stands over the station on the Southbound side.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">City Hospital railway station</span> Railway station in Belfast

City Hospital railway station, situated on Donegall Road, serves Belfast City Hospital and the surrounding area of south Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is one of the four stations located in the city centre, the others being Botanic, Lanyon Place, and Grand Central.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Botanic railway station</span> Railway station in Belfast

Botanic railway station serves the Botanic area in south Belfast, Northern Ireland and students for Queen's University Belfast; it is also near Shaftesbury Square which is along Botanic Avenue. It is named after the nearby Belfast Botanic Gardens. It is one of the four stations located in the city centre, the others being City Hospital, Lanyon Place, and the under-construction Grand Central.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belfast Great Victoria Street railway station</span> A former railway station in central Belfast which closed in 2024

Great Victoria Street was a railway station that served the city centre of Belfast, Northern Ireland. It was one of two main stations in the city, along with Lanyon Place, and was nearest to the city centre. The station was situated beside Great Victoria Street and shared a site with the Europa Buscentre, Belfast's former main bus station. The railway and bus stations were replaced by the adjacent Belfast Grand Central station with the official opening on 13 October 2024. Great Victoria Street railway station closed permanently on 10 May 2024, with a bus transfer service operating until rail services commenced from Belfast Grand Central, with a service to Dublin at 8:05 a.m. on 13 October 2024. Europa Buscentre closed permanently on 7 September 2024, with bus services immediately transferring to the new station, commencing with a service to Dublin at 5 a.m. on 8 September 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University railway station (Northern Ireland)</span> Railway station in Coleraine, Northern Ireland

University is a halt serving the University of Ulster at Coleraine in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is within the townland of Ballysally in the north of Coleraine.

References

  1. "FOI1317 NIR Footfall 2223.xlsx". www.whatdotheyknow.com. 17 April 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  2. "FOI Footfall 2023 2024 figures PDF.pdf". www.whatdotheyknow.com. 7 May 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  3. Butt, R.V.J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations. Patrick Stephens Ltd. p. 25. ISBN   1-85260-508-1.
  4. The Industrial Archaeology of Northern Ireland. William Alan McCutcheon, Northern Ireland. Department of the Environment. Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 1984
  5. UK Retail Price Index inflation figures are based on data from Clark, Gregory (2017). "The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)". MeasuringWorth . Retrieved 7 May 2024.