Lanyon Place railway station

"Belfast Central station" redirects here. For the new bus and rail transport hub, see Belfast Grand Central station.

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Lanyon Place
Station Building.
General information
Other names	Belfast Central
Location	East Bridge Street, Belfast Northern Ireland
Coordinates	54°35′43″N5°55′02″W / 54.5953°N 5.9172°W / 54.5953; -5.9172
Owned by	NI Railways
Operated by	NI Railways
Line(s)	Bangor Derry~Londonderry Larne
Platforms	4
Tracks	4 (at platforms) 5 (total)
Construction
Structure type	At-grade
Key dates
1976	Opened as Belfast Central
2003	Refurbished
2018	Renamed "Lanyon Place"
Passengers
2015/16	2.232 million [1]
Route map (Click to expand) Show NI Railways Network map Legend Year closed Great Victoria Street 2024 Belfast Grand Central Belfast-Dublin line to Portadown, Newry, Dublin Connolly City Hospital Botanic Lanyon Place River Lagan Belfast-Bangor line to Holywood, Helen's Bay, Bangor Lagan Viaduct over River Lagan Cross Harbour Rail Link over Belfast Harbour York Street Yorkgate 2024 York Road depot York Road 1992 Fortwilliam Traincare Depot Whiteabbey Belfast-Larne line to Carrickfergus, Whitehead, Larne Town Belfast-Derry line via Greenisland 1963 Monkstown 1981 Mossley 1982 Mossley West Ballyclare Junction 1961 Ballyclare branch line to Lisnalinchy, Ballyclare 1930 Ballyrobert 1920 Doagh 1970 Templepatrick 1981 Dunadry 1954 Muckamore 1961 Lisburn-Antrim line to Crumlin, Knockmore, Lisburn Antrim Cookstown Junction 1976 Cookstown branch line to Randalstown, Cookstown 1955 Kellswater 1971 Andraid 1850 Ballymena and Larne Railway to Kells, Kilwaughter, Larne Town 1950 Ballymena Ballymena, Cushendall & Red Bay Rly to Rathkenny, Parkmore, Retreat 1940 Cullybackey Glarryford 1973 Killagan 1973 Dunloy 1976 Ballymoney Ballycastle Railway to Dervock, Armoy, Ballycastle 1950 Derry Central Railway to Garvagh, Kilrea, Magherafelt 1950 Macfin 1954 Coleraine Coleraine Harbour 1963 Coleraine-Portrush line to University, Dhu Varren, Portrush River Bann Coleraine Waterside 1861 Barmouth 1856 Castlerock Castlerock Tunnel Downhill Tunnel Downhill 1973 Umbra 1861 Magilligan 1976 Bellarena River Roe Limavady Railway to Limavady, Dungiven Limavady Junction 1976 Ballykelly 1954 Carrichue 1954 Faughanvale 1859 Eglinton 1973 River Faughan Derry~Londonderry This diagram: view talk edit Show Derry~Londonderry line route diagram Legend Year closed Great Victoria Street 2024 Belfast Grand Central Belfast-Dublin line to Portadown, Newry, Dublin Connolly City Hospital Botanic Tunnel Botanic Lanyon Place Lagan Railway Bridge over River Lagan Belfast-Larne railway line & Belfast-Derry railway line Titanic Quarter (Bridge End) Queen's Quay 1976 Belfast and County Down Railway to Comber, Ardglass, Newcastle 1950 Ballymacarrett 1976 Victoria Park 1981 Sydenham Tillysburn 1945 Kinnegar 1957 Holywood Marino Cultra Craigavad 1957 Seahill Helen's Bay Crawfordsburn 1997 Carnalea Bangor West Bangor This diagram: view talk edit Show Bangor line route diagram Legend Year closed Great Victoria Street 2024 Belfast Grand Central Belfast-Dublin line to Portadown, Newry, Dublin Connolly City Hospital Botanic Tunnel Botanic Lanyon Place River Lagan Belfast–Bangor railway line to Sydenham, Holywood, Bangor River Lagan (Lagan Viaduct) Belfast Harbour Cross Harbour Rail Link York Street Yorkgate 2024 York Road depot York Road 1992 Greencastle 1954 Whitehouse 1954 Whiteabbey Belfast–Derry railway line to Ballymena, Coleraine, Derry~Londonderry Bleach Green 1977 Jordanstown Belfast–Derry railway line via Monkstown 1963 Greenisland Trooperslane Mount 1977 Harbour branch line to Carrickfergus Harbour Clipperstown Carrickfergus Barn 1977 Downshire Eden 1977 Kilroot 1977 Whitehead Whitehead Excursion RPSI depot Ballycarry Magheramorne Glynn Larne Town Ballymena and Larne Railway to Kilwaughter, Kells, Ballymena Larne Harbour This diagram: view talk edit Show Larne line route diagram
Location Lanyon Place Location in Northern Ireland Show map of Northern Ireland Lanyon Place Location on the Island of Ireland Show map of island of Ireland

Belfast Lanyon Place (formerly Belfast Central) 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.

The station serves Northern Ireland Railways routes to Derry, Bangor and Larne. Until 2024, Lanyon Place was also the northern terminus of the cross-border Enterprise service to Dublin Connolly, jointly run with Iarnród Éireann.

Description

There are two island platforms at Lanyon Place, each serving two tracks, capable of accommodating trains up to nine coaches long on each side. Platform 1 is usually only used at peak hours, as well as for special services run by the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland. Platform 2 was the Enterprise platform. Platform 3 is the 'southbound platform', normally used for trains to Botanic, City Hospital and Belfast Grand Central with Platform 4 being the 'northbound platform' for trains along the Derry, Larne and Bangor lines.

2.6 million people used the station in 2017. ^[8]

History

The station was opened as "Belfast Central" on Monday 26 April 1976, ^[9] despite it being located further from Belfast city centre than Great Victoria Street station. The first station manager was Mr John Johnston.

By the 1990s, it became clear that the station's facilities were in need of upgrading. A major refurbishment programme started in 2000 and was completed in 2003. ^[10]

In February 2018, Translink announced that Belfast Central would undergo a face-lift. This would see the entrance hall and East Bridge Street façade completely redesigned, with the removal of the Troubles-era blast wall. Inside, the ticket hall would be rebuilt and new retail and dining facilities provided. A Belfast Bikes dock will also be included in the redesigned station. ^[8]

As part of the redesign, Belfast Central was renamed Lanyon Place on 1 September 2018. This is despite the fact that, strictly speaking, the station is not located there but on East Bridge Street.

The Enterprise train served Lanyon Place for the final time on 2 July 2024. Bus substitution services continued from Lanyon Place until 12 October 2024. On 13 October 2024, the service was transferred to the new Belfast Grand Central Station integrated transport hub. ^{[11] [12]}

Current Service

Main hall of Belfast Central (prior to refurbishment as Lanyon Place)

Train departing from Lanyon Place

NIR Class 3000 (C3K) train in Lanyon Place

Bangor line

Main article: Belfast–Bangor railway line

From Monday to Saturday, there is a half hourly service from Lanyon Place to Bangor in one direction, and to Grand Central in the other. During peak times there are up to 6 trains per hour operating to Bangor with 3 being express services and the other half being slow services stopping at all stations between here and Bangor. The service is reduced to hourly operation in the evenings.

On Sundays, the service reduces to hourly operation between Bangor and Grand Central.

Larne line

Main article: Belfast–Larne railway line

Outbound services run half-hourly on an alternating basis to either Whitehead or through to Larne Harbour, giving an hourly service to stations beyond Whitehead. Extra services at peak times run to Carrickfergus and Larne Town. Almost all inbound services operate to Grand Central, with some peak time trains terminating here.

Saturdays retain a very similar pattern to the weekday service, minus any additional peak-time trains. On Sundays, the service reduces to hourly operation, with the outbound terminus alternating between Whitehead and Larne Harbour as before, giving a two-hourly service to stations beyond Whitehead. All inbound services operate to Grand Central.

Derry~Londonderry line

Main article: Belfast–Derry railway line

All Derry~Londonderry Line trains call at Lanyon Place. During the week, the service runs hourly in each direction between Grand Central and Derry~Londonderry. Certain peak-time or late-night trains will only run as far as Coleraine, or through to Portrush along the Coleraine-Portrush railway line.

On Saturdays, the service is slightly reduced, however operation remains much the same as during the week. On Sundays, the hourly service alternately runs to Derry~Londonderry and Portrush, giving a two-hourly service to stations beyond Coleraine.

Preceding station		Northern Ireland Railways		Following station
Botanic		Northern Ireland Railways Belfast-Bangor		Titanic Quarter
		Northern Ireland Railways Belfast-Derry		York Street
		Northern Ireland Railways Belfast-Larne

Former Services

Dublin line

Main article: Belfast-Dublin railway line

Until 2024, the Enterprise service operated from Lanyon Place to Dublin Connolly every two hours. This reduced to five services per day on Sundays. The Enterprise served Lanyon Place for the final time on 2 July 2024, with the line south of Lanyon Place closing for track maintenance the following day. The Enterprise began to operate from Grand Central station on 13 October 2024.

Rail and Sea Connections

Port of Belfast

The Port of Belfast has a Stena Line ferry connecting to Cairnryan for the bus link ^[13] to Stranraer and onward trains along the Glasgow South Western Line to Glasgow Central.

Preceding station		Ferry		Following station
Stranraer Harbour (via bus link from Cairnryan [13] )		Stena Line Ferry		Port of Belfast (nearest stations York Street & Lanyon Place
Liverpool		Stena Line Ferry		Port of Belfast (nearest stations York Street & Lanyon Place)
Douglas		Isle of Man Steam Packet Ferry(seasonal)		Port of Belfast (nearest stations York Street & Lanyon Place)
Stranraer Harbour (via bus link from Cairnryan [13] )		P&O Ferries Ferry		Larne Harbour

Port of Larne

The Larne line connects with Larne Harbour with P&O Ferries sailing to Cairnryan for the bus link ^[13] to Stranraer and onward trains along the Glasgow South Western Line to Glasgow Central, as well as alternative sailings by P&O Ferries to Troon also on the Glasgow South Western Line to Glasgow Central.

References

1. "NIR Footfall 1518.xlsx". www.whatdotheyknow.com. 20 December 2018. Archived from the original on 17 June 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
2. "NIR Footfall 1819.xlsx". www.whatdotheyknow.com. 15 January 2020. Archived from the original on 17 June 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
3. "NIR Footfall 1920.xlsx". www.whatdotheyknow.com. 11 August 2020. Archived from the original on 17 June 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
4. "FOI1317 NIR Footfall 2021.xlsx". www.whatdotheyknow.com. 25 February 2021. Archived from the original on 17 June 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
5. "FOI1317 NIR Footfall 2122.xlsx". www.whatdotheyknow.com. 26 April 2022. Archived from the original on 17 June 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
6. "FOI1317 NIR Footfall 2223.xlsx". www.whatdotheyknow.com. 17 April 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
7. "FOI Footfall 2023 2024 figures PDF.pdf". www.whatdotheyknow.com. 7 May 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
8. Translink. "Central Station to get a New Name and Makeover". www.translink.co.uk. Archived from the original on 13 February 2018. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
9. "Central 1". IRRS. Archived from the original on 11 June 2008. Retrieved 8 May 2008.
10. "Central 2". Translink. Archived from the original on 18 August 2007. Retrieved 8 May 2008.
11. "Translink on X:From Sunday October 13, Enterprise services will depart for Dublin from Belfast Grand Central Station Be sure to visit http://translink.co.uk to plan your journey". x.com. 12 October 2024. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
12. "Belfast Lanyon Place Station Bids Farewell To Enterprise Service - Rail Express". Everand. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
13. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 21 October 2013. Retrieved 20 October 2013.