Portadown railway station

Last updated

Portadown
Logomark NI Railways.svg
Portadown (1).jpg
Portadown Railway Station Plaform 2 (on the left) and 3 (on the right) in December 2014
General information
Location Portadown
Northern Ireland
Coordinates 54°25′30″N6°26′46″W / 54.425°N 6.446°W / 54.425; -6.446
Owned by NI Railways
Operated byNI Railways
Line(s) Newry/Portadown (1) Dublin-Belfast Mainline
Platforms3
Tracks3
Train operators NI Railways, Iarnród Éireann
Bus routes5
Bus stands1
Bus operatorsUlsterbus
Construction
Structure typeAt-grade
Architect1862: John MacNeill [1]
Other information
Station codePDOWN
Fare zone3 [2]
Website translink.co.uk
History
Previous namesPortadown - Craigavon West
Key dates
1842Opened
1848Moved to present location
1863Returned to original location
1970Returned to present location
2013Refurbished
Passengers
2015/16908,113 [3]
Route map
Belfast–Dublin Main Line
Year
closed
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BSicon hbKRZWae.svg
BSicon BHF.svg
Belfast Lanyon Place Logomark NI Railways.svg
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Botanic Logomark NI Railways.svg
BSicon HST.svg
City Hospital Logomark NI Railways.svg
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City Junction
to Belfast Great Victoria Street
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Adelaide Logomark NI Railways.svg
BSicon HST.svg
Balmoral Logomark NI Railways.svg
BSicon HST.svg
Finaghy Logomark NI Railways.svg
BSicon SKRZ-Bu.svg
M1
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Dunmurry Logomark NI Railways.svg
BSicon HST.svg
Derriaghy Logomark NI Railways.svg
BSicon HST.svg
Lambeg Logomark NI Railways.svg
BSicon HST.svg
Hilden Logomark NI Railways.svg
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Lisburn Logomark NI Railways.svg
BSicon eHST.svg
Knockmore
2005
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BSicon eABZgr.svg
BSicon eABZgl.svg
BSicon exCONTfq.svg
BSicon eHST.svg
Maze
1974
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Broomhedge Halt
1973
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Damhead Halt
1973
BSicon HST.svg
Moira Logomark NI Railways.svg
BSicon SKRZ-Bu.svg
M1
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Pritchards Bridge
1844
BSicon pBHF.svg
Lurgan Logomark NI Railways.svg
BSicon epHST.svg
Goodyear Halt
1983
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Seagoe
1842
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BSicon BHF.svg
Portadown Logomark NI Railways.svg
BSicon exCONTgq.svg
BSicon eABZgr.svg
to Armagh
1957
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Tanderagee
1965
BSicon HST.svg
Scarva Logomark NI Railways.svg
BSicon eHST.svg
Acton Crossing
1954
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Poyntzpass Logomark NI Railways.svg
BSicon eHST.svg
Augheranter Crossing
1954
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Knockarney Crossing
1965
BSicon exCONTgq.svg
BSicon eABZg+r.svg
to Armagh
1955
BSicon eHST.svg
Goraghwood
1965
BSicon eABZgl.svg
BSicon exCONTfq.svg
to Warrenpoint
1965
BSicon eHST.svg
Mullaghglass
1901
BSicon hbKRZWae.svg
BSicon BHF.svg
Newry Logomark NI Railways.svg Irish Rail logo.svg
BSicon eHST.svg
Wellington Inn
1852
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Adavoyle
1933
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BSicon eHST.svg
Mt. Pleasant
1965
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M1
BSicon hbKRZWae.svg
BSicon BHF.svg
Dundalk Clarke
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BSicon eHST.svg
Dundalk Junct. station
1894
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1957
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BSicon eABZgr.svg
BSicon eHST.svg
Castlebellingham
1976
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BSicon eABZg+r.svg
to Ardee
1975
BSicon eHST.svg
Dromin Junction
1975
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Dunleer
1984
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Newfoundwell
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon hbKRZWae.svg
BSicon BHF.svg
Drogheda MacBride
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BSicon HST.svg
Laytown
Irish Rail logo.svg
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Laytown Viaduct
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Mosney
2000
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Gormanston
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BSicon HST.svg
Balbriggan
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BSicon eHST.svg
Ardgillan
1867
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Skerries
Irish Rail logo.svg
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Skerries Golf Club Halt
1960
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Baldongan
1847
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Rush and Lusk
Irish Rail logo.svg
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Rogerstown Viaduct
BSicon HST.svg
Donabate
Irish Rail logo.svg
BSicon hbKRZWae.svg
BSicon HST.svg
Malahide
Irish Rail logo.svg
BSicon HST.svg
Portmarnock
Irish Rail logo.svg
BSicon HST.svg
Clongriffin
Irish Rail logo.svg
BSicon eHST.svg
Baldoyle
1852
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BSicon CONTfq.svg
to Howth
BSicon HST.svg
Howth Junction
& Donaghmede
Irish Rail logo.svg
BSicon pHST.svg
Kilbarrack
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BSicon pHST.svg
Raheny
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BSicon pHST.svg
Harmonstown
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Killester
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Clontarf
1956
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Clontarf Road
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North Wall Yard
to Alexandra Road
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Docklands
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BSicon mKRZo +cerulean.svg
BSicon dSTRq cerulean.svg
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BSicon uKINTa-R.svg
Dublin Connolly
Luas simple logo.svg
BSicon uCONTgq.svg
BSicon mKRZo.svg
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BSicon hbKRZWae.svg
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Trans-Dublin Line
& Rosslare Line
Irish Rail logo.svg = Northern Commuter
Logomark NI Railways.svg = Newry/Portadown Line
Location
United Kingdom Northern Ireland adm location map.svg
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Portadown
Location within Northern Ireland
Portadown railway station

Portadown Railway Station serves the town of Portadown in County Armagh, Northern Ireland.

Contents

The station is located on the Belfast-Dublin railway line. The original station opened in 1842, and the present station opened in 1970. It is currently NI Railways 6th busiest station with over 1.1 million passengers in the 2023/24 financial year [9]

History

The station, c. 1879. Sticking up posters on the gate piers of Portadown Railway Station.jpg
The station, c. 1879.

The original Portadown station was sited half a mile east of the present station and opened on 12 September 1842, replacing a temporary station at Seagoe that had opened the preceding year. The Portadown station was moved to the present location in 1848 then reverted to its original site between 1863 and 1970. Goods traffic ceased on 4 January 1965. The present station opened in 1970, replacing a large and largely redundant station.

At the time (1970) the station was called Portadown - Craigavon West, a title that was quietly dropped after the "new city" Craigavon failed to materialise. The layout of the 1970 station was modified in 1997 to allow bi-directional working on all three platforms. The lines to Cavan via Armagh (closed 1957), and Derry via Dungannon and Omagh (closed 1965) diverged immediately west of the present station. [10]

Portadown's new station in 1970 Portadown new station - geograph.org.uk - 2347066.jpg
Portadown's new station in 1970

In 2012, work began on a major refurbishment of the station. A new, modern building was constructed and a footbridge replaced the subway. The refurbishment was completed in 2013. [11]

Layout

The station has three platforms. After the station upgrade being completed in late May 2013 both platforms 1, 2 and 3 have lifts and have disability access. Platform 3 is usually used for storage of a NIR train but one departs from this platform occasionally towards Belfast. Platform 1 Is for all trains south, to destinations such Dublin Connolly, Dundalk Clarke and Newry while Plaform 2 and 3 are used for Belfast & Bangor bound services, both Express and stopppers.

Service

This is the terminus for most services from Bangor or Belfast but there are 4 services which continue to Newry Mondays to Saturdays only. There is a half-hourly service to Belfast Lanyon Place and Bangor. There is a two hourly Enterprise service to Dublin Connolly or Belfast Lanyon Place. On Sundays there is an hourly service to Bangor and no NIR services at all to Newry, although five Enterprise services still operate between these two stations.

This line can be popular with rugby fans connecting at Dublin Connolly for the DART to Lansdowne Road. The line is also used by rail passengers changing at Dublin Connolly onto the DART to Dún Laoghaire for example or travelling to Dublin Port for the Irish Ferries or Stena Line to Holyhead, and then by train along the North Wales Coast Line to London Euston and other destinations in England and Wales.

Preceding station  Logomark NI Railways.svg Northern Ireland Railways  Following station
 Current Services 
Lurgan   Northern Ireland Railways
Belfast-Newry
 Terminus
or
Scarva
Belfast Lanyon Place
or
Lurgan

(Sundays only)

  Enterprise

Belfast-Dublin

  Newry
 Future Services 
Belfast Grand Central
or
Lurgan

(Sundays only)

  Enterprise

Belfast-Dublin

  Newry
 Proposed Services 
Terminus All-Island Strategic Rail Review
Mullingar-Portadown Line
  Armagh
Terminus All-Island Strategic Rail Review
Derry-Portadown Line
  Dungannon
  Historical railways  
Lurgan
Line and station open
  Ulster Railway
Belfast-Portadown
 Terminus
Terminus  Portadown, Dungannon and
Omagh Junction Railway

Portadown-Omagh
  Annaghmore
Line and station closed
Terminus  Ulster Railway
Portadown-Clones
  Richhill
Line and station closed
Terminus  Dublin and Belfast Junction Railway
Portadown-Drogheda
  Tanderagee
Line open station closed

Future

There is a possibility of re-opening of the line from Portadown to Armagh railway station. [12] Government Minister for the Department for Regional Development, Danny Kennedy MLA indicates railway restoration plans. [13]

The Armagh railway line has been listed in proposed plans to reopen the line. [14]

All-Island Rail Review

The all-island rail review draft suggested that Portadown become a major interchange between the current Dublin-Belfast Main line, proposed lines such as the single tracked Mullingar-Portadown Line via Armagh, Monaghan, Clones, and Cavan and the dual tracked Derry~Londonderry-Portadown Line via Dungannon, Omagh and Strabane. Portadown would also become an inland freight terminal serving connections to Rosslare Europort, Dublin Port and Larne Harbour.

The All-Island Rail Review draft also includes 29 other recommendations for railways across the Island of Ireland and it is said that it will take a least 25 years to competed. It would cost in the range of €36.8bn/£30.7bn (as of 2023) and be split between both regions. 75% by the Republic of Ireland and 25% by Northern Ireland. [15] [16]

No plans as of May 2024, have gone about implementing this review.

Bus connections

Translink's Ulsterbus and Goldliner services operating from just outside Portadown railway station: [17]

Preceding station  Ulsterbus  Following station
Portadown
Church Street
  Ulsterbus
61 Armagh-Portadown
  Seagoe
Craigavon Area Hospital
Terminus  Ulsterbus
75 Portadown - Dungannon
  Portadown
High Street
Portadown
High Street
  Ulsterbus
75a Dungannon - Craigavon Hospital
  The Birches
Roundabout
Terminus  Ulsterbus
65 Portadown - Loughgall - Armagh
  Portadown
Church Street
Preceding station  Goldline  Following station
Lurgan
Loughview Park & Ride Lough Road
  Goldline
271 Belfast - Cavan
  Richhill
Village
Lurgan
Loughview Park & Ride Lough Road
  Goldline
251 Belfast - Armagh
  Richhill
Village
Lurgan
Loughview Park & Ride Lough Road
  Goldline
251a Belfast - Armagh
  Richhill
Village

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