Maintenance work to close Lisburn rail line

The closures are the result of major engineering works as Translink NI Railways prepares for the arrival and introduction of the 20 new trains.

The weekend closures are to allow platform extension work at Balmoral and engineering works for the new Train Maintenance facility at Adelaide.

It means trains won’t be running between the two cities on July 16/17, July 23/24 and July 31.

During this time a bus substitution will operate between Lisburn and Belfast. All stations between Lisburn and Great Victoria Street will be closed and passengers are being advised to use Metro and Ulsterbus services operating along the Lisburn Road. Passengers making onward connections are advised to retain their bus ticket and present it to the ticket office as part payment for their onward travel rail ticket.

For passengers using the Enterprise service, a bus substitution will operate to and from Newry and Belfast Central. During the engineering works, Enterprise train services will operate to and from Lisburn, serving Lurgan and Portadown.

Gerard McAtarsney, Southern Route Manager said; “We are looking forward to the introduction of our new fleet – which will all be in service by 2012. The weekend closures will help us to complete the work as quickly as possible; however night time work will still be required.

“We are working closely with our contractors to keep noise and disruption to a minimum. We would like to thank all local residents and passengers for their patience as we work hard to enhance our rail services.”

Passengers can get further bus and rail timetable information at www.translink.co.uk or by calling the contact centre on 028 90 66 66 30.