No more Enterprise service for Lisburn

Translink has put the brakes on all services stopping in the city, saying customer numbers using the service had been low.

However, a spokesperson said the move was ‘a bit of a blow’ to commuters, but that local services would connect anyone wishing to travel to Dublin to either Portadown or Belfast to catch the Enterprise.

Following the announcement of the new timetable, a Translink spokesperson said: “The Enterprise will not be stopping in Lisburn when the new timetable comes into effect on April 10.

“All local services will connect to either Portadown or Belfast for passengers wishing to travel on the Enterprise.”

The spokesperson said that the journey times for the Enterprise service had been maintained, with proposed plans for all Enterprise services to stop in Lisburn having led to concerns over the additional time being added onto the length of the journey to and from Dublin.

The spokesperson continued: “We will continue to monitor passenger levels at Lisburn, although they were quite small, this is still a bit of a blow.”

Lagan Valley DUP MLA Paul Givan has said any decision that would stop the Belfast to Dublin Enterprise Train from stopping in Lisburn would be completely unacceptable.

Commenting Paul Givan said, “Only a number of months ago a new timetable was proposed that would have increased the number of stops in Lisburn and now this inexplainable and unacceptable timetable removes Lisburn completely.

“This decision will be met with utter dismay and must be challenged,” Mr Givan continued.

“When I was a councillor on Lisburn City Council all of the parties came together and fought a campaign that successfully brought Lisburn onto the timetable and now there must be a collective and determined campaign to oppose this proposed new timetable.

“Lisburn is Northern Ireland’s largest population base outside of Belfast and there can be no justification for any reduction or removal of this service.”