Rail good news for commuters

While the company has not set a specific date for the introduction of the new trains, it has given an assurance that local commuters who use the route, which serves Whiteabbey and Jordanstown stations, will enjoy improved services in 2011.

"We are committed to providing quality rail services across the network including the Larne Line.

"The procurement of the 20 trains is on schedule and we are looking forward to the start of their arrival in 2011.

"The older trains operating on the Larne Line will be the first to be replaced with the new Class 4000 trains as they become available," a Translink spokesperson said.

Welcoming the company's commitment to replacing the old Class 450 trains which currently operate on the Larne Line, East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson said: "Many of my constituents are in contact with me on a continual basis about the state of the trains on the Larne Line and they will be glad to hear that new trains will be in service next year.

"When new trains came into service on the Bangor Line, it experienced a sharp increase in the number of passengers using the service, and I hope that the Class 4000 trains on the Larne Line, along with new train timetables that will be introduced simultaneously, will have the same effect and increase the number of passenger journeys."

The DUP man added: "I know that many people in East Antrim would like to take the train, but a number of factors, such as the state of the carriages, mean that they stick to using their cars. The delivery of new trains will help to change this and will also present a better image of Northern Ireland to those tourists who come to visit and hopefully it will encourage more people to take a trip up the coast."