Belfast–Dublin railway line

Belfast–Dublin railway line

Enterprise De Dietrich DVT 9004 at Lisburn
Overview
Type Commuter rail
Regional rail
Heavy rail
System Iarnród Éireann
NI Railways
Status Operational
Locale Northern Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Termini Belfast Central
Dublin Connolly
Operation
Operator(s) Iarnród Éireann
NI Railways
Character Primary
Rolling stock 8100 Class
8500, 8510 and 8520 Classes
201 Class
22000 Class
29000 Class
Class 3000 "C3K"
Class 4000 "C4K"
De Dietrich Stock
Technical
Number of tracks Double track
Track gauge 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) Irish gauge
Electrification 1,500 V DC Overhead lines (South of Malahide)
Route map
Legend

Belfast to Dublin Line

Legend
Year
closed
Belfast–Larne & Derry lines

Belfast–Bangor line
River Lagan
Belfast Central
Botanic
City Hospital
City Junction
to Belfast Great Victoria Street
Adelaide
Balmoral
Finaghy
Dunmurry
Derriaghy
Lambeg
Hilden
Lisburn
Knockmore 2005
Lisburn-Antrim line
to banbridge
Maze 1974
Moira
Lurgan
River Bann
Portadown
to Armagh 1957
Tanderagee 1965
Scarva
Poyntzpass
to Armagh 1955
Goraghwood 1965
to Warrenpoint 1965
Craigmore Viaduct
Newry
Adavoyle 1933
Mt. Pleasant 1866
Northern Ireland
Ireland
border
Castletown River
Dundalk Clarke
Castlebellingham 1976
to Ardee
Dromin Junction 1975
Dunleer 1984
Newfoundwell
Boyne Viaduct
Dublin–Navan railway line
(freight only)
Drogheda MacBride
Laytown
Laytown Viaduct
Mosney 2000
Gormanston
Balbriggan
Skerries
Rush and Lusk
Rogerstown Viaduct
Donabate
Broadmeadow Viaduct
MalahideDublin Area Rapid Transit
PortmarnockDublin Area Rapid Transit
ClongriffinDublin Area Rapid Transit
to Howth
Howth Junction & DonaghmedeDublin Area Rapid Transit
KilbarrackDublin Area Rapid Transit
RahenyDublin Area Rapid Transit
HarmonstownDublin Area Rapid Transit
KillesterDublin Area Rapid Transit
Clontarf RoadDublin Area Rapid Transit
Fairview DART depot
River Tolka
North Wall Yard
to Alexandra Rd
 
Western Commuter & Sligo Line
Docklands (Luas Spencer Dock)
The Royal Canal

Dublin ConnollyLuas
Luas Red Line
to Tallaght
Loopline Bridge
Trans-Dublin Line
& Rosslare Line

The Belfast–Dublin main line is a major international railway route on the island of Ireland that connects Dublin Connolly station in the Republic of Ireland and Belfast Central station in Northern Ireland.

History

The railway line was built by three separate companies. In 1837 the Ulster Railway began building a railway line between Belfast and Lisburn, which was extended in stages to Portadown in 1842 and as far as Clones by 1863. The Dublin and Drogheda Railway (D&D) built the line between Dublin and Drogheda. The Dublin and Belfast Junction Railway (D&B Jct) linked the Dublin and Drogheda with the Ulster Railway at Portadown. The D&D and the D&B Jct merged in 1875 to form the Northern Railway of Ireland. In 1876 this new company merged with the Ulster Railway and the Irish North Western Railway, forming the Great Northern Railway (Ireland) (GNRI).

The partition of Ireland in 1922 meant that the Irish border passed between Newry and Dundalk, which caused lengthy delays as trains were required to stop at stations on either side of the border for customs examinations. This disruption was eased in 1947 with the opening of facilities for customs checks at Amiens Street station and Great Victoria Street station.

At the same time, the GNRI made its Belfast-Dublin services non-stop with the launch of the Enterprise Express. The GNRI was nationalised by the governments of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland in 1953 as the Great Northern Railway Board, but in 1958 this was split between the Ulster Transport Authority and Córas Iompair Éireann. This led to a running down of rail services in Northern Ireland, leaving only some Belfast commuter lines, the northern route to Derry and the link to Dublin. In 1970 the newly formed NI Railways bought new locomotives and rolling stock for the Belfast-Dublin Enterprise service as well as new diesel multiple units for local services.

Upgrades

In the year 2000, the government of the Republic of Ireland developed a National Development Plan, which has seen major investment in infrastructure. Almost the entire railway network, including the Belfast-Dublin line as far as the border, has been upgraded to Continuous Welded Rail, while signalling is controlled using the Centralised Traffic Control system located at Dublin Connolly station.

In addition, in 1997, a set of new De Dietrich Stock coaches were purchased jointly by Northern Ireland Railways and Iarnród Éireann to operate a revamped Enterprise service along with the new Class 201 locomotives.[1]

Services

In addition to the inter-city service between Belfast and Dublin, both NIR and IÉ operate local services along the route. NIR operates local services along the northern half of the line (the Belfast-Newry Line) between Belfast and Lisburn, Portadown and Newry, while IE operates its Commuter services between Dublin and Dundalk as part of the Dublin Suburban Rail network. In addition, the line between Dublin Connolly and Malahide is electrified and forms part of the Trans-Dublin DART network.

One early morning weekday IÉ Commuter stopping service also operates from Newry to Dublin Connolly.

The line is also used by rail passengers changing at Dublin Connolly onto the DART and also by connecting bus 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.

Holyhead can also be reached by Irish Ferries from Dublin Port, reached by walking beside the tram lines around the corner from Amiens Street into Store Street or by Luas four stops to Dublin Port or Dublin Bus route 53 [2] or to take a taxi.

Simulation

The route has been released as a commercial add on for Microsoft Train Simulator by Making Tracks. It was released in two sections, part one covering Belfast Central to Dundalk,[3] with part two covering the section from Dundalk to Dublin. It is set during the 2000s.[4]

See also

References

  1. "Intercity Fleet information". Irish Rail.
  2. "route 53 timetable". Dublin Bus.
  3. "Irish Enterprise North". Making Tracks. Archived from the original on 17 December 2008. Retrieved 2009-01-17.
  4. "Irish Enterprise South". Making Tracks. Archived from the original on 31 July 2008. Retrieved 2009-01-17.

External links

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