Why was the Lisburn to Antrim Line Closed? |

Today's video is part two of a multi-part series to raise awareness for our current campaign to have the Knockmore Railway Line reopened. These next few videos will encompass the past, present and future of the Knockmore and Bleach Green railway lines.
As always, if you have enjoyed today's video, please consider giving it a like and maybe subscribe whilst you're at it as it helps us further expand our campaign.
You could one day be part of the reason the Knockmore Line is restored to its former glory.
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Intro 0:00
The Impact of the Second World War 0:27
The Decline 03:18
The Renaissance 07:10
End of the Line 13:18
Present Day 16:30
Outro 19:40
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[@WannabeMarsanach]

They literally should not need another reason. It's pretty much the only viable way to get a railway connection into Belfast International Airport, with the bonus that it could instantly connect pretty much every major population centre currently connected to the railway with a direct train. Once again, just a stupidly good idea.

[@fundthenine]

Precisely our thoughts. Taking those connections away from thbose people shouldn't have been been considered in the first place, but here we are. The Knockmore Line holds more benfits to the whole country than people seem to realise, and its about time that something is done about it.
If our campaign is successful, we wil also push for a new railway station at Templepatrick, given that they were once promised such a connection. The too deserve their rail links restored.

[@mjj5276]

Not exactly as Translink had looked at extending the L/Derry line up to the airport pre-covid rather than the Antrim line.

[@fundthenine]

@@mjj5276 Yes the DFI plan to give Eglinton/CoD Airport a railway station as part of phase three of the Londonderry Track Renewal project, however that phase has been mothballed.
Belfast International is Northern Ireland's busiest airport, with Belfast City coming in second. So a railway station as International would be extremely viable.
A better plan would be to give Strathfoyle a railway station as it is a quickly growing community that is miles fro the nearest station and they are situated right next to the existing track.

[@nigelkthomas9501]

I was very lucky to have done both routes in 2003. I was aware the Antrim-Lisburn line was going to close not long after my visit. Why can’t they simply keep both routes open? Utter madness! But it’s all cost; and when accountants in charge you’ve no chance!

[@fjkelley4774]

Good luck, I wish you well on the line reopening.

[@paulbache3940]

railways are the only viable mass transit system for the future, the car (and goods vehicles) are not going provide a "green" and sustainable transport system for very much longer

[@fundthenine]

Exactly. Electric vehicles are still going to cause huge amounts of traffic, we need to provide a real alternative.

[@iknowyoureright8564]

Well they have now made plat 3 in Lisburn a dead end platform with buffer stop. As far as the line reopening, I haven’t heard anything but if you are correct and they are fitting bi directional signalling then they will definitely reopen the line! Signalling is a fortune to fit, millions just for the cabeling and signals, points motors, then the track circuit itself. At present, the line is not track circuited, this basically means that the only method of signalling would be WSLP “pilot working” where a pilotman (or potentially a token) must accompany each train over the section, ensuring there is only ever one train on the section at any one time, but that would lead to a very slow service indeed, if they do resign all the line bi-directionally then they will re intro use track circuits to allow trains to run under “track circuit block” working (the way the rest of the network does) which means the line is split in sections, controlled by signals, and allows 1 train per section,….the interlockjng detects the train via the track circuit and keeps the signal in rear of that section at danger, meaning only 1 train per section. If there are 5 or 6 signals in either direction that means there could be multiple trains travelling along the single line in the same direction, unless they fit (refit) passing loops along the route.
Sorry to be a bit in depth but there’s so much to this that needs thought out, if it was as easy as just cutting back the weeds we’d be sorted. Lol.
Fingers crossed the back line does reopen, and the revenue and help the the economy and the railway this will bring may spur the right people on to begin to get the network growing again….although the price in today’s money to have Northern Ireland back to its original network would be in the billions if not tens of billions! We just enough brave people.
This is a great channel and You’ve earned a subscriber in me.
Thanks.

[@fundthenine]

I appreciate the well thought out analysis of the situation at Lisburn.
I can say now that the goal for Translink is to relay the Antrim Branch up to the Knockmore Junction and open a new station at Lisburn West.
This is planned to be completed by 2026, but could happen sooner depending on whether the Moira Park & Ride starts construction first or not.
Translink and the DUP have every intention to reopening the Antrim - Lisburn Line with a stop at the Intl Airport, but how quickly that happens is depednant on the feasibility study being completed.
Check out our recent 'A Meeting with Translink' video as it explains the situation a little more coherently than I can articulate via a comment haha
Glad you're deciding to stick around mate!

[@BelfastMurf]

The logic of closing that line at that time when the population of Gleanavy & Crumlin have dramatically increased is hard to grasp, add to that the ever increasing passenger usage of the international airport and it goes beyond illogic….

[@fundthenine]

The line was closed at a time when the newly formed Translink was ran by VERY pro-bus people that wished to see our railways closed forever.
So as a result, very illogical decisions were made for the sake of profiting the bus industry.

[@Whizzy-jx3qe]

When they closed the railways towards The North West how much investment did the Stormont Government of the day put into roads.

[@michaelmckibbin9665]

as a reguler train user i support this

[@nirailwaystrainspooterbelf3134]

They put the mpv on the line once or twice a month to keep it maintained

[@Whizzy-jx3qe]

Newcastle had two lines serving it The BCDR and The GNR unfortunately they closed both. Newcastle being the gateway to the Mourne’s, tourist potential. Forgive me if I’m wrong but wasn’t there a proposed to close the cross border rail link with the railway terminating at Portadown then another proposal was to reduce the line to single line working to the border.

[@fundthenine]

Newcastle having a rail link restored would be immense for the Mourne AONB. No longer would people need to drive there, they could simply pack their hiking gear on the train and relax all the way.

[@Whizzy-jx3qe]

@@fundthenine An act of cannibalism carried out by politicians with absolutely no vision.

[@fundthenine]

@@Whizzy-jx3qe Perfectly put

[@KaptainKlunk1]

​@@fundthenine a train full of Smickers with Hiking Gear .I can only imagine it ,🤣

[@fundthenine]

@@KaptainKlunk1 Better than a car park full of them 😅

[@michaelmckibbin9665]

people keep killing themselves too.

[@KaptainKlunk1]

Orignally from Knockmore estate myself...remember well the steam trains running ....Some sad Estate history with 3/4 young lives taken at Knockmore halt .....

[@fundthenine]

That's tragic to hear, but it's also terribly unfortunate that Knockmore had it's halt removed also. Yet more terrible mistakes by our government