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Belfast–Dublin line

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Belfast–Dublin Main Line
Enterprise De Dietrich DVT 9004 at Lisburn
Overview
StatusOperational
LocaleIreland
Termini
Stations8
Service
TypeCommuter rail
Regional rail
Heavy rail
SystemIarnród Éireann
NI Railways
Operator(s)Iarnród Éireann
NI Railways
Rolling stock8100 Class
8500, 8510 and 8520 Classes
201 Class
22000 Class
29000 Class "CxK"
Class 3000 "C3K"
Class 4000 "C4K"
De Dietrich Stock
071 Class
History
Opened1876
Technical
Line length181 kilometres (112 mi)
Number of tracksDouble track
Track gauge1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) Irish gauge
Electrification1,500 V DC overhead line (south of Malahide)
Operating speed90 mph (140 km/h)
Route map

(Click to expand)
Year
closed
Great Victoria Street
2024
Belfast Grand Central NI Railways
Westlink / Central Junction
to Lanyon Place
NI Railways
Adelaide NI Railways
Balmoral NI Railways
Finaghy NI Railways
M1
Dunmurry NI Railways
Derriaghy NI Railways
Lambeg NI Railways
Hilden NI Railways
Lisburn NI Railways
Knockmore
2005
Maze
1974
Broomhedge Halt
1973
Damhead
1973
Moira NI Railways
M1
Pritchard's Bridge
1844
Lurgan NI Railways
Goodyear Halt
1983
Seagoe
1842
Portadown NI Railways
1965
1957
Tanderagee
1965
Scarva NI Railways
Acton Crossing
1954
Poyntzpass NI Railways
Augheranter Crossing
1954
Knockarney Crossing
1965
Goraghwood
1965
to Warrenpoint
1965
Mullaghglass
1901
Newry NI Railways Dublin Suburban Rail
Wellington Inn
1852
Adavoyle
1933
Mt. Pleasant
1965
M1
Dundalk Clarke
Dublin Suburban Rail
Dundalk Junct. station
1894
to Enniskillen│to Greenore
1957/1952
Castlebellingham
1976
1975
Dromin Junction
1975
Dunleer
1984
Newfoundwell
Drogheda MacBride
Dublin Suburban Rail
Oldcastle branch line
(freight only)
Laytown
Dublin Suburban Rail
Laytown Viaduct
Mosney
2000
Gormanston
Dublin Suburban Rail
Balbriggan
Dublin Suburban Rail
Ardgillan
1867
Skerries
Dublin Suburban Rail
Skerries Golf Club Halt
1960
Baldongan
1847
Rush and Lusk
Dublin Suburban Rail
Rogerstown Viaduct
Donabate
Dublin Suburban Rail
Malahide
Dublin Suburban Rail
Portmarnock
Dublin Suburban Rail
Clongriffin
Dublin Suburban Rail
Baldoyle
1852
Howth Junction
& Donaghmede
Dublin Suburban Rail
Kilbarrack
Dublin Area Rapid Transit
Raheny
Dublin Area Rapid Transit
Harmonstown
Dublin Area Rapid Transit
Killester
Dublin Area Rapid Transit
Clontarf
1956
Clontarf Road
Dublin Area Rapid Transit
North Wall Yard
to Alexandra Road
Docklands
Dublin Suburban Rail
Dublin Connolly
Luas
Trans-Dublin Line
& Rosslare Line
Dublin Suburban Rail#Northern Commuter = Northern Commuter
Belfast–Newry line#Newry/Portadown Line = Newry/Portadown Line

The Belfast–Dublin Line is the busiest railway route on the island of Ireland, connecting Dublin Connolly station in the Republic of Ireland and Belfast Grand Central station in Northern Ireland. It is the only railway line that crosses the Republic of Ireland–United Kingdom border.

History

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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

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In 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.[citation needed]

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]

High-speed rail proposal

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In 2020 the Irish Government confirmed it will be launching a study into an approximately 500 km (310 mi) high-speed railway from Belfast via Dublin to Cork and Limerick,[2] which could cost around €15 billion.[3]

Services

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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 (see 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 DART network.[citation needed]

One early morning weekday IÉ Commuter stopping service also operates from Newry to Dublin Connolly and returns to Newry in the evening.[citation needed]

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.[4]

  • Dublin to Belfast intercity

Monday to Saturday 8 trains in each direction Sunday 5 trains in each direction

Services reach a maximum operational speed 90 mph (145 km/h) in certain sections of the route.[5]

Simulation

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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 Lanyon Place to Dundalk,[6] with part two covering the section from Dundalk to Dublin. It is set during the 2000s.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "Intercity Fleet information". Irish Rail. Archived from the original on 5 October 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  2. ^ "Study to investigate Belfast – Dublin – Cork high-speed line". International Railway Journal. 4 August 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  3. ^ "Review of €15bn high-speed rail line linking Dublin, Belfast, Cork". Irish Times. 5 August 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  4. ^ Holyhead National Rail Enquiries
  5. ^ "Better Connecting Dublin & Belfast Enterprise - Strategic Development Plan" (PDF). Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail). Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 August 2022. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  6. ^ "Irish Enterprise North". Making Tracks. Archived from the original on 17 December 2008. Retrieved 17 January 2009.
  7. ^ "Irish Enterprise South". Making Tracks. Archived from the original on 31 July 2008. Retrieved 17 January 2009.
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