Currently, most NIR services are still railcar operated (by newer railcars!). RailMapOnline is a free website that aims to provide an interactive map of all historic railways for the UK and US. For other railways with the same name, see, The closures started several years before the, Portadown, Dungannon and Omagh Junction Railway, "Rail buses developed at Dundalk GNR Works", "Closure of the 'Derry Road' a great loss to Ireland", Great Northern Railway Architecture at Archiseek.com, Irish Railway Record Society: Irish Railways: 1946 - 1996; Great Northern Railway (Ireland), Documents and clippings about Great Northern Railway, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Great_Northern_Railway_(Ireland)&oldid=1136252105, This page was last edited on 29 January 2023, at 13:19. The former station at Newcastle, which was once the jewel in the crown of the County Down railway system, is now a supermarket. It dates from 1609 and may be by John Norden, though likely to be based on the barony maps of Josias Bodley and William Parsons. In the early 1980s, NIR purchased one of the prototype LEV Railbuses built to test the railbus concept. To enable NIR to maintain its levels of service, it upgraded some of its older rolling stock. The delivery of the new carriages - made by Spanish train manufacturer, Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) - marks a major step in . [12], NIR retained one Class 80 unit (three power cars and two driving trailers) as its sandite train during the 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 leaf fall seasons. and underground mine railways (too difficult!) Internet Explorer) arent supported. If youd like to provide inputs and corrections then please get in touch. What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? The legend will display some companies not currently on the map, but whose extent includes the area youre looking at. The Info Widget outlines the maps and datasets available on the PRONI Historical Maps viewer. CI closed the tramway about a year later. Initially designed for commuter or branch line traffic but could be found over the entire network. Sometimes I cant respond because mail servers and spam-filters result in a block. In Cookstown, County Tyrone, the listed railway station designed by William Henry Mills in polychromatic red and yellow brickwork, was closed to passengers in 1956. Some lines, particularly on the NIR system, carry no freight at all. [citation needed], As older trains became obsolete in the 1970s, the Class 80 slam-door diesel-electric multiple unit was introduced. In the North, dieselisation had followed a different pattern. Also operating in this set is a 1954 built brake coach No.9, although it currently carries the number 1949. NIR jointly runs the Enterprise train service between Belfast and Dublin with Iarnrd ireann. Bleach Green Viaduct opens - Derry/Portrush trains no longer reverse at Greenisland. The route was also included in a wider study of the development of the Northern Rail Corridor published at the end of 2009[41], The Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan 2015 identifies the need to improve transport links to George Best Belfast City Airport from the city centre. NI Railways, also known as Northern Ireland Railways (NIR) (Irish: Iarnrd Thuaisceart ireann); and for a brief period Ulster Transport Railways (UTR), is the railway operator in Northern Ireland. [26], The rail network is focused on Greater Belfast. I try to depict tracks so that you can easily find their location on the ground or on satellite imagery, and I have an aim of placing tracks within the right of way. No, I dont use cookies or collect any data on how you use the website. Keep Centred, WGS84 Decimal Deg https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Zop94vXKb9o348uGGlGtqL_mXrwcsPqx&usp=sharing. This led to the GNRI to order a very modern and powerful class of 4-4-0's, the Class V three cylinder compound locomotives built by Beyer, Peacock & Company in 1932. Intended for loco hauled Enterprise services. I try and test the website with different browsers, but Im afraid that older browsers (e.g. [1] In 2019, NI Railways carried over 15 million passengers.[2]. A new review into an all-Ireland rail network was announced in April to look at the possibility of reviving the golden age of rail travel. They remained in service until 2012, latterly primarily on the Larne-Belfast line and the Coleraine-Portrush Line. (Tick all that apply), Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI), PRONI - Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk, customerservice.unit@communities-ni.gov.uk, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea, Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), Northern Ireland, Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) enquiry service, contact the relevant government organisation directly, Travel advice (including self-isolation), Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations contact the, Driver licensing and tests, MOT and vehicle testing. The Portadown, Dungannon and Omagh Junction Railway together with the Londonderry and Enniskillen Railway enabled GNRI trains between Derry and Belfast to compete with the Belfast and Northern Counties Railway, and both this and the Dundalk route gave connections between Derry and Dublin. UT Railways becomes Northern Ireland Railways Co. Ltd. End of steam on NIR, and therefore in Ireland. By 1960, main line trains were almost entirely dieselised, leaving steam on secondary duties and freight traffic. During the eighties it was apparent that additional trains would be needed. [14], In 2004/2005, NIR received 23 Class 3000 diesel multiple units from CAF of Spain in a 80million order. In 1994, NIR bought two EMD 208 Class locomotives identical to Iarnrd ireann's 201 Class. Yes, please do. The governments of Ireland and Northern Ireland jointly nationalised the company in 1953, and the company was liquidated in 1958: assets were split on national lines between the Ulster Transport Authority and Cras Iompair ireann. The Ulster, D&D and D&BJct railways together formed the main line between Dublin and Belfast, with the D&BJct completing the final section in 1852 to join the Ulster at Portadown. Also note that the background mapping imagery is also subject to copyright (e.g. WGS84 Deg, Min, Sec [6] The final unit, 3023, arrived in Belfast Harbour on Monday 18 July 2005. Closely related to the other LMS 2-6-4Ts, the Ivatt designed 'WT' engines nevertheless exhibited many differences. The GNR's north western main line between Dundalk and Derry bypassed the small County Tyrone town of Fintona, which was instead served by a 1 mile (1.6km) branch line from Fintona Junction station. GNR (I) - Harmonstown Station opens (1957) Watch on. [citation needed] The railways became the Northern Ireland Railways system. [25] This will improve NIR's services and allow an hourly Enterprise service to Dublin. However, anyone can help out with OpenStreetMap and provide edits, so if you want to get involved and start making your own maps then check them out. The railway line which once linked Omagh to Londonderry has long since disappeared beneath the tarmac of the Great Northern Road. The first railway in what is now Northern Ireland was the Ulster Railway opened in 1839 between Belfast and Lisburn, a distance of about 7 miles (12 km). If you wish to check on a problem or fault you have already reported, contact DfI Roads. For over a century this track was the most important railway route in Ulster and the . The BMAP proposed a light rail line from the city centre that would have interchanged with a new railway station at Tillysburn, serving both the airport and the Holywood Exchange retail development. Stations Power cars named after Northern Ireland castles. While it is also available as a diversionary route, Knockmore, Ballinderry, Glenavy, Crumlin stations remain closed to the public. If you have a question about a government service or policy, you should contact the relevant government organisation directly. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. In 1923, the Keady - Castleblayney line in Co. Armagh was closed after only 10 years open to traffic, and by the early 1930s a number of rural lines had followed into oblivion, mostly in the south and west. In the UK, earlier (closed prior to 1923) tracks are coloured as if they still existed. Feature-length films are shown each March at the Annual Film Show at the IRRS's HQ, Dublin - check Dublin Area Meetings for dates. If you cant find the information youre looking for in theCoronavirus (COVID-19) section, then for queries about: If your query is about another topic, select Other from the drop-down menu above. From the early 20th century until 1948, the three main railway companies in Northern Ireland were the Great Northern Railway Ireland (GNRI), which had around one half of its network north of the border; the Northern Counties Committee (NCC), owned by the Midland Railway of England and later the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS); and the small Belfast and County Down Railway (BCDR). It was formed in 1876 by a merger of the Irish North Western Railway (INW), Northern Railway of Ireland, and Ulster Railway. Try reloading the page, or failing that emptying your browser cache. Since 1963, the DroghedaNavan branch has survived for freight traffic only. For queries or advice about employment rights, contact the Labour Relations Agency. I realise that can result in a very busy map, but unfortunately I didnt think of that when I started! At conservative gathering, Trump is still the favourite. I have tried to reduce the data that the site uses to reduce your data charges, but the mapping imagery itself will always require and online connection. If you have a comment or query about benefits, you will need to contact the government departmentoragency which handles that benefit. What is your data source? In 2005, NIR investigated obtaining seven Class 222 DEMUs built for English operator Midland Mainline to use for Enterprise, but these entered service with their intended operator. Distance: 180 km/112 mi. Under the UTA's management, the railway network of Northern Ireland shrank from 900miles (1,450km) to 225miles (362km). Emaildcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk, Call 0800 587 2750 The Cross-Harbour railway in Belfast opens, thus linking the old NCC direct to the rest of the NI system. Can I have a copy of the map and its source data? The viewer displays county, parish and townland boundaries and includes information on sites, buildings and landmarks of historical interest. Im afraid I cant fix this as its a Google issue. Mon Sep 25 2017 - 01:35. More information here. For queries or advice about 60+ and Senior Citizen SmartPasses (which can be used to get concessionary travel on public transport), contactSmartpass - Translink. 1938 built dining car No.88 still sees use as part of the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland's Dublin-based "heritage set" of coaches. Learn More. It marked the end of 100 years of railway transport in East Down. In 2005, the Class 450 fleet was refurbished to a standard close to that of the Class 3000 units, which saw them through to their withdrawal in 2012. Dublin - Cork Train. Only first 1000 places shown, and first 100 labels. [note 1] Exceptions were the BelfastDundalk and PortadownDerry main lines and the NewryWarrenpoint and LisburnAntrim branches. I have had trouble identifying US builders and some of the UK lines, so let me know if there are errors. [36], Speculation[who?] Passenger DEMU affectionately nicknamed 'Thumpers'. These main lines supported the development of an extensive branch network serving the southwest half of Ulster and northern counties of Leinster. Train Cancellations, Delays, Alterations and Engineering Work information is brought to you directly from the Northern Ireland Railways operational . Basically, Google renders the railway/canal maps and displays them in your browser as square tiles. Buy your tickets for Northern Ireland at the train station; however, if you are buying tickets for Dublin - Belfast routes, use the official Irish Rail page. Renamed as "New Trains Two", this project went out to tender in late 2007. If you wish to report a problem with a road or street you can do so online in this section. The two governments ran the railway jointly under a Great Northern Railway Board until 1958. This article is about the Irish railway. What's New. A combination of the increasing road competition facing all railways and a change in patterns of economic activity caused by the Partition of Ireland reduced the GNRI's prosperity. Grouping of Irish North Western Railway, Ulster Railway and Dublin & Drogheda Railway to form the Great Northern Railway (Ireland). Share on Facebook (external link opens in a new window / tab), Share on Twitter (external link opens in a new window / tab), Share by email (external link opens in a new window / tab), Which problem did you find on this page? First closure: the Keady - Castleblayney line on the GNR system. In 1967, the UTA was split up into road and rail undertakings. The Irish Railway System Ireland now has some 2,300km of public railways, all 1,600mm (5'3") gauge (the distance between the rails). You will not receive a reply. Im afraid being a free hobby site I cant guarantee the service. For the US railroad map, the colour identifies the company that built the line. What do the colours mean? City Hospital, Botanic, Belfast Lanyon Place, Yorkgate, Whiteabbey (limited), Reopening of existing but closed infrastructure, notably the, Improvement of the infrastructure on the Belfast-Londonderry line through, at the very least, the installation of, This page was last edited on 26 February 2023, at 03:22. Names sometimes change, so alternatives are provided in brackets and I suggest you use the * wildcard at the beginning of your search term. For the moment this means I have had to remove the backgrounds from the site. Yes, please let me know by Email with as much detail as you can provide and Ill endeavour to change the map. Let others know about this website by emailing a friend, or share us on Twitter. Passenger DEMU nicknamed the Castle Class by enthusiasts. ", Minister announces 2.8m greenway funding package, Review into all-island rail network launched, Street fighting in Bakhmut but Russia not in control, Saving Private Ryan actor Tom Sizemore dies at 61, Russian minister laughed at for Ukraine war claims. [1] Nevertheless, by the 1950s the GNRI had ceased to be profitable and in 1953 the company was jointly nationalised by the governments of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Operated on all routes. Some areas, particularly in the US remain approximate, but I do try and refresh areas periodically. [3] However, if youre a historical society, heritage railway, miniature railway operator or museum whod like to add a link to your track depicted on the map then get in touch. On 12 June 1889, a significant rail accident occurred when a passenger train stalled between Armagh and Newry. Cork City to Cobh. Upon its establishment in 1998, the Northern Ireland Assembly put in place an investment programme costing 100million to bring about major improvements. Conor Murphy, the Regional Development Minister, stated that approximately 137million could be allocated from for investment in the railways for the period 20082011. You should be able to access the map through any browser on your phone, but I appreciate that some functionality can be difficult on a mobile. Great Northern Railway - 1930. For queries about the High Street Spend Local Scheme, emailHSSS.mail@economy-ni.gov.uk. Comments or queries about the Blue Badge scheme can be emailed to bluebadges@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk or you can also call 0300 200 7818. Robert Gardiner, chairman of the Downpatrick and County Down Railway, said there is still potential for traffic on this route should it reopen. Nine vehicles converted to hauled stock over the 1970s, these lasted until 1980. Read about our approach to external linking. This might not correct until the next day. [citation needed], Translink have plans to introduce a new ticketing system in 2018 similar to the system utilised by Irish Rail. In its early years the GNR(I) closely imitated the image of its English namesake, adopting an apple green livery for its steam locomotives and a varnished teak finish for its passenger coaches. The sets were three-car diesel-electric multiple units, based on a more modern British design, with air-operated sliding doors. OSGB Grid 10 digit [8], The latest performance figures[when?] Electrification of Howth - Dublin - Bray suburban line of CI, as "Dublin Area Rapid Transit" (DART). GNR taken over by Governments of Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland. The link to the route map can be seen on Translink Website. These haul the cross-border Enterprise dedicated trains of modern carriages. Minnesota Railroads - 1930. Due to the limited number of new units, some of NIR's older rolling stock was retained, notably the entire Class 450 on the Belfast-Larne route. 2023 BBC. The IRRS Youtube Channel features over 20 archival films of Irish railways recorded by enthusiasts during the 1950s to 1990s. VideoRussian minister laughed at for Ukraine war claims, The children left behind in Cuba's mass exodus, Xi Jinping's power grab - and why it matters, Snow, Fire and Lights: Photos of the Week. Combined with the new Dargan Bridge across the River Lagan in Belfast, the Bleach Green route offered faster journeys between Derry, Coleraine, Ballymena, Antrim and Belfast. As part of this, NI Railways will begin a process to purchase new rolling stock from 2026 to 2027. Most of the system carries passengers predominantly, and freight traffic is light by international standards. In View, Show Position Under the UTA's management, the railway network of Northern Ireland shrank from 900 miles (1,450 km) to 225 miles (362 km). Despite being out of service for many years, some rail infrastructure is still very much intact. Takes over LMS and GNR bus services within Northern Ireland. These layers can be selected using the Layer List widget. In an attempt at fairness, all classes of locomotive and rolling stock were also divided equally between the transport operators of the two new owners. Shunters. CI have published a short history of their own. Absolutely Im always interested in feedback. Northern Ireland Railways NIR Railway Network. The UTA was split into rail and road operations in 1967, and the rail operations were taken over by the present company Northern Ireland Railways (NIR). The main lines between Dublin and Cork, Belfast, and Belfast - Derry received a fair amount of investment over the years, and locomotives, carriages and services were as good as anywhere in Europe, but rural and western lines received little new investment especially during the lean years of the 1920s - 1930s. If in doubt ping me an email for permission. Along the way, you can make stops at Little Island and the Fota Island Wildlife Park. Irish railways were built between 1834, when the Dublin to Dun Laoghaire line opened, and the early years of the 20th century. The Canal map is created by Chris Lowe who has kindly let me host his map. Call 0800 587 0912 It is a remarkably detailed pen and ink rendering of the area between Lough Neagh and Dundalk. CI also acquired the Hill of Howth Tramway, in the northern suburbs of Dublin, in the 1958 dissolution of the GNRI Board. In Dundalk at the GNR Works the railway engineers developed railbuses for use on sections of the rural network. Formation of County Donegal Railways Joint Committee by the GNR(I) and MRNCC. Willie Gault, a guard with Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway, boarded the train from Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, to Manorhamilton, Co Leitrim . There was a time when almost everyone in Northern Ireland lived within five miles of a railway station. For queries or advice about careers, contact the Careers Service. All railways, from all time periods. All railway companies wholly within the Irish Free State grouped into Great Southern Railways. For queries or advice about historical, social or cultural records relating to Northern Ireland, use the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) enquiry service. In 1607 the earls of Ulster fled and the counties of Armagh, Cavan, Coleraine, Donegal, Fermanagh . And words of support are always appreciated! [citation needed], In 2013, the then Minister for Regional Development, Danny Kennedy, indicated that a restoration of the route between Portadown and Armagh was under active consideration in the long term, pointing out the commercial opportunities for the city of Armagh and its hinterland to be reconnected to the railway network. I dont include every sidings/spur, but rather try to represent the extent of stations/yards and the different routes available. Current View, Stations Re-opening of the Belfast Central Railway between the old GNR and B&CDR systems. My original aim was to help identify tracks when out exploring the landscape. A debate in the Northern Ireland Assembly on Monday 14 May 2007[23] raised several proposals as to how the railway network could be improved: Pressure groups have advocated the protection of former routes, where the track has been lifted but the trackbed remains intact, to enable these to be reinstated for commuter traffic as an alternative to increased road building. Archive of UK railways documents. UK Railways: Exeter redrawn, including corrections to the tram routes. Unfortunately, you might have to clear your browser cache to force Google to provide the tiles again. Maps - Group 2 (PDF) Duluth Missabe and Iron Range Railway - 1930. Four GNRI steam locomotives are preserved. Bottom line do not use the map for navigation or planning use it as a starting point for your own research. Nature reclaims the overgrown Lissummon Tunnel, The creation of a border led to huge delays for passenger trains, The former station at Newcastle, County Down, in the shadow of the Mourne Mountains, The former station at Cookstown, now occupied by the local hockey club, A disused railway bridge in County Armagh, slowly being reclaimed by nature, A train travelling past Belfast International Airport on the mothballed Knockmore line, What a railway station in Downpatrick could look like today if the line was still in place, Russian minister laughed at for Ukraine war claims. All of the notable Midwestern granger lines served Wisconsin but three in particular stand out; the Milwaukee Road, Soo Line, and Chicago & North Western. Northern Ireland Railway Map (Old Routes) : r/northernireland by geeNICK Northern Ireland Railway Map (Old Routes) I recently got interested in the old railway network in Northern Ireland but had difficulty finding any detailed maps of where the tracks used to be. Why is the legend incomplete? [47], One of the major projects instigated by Translink was "New Trains Two" (formerly "New Trains 2010"), which saw the purchase of a new batch of rolling stock. Im currently restricting access via the website itself, so no source data is publicly available (I may make it available to buy in the future). This includes the introduction of ticket vending machines, allowing customers to purchase tickets via an electronic interface at the station (as opposed to the current system in which customers must pay staff for the ticket, who in turn print the customer's ticket for them), a 'smart card' 'tap on, tap off' system similar to the Leap Card and contactless payments. Despite frequent interruptions due to bomb scares, the service has remained a more or less constant feature of the NIR network. [3] The line is maintained both for crew training and as a diversionary route, and passes close to Belfast International Airport at Aldergrove. The Great Southern & Western Railway had introduced express passenger locomotives with a 4-6-0 wheel arrangement, and the GNRI wanted to do the same. Currently only the UK railway map has stations. These entered service on the suburban lines around Belfast, becoming a stalwart on the whole network. some of the map features may be disabled at times of low donations to help reduce costs, with a Google Maps error message displayed, map tiles not appearing and StreetView being unavailable - sorry. However, the lifting shop in the GNRI Dundalk works was too short to build or overhaul a 4-6-0, so the company persisted with 4-4-0 locomotives for even the heaviest and fastest passenger trains. Miniature & Fun, Metro "If the Knockmore line was open you could wave at the end of the runway at Aldergrove," he said. Railway historian Charles Friel, a member of the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland, said the decline began after the partition of Ireland in 1921. Midland Railway (NCC) becomes LMS (NCC) with the merger of the Midland Railway into the London, Midland & Scottish Railway in Great Britain. More than 750 miles of track once linked towns and communities in every county, but. Can I give you money to contribute to the running costs? [1] It was built in the 19th century and absorbed into the Ulster Transport Authority in 1948. The RPSI periodically operates one or more of them on special excursion trains on Northern Ireland Railways and Iarnrd ireann (successor to CI) routes. What time period is depicted? Find summary guidance on using theapplication below, oropen the 'Help' widget in the Historical Maps viewer for a detailed description of to use the various functions. [7] In March 2009 it was announced that CAF had been selected to build the new fleet, named Class 4000. NIR network is divided into the various lines, known as; Dublin Line, Bangor Line, Larne Line, Londonderry Line, Portadown/Newry Line and Portrush Line. In 1920, both the route length (3,442 miles, 5,540km [Railway Magazine, May 1958]) and the traffic levels carried were at their peak, but competition from road traffic began to make inroads into railway traffic from the 1920s. There was a time when almost everyone in Northern Ireland lived within five miles of a railway station. However, as it's just me then dont be offended if I cant incorporate your ideas. Occasionally a whole region of the map disappears. The railway maps are produced by me (Matthew) as a hobby, as is the website, so please bear with me if there are errors on the map or issues with the site as I try to produce updates. Mr Gardiner said it would be unrealistic for residents of every town in Northern Ireland to have easy access to rail in the future, but believes there is some optimism to be drawn from DfI and the Irish Department of Transport working together on the current all-Ireland review. Northern Ireland Railways JourneyCheck provides real time, up-to-date train times and train disruption information keeping you informed about any delays or cancellations on the network and helping you know what to do when your journey is affected. I use out-of-copyright mapping and freely available online sources for all information on railways and routes. For those that only need modern railway data then Open Street Map data is freely available (Geofabrik) and you can download and display the data in GIS software such as Google Earth. The US map is a work in progress, and will take many years to complete. There are a number of historic buildings built by the GNRI such as Lisburn and Dundalk. "There can definitely be synergy between the two but, where it is possible to open railway lines, that really should be the priority," he said. [2]:184185 Most classes of GNRI locomotive had been built in small classes, so this division left both railways with an operational and maintenance difficulty of many different designs all in small numbers. Closure of major part of GNR system, mostly in the North, including Ireland's last horse-worked passenger railway, the Fintona branch; and the last fully independent company, the cross-border Sligo, Leitrim & Northern Counties Railway. But Jonathan Hobbs of NI Greenways believes the development of walking and cycling routes along former railway track beds can help to preserve even the most neglected sites, possibly paving the way for future rail infrastructure.