Lisburn to Antrim Branch NIR status

[GNRi Milepost 105]

Hello all,

would any members know the official status of the disused NIR railway line between Lisburn and Antrim via Crumlin.

I ask because I noticed a tree blown down across the the track between Brookmount and Brookhill Bridge after Storm Darragh last December. 

I happened along past that way again today and the tree is still there. 

Seems strange that no one has cleared it away to at least prevent further damage to drains/track.

Any ideas?

 

 

[jhb171achill]

2 hours ago, GNRi Milepost 105 said:

Hello all,

would any members know the official status of the disused NIR railway line between Lisburn and Antrim via Crumlin.

I ask because I noticed a tree blown down across the the track between Brookmount and Brookhill Bridge after Storm Darragh last December. 

I happened along past that way again today and the tree is still there. 

Seems strange that no one has cleared it away to at least prevent further damage to drains/track.

Any ideas?

 

 

The line is officially operational but has no scheduled services. Intermediate stations are temporarily closed. It has occasionally been used for crew training in recent years.

[airfixfan]

Officially mothballed by Translink last train was end of last year

[spudfan]

Track still looked good last I saw it. At least it is still in situ.

[airfixfan]

Line is maintained as operational in case of an emergency

[Mol_PMB]

3 minutes ago, airfixfan said:

Line is maintained as operational in case of an emergency

Best tell them to take a few chainsaws then if there's a tree down across the line!

Seriously, there have been some train drivers with life-changing injuries as a consequence of crashing into trees. Do Translink have a way to report this sort of thing?

[jhb171achill]

On 23/1/2025 at 8:25 PM, Mol_PMB said:

Best tell them to take a few chainsaws then if there's a tree down across the line!

Seriously, there have been some train drivers with life-changing injuries as a consequence of crashing into trees. Do Translink have a way to report this sort of thing?

I think all railways do now. If they planned to use the Antrim line any time soon, especially since it has no scheduled services over it, health and safety rules would demand that it be ensured in advance that it was safe to traverse.