Bellarena railway station

Bellarena railway station serves the village of Bellarena and the broader Limavady area in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The current two-platform station was opened in 2016, replacing the original single-platform 1853 station located on the opposite side of the nearby level crossing.

Bellarena
NI Railways
The new station under construction in 2016.
General information
LocationBellarena
Northern Ireland
Coordinates55°7′36″N 6°57′6″W / 55.12667°N 6.95167°W / 55.12667; -6.95167
Owned byNI Railways
Operated byNI Railways
Line(s)Derry~Londonderry
Platforms2
Tracks2
Construction
Structure typeAt-grade
Key dates
1853Opened
1976Closed
1982Re-opened
2016Station moved to new site, passing loop constructed
Passengers
2022/2355,822 [1]
2023/24Increase 74,030 [2]
Route map

(Click to expand)
Year
closed
Great Victoria Street
2024
Belfast Grand Central Belfast-Bangor railway line Belfast-Dublin railway line Belfast-Larne railway line Belfast-Newry railway line
City Hospital Belfast-Bangor railway line Belfast-Larne railway line
Botanic Belfast-Bangor railway line Belfast-Larne railway line
Lanyon Place Belfast-Bangor railway line Belfast-Larne railway line
York Street Belfast-Larne railway line
Yorkgate
2024
York Road depot
York Road
1992
Fortwilliam Traincare Depot
Whiteabbey Belfast-Larne railway line
1963
Monkstown
1981
Mossley
1982
Mossley West
Ballyclare Junction
1961
Ballyclare branch line
to Lisnalinchy, Ballyclare
1930
Ballyrobert
1920
Doagh
1970
Templepatrick
1981
Dunadry
1954
Muckamore
1961
Antrim
Cookstown Junction
1976
1955
Kellswater
1971
Andraid
1850
1950
Ballymena
1940
Cullybackey
Glarryford
1973
Killagan
1973
Dunloy
1976
Ballymoney
1950
1950
Macfin
1954
Coleraine Coleraine-Portrush railway line
Coleraine Harbour
1963
Coleraine Waterside
1861
Barmouth
1856
Castlerock
Castlerock Tunnel
Downhill Tunnel
Downhill
1973
Umbra
1861
Magilligan
1976
Bellarena
Limavady Junction
1976
Ballykelly
1954
Carrichue
1954
Faughanvale
1859
Eglinton
1973
Derry~Londonderry
Location
Bellarena is located in Northern Ireland
Bellarena
Bellarena
Location within Northern Ireland
Bellarena is located in island of Ireland
Bellarena
Bellarena
Location on the Island of Ireland
Map

Original station (1853-2016)

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One feature Bellarena retains from BNCR days is the station name spelled out in tiles on the building

Bellarena station has served several railway companies since its first opening on 18 July 1853. The original station buildings were erected between 1873 and 1875 to designs by the architect John Lanyon.[3]

It was closed for goods traffic from 4 January 1965, and to passengers from 18 October 1976, but was later re-opened on 28 June 1982.[4]

The original station buildings are now in private ownership and were converted to living quarters in 2005, with the exterior boasting the station's name in a unique tile pattern. The stationmaster's house was renovated in the 1980s.[citation needed]

Current station (2016-present)

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The original station, opened in 1853 and closed in 2016. The new station is located behind the camera.

In late 2015, work started on a new station at Bellarena, replacing the original 1853 station with one on a new site located on the other side of the adjacent level crossing. The new station opened to traffic on Monday 21 March 2016. Unlike the old station, the new station has two platforms, with a new passing loop replacing the one originally at Castlerock railway station. The original station features are still in existence and can easily be seen from the new station.[citation needed]

Service

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Mondays to Saturdays there is an hourly service towards Derry~Londonderry or Belfast Grand Central operated by Northern Ireland Railways.[5]

On Sundays there are 6 trains in each direction.

Preceding station     Northern Ireland Railways   Following station
Castlerock   Northern Ireland Railways
Belfast-Derry
  Derry~Londonderry
  Historical railways  
Magilligan
Line open, station closed
  Londonderry and Coleraine Railway
Coleraine-Derry
  Limavady Junction
Line open, station closed

References

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  1. ^ "FOI1317 NIR Footfall 2223.xlsx". www.whatdotheyknow.com. 17 April 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  2. ^ "FOI Footfall 2023 2024 figures PDF.pdf". www.whatdotheyknow.com. 7 May 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  3. ^ The Industrial Archaeology of Northern Ireland. William Alan McCutcheon, Northern Ireland. Department of the Environment. Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 1984
  4. ^ "Bellarena station" (PDF). Railscot - Irish Railways. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 30 August 2007.
  5. ^ "NIR timetable December 2009" Archived 14 April 2010 at the Wayback Machine