Downshire railway station

Downshire railway station serves eastern Carrickfergus in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.

Downshire
NI Railways
A Class 450 train departs Platform 1 in the Belfast direction, 2008.
General information
LocationCarrickfergus
Northern Ireland
Coordinates54°43′16″N 5°47′25″W / 54.72111°N 5.79028°W / 54.72111; -5.79028
Owned byNI Railways
Operated byNI Railways
Line(s)Larne
Platforms2
Tracks2
Construction
Structure typeAt-grade
Key dates
1925Station opened as Downshire Park
1979Station renamed to Downshire
2008Station refurbished
Passengers
2022/23132,158 [1]
2023/24Increase 175,026 [2]
Route map

(Click to expand)
Year
closed
Great Victoria Street
2024
Belfast Grand Central Belfast-Bangor railway line Belfast-Derry railway line Belfast-Dublin railway line Belfast-Newry railway line
City Hospital Belfast-Bangor railway line Belfast-Derry railway line
Botanic Tunnel
Botanic Belfast-Bangor railway line Belfast-Derry railway line
Lanyon Place Belfast-Bangor railway line Belfast-Derry railway line
York Street Belfast-Derry railway line
Yorkgate
2024
York Road depot
1992
Greencastle
1954
Whitehouse
1954
Whiteabbey Belfast-Derry railway line
Bleach Green
1977
Jordanstown
1963
Greenisland
Trooperslane
Mount
1977
Harbour branch line
to Carrickfergus Harbour
Clipperstown
Carrickfergus
Barn
1977
Downshire
Eden
1977
Kilroot
1977
Whitehead
Whitehead Excursion
RPSI depot
Ballycarry
Magheramorne
Glynn
Larne Town
Larne Harbour ferry/water interchange
Location
Downshire is located in Northern Ireland
Downshire
Downshire
Location within Northern Ireland
Downshire is located in island of Ireland
Downshire
Downshire
Location on the island of Ireland
Map

This station opened on 1 April 1925 and was known for most of its early life as Downshire Park. Northern Ireland Railways renamed the halt in the late 1970s.[3] The station's signposts prior to the 2008 refurbishment named the station as "Downshire Halt", a name by which the station is still locally known.

The Belfast-bound platform was extended during summer 2011 to allow longer trains to operate. The Larne-bound platform was similarly refurbished in early 2012.[4]

Service

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On weekdays, there is a half-hourly service to Belfast Grand Central. In the other direction, there is a half-hourly service with the terminus alternating between Whitehead and Larne Harbour every half an hour. At peak times some trains terminate at Larne Town.

On Saturdays, the service remains half-hourly with the same alternating pattern, and there are less peak services.

On Sundays, the service reduces to an hourly operation in both directions.[5]

Preceding station     Northern Ireland Railways   Following station
Carrickfergus   Northern Ireland Railways
Belfast-Larne Line
  Whitehead
  Historical railways  
Barn
Line open, station closed
  Northern Counties Committee
Belfast-Larne
  Eden
Line open, station closed

References

edit
  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. ^ "Downshire Park" (PDF). Railscot - Irish Railways. Retrieved 8 May 2008.
  4. ^ "NI Railways Engineering Works Information". Translink. 4 July 2011. Archived from the original on 3 August 2011. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
  5. ^ "Larne Line NIRailways / Larne Line". translink.co.uk. 13 October 2024. Retrieved 13 October 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)