TRANSLINK has announced that ongoing work on the North-West Multi-Modal Transport Hub at the former Waterside Train Station in Derry will require a scheduled weekend line closure during this weekend.
The line will be closed from Friday, March 29 to Monday, April 1.
This is to facilitate essential track work as part of this major Translink project.
Representing an investment of approximately £27 million, funding for this project has been secured from the European Union’s INTERREG VA Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), with match funding provided by the Department for Infrastructure and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport in Ireland.
The ambitious cross-border project has the potential to completely transform travel in the North-West, encouraging a modal shift, and sitting comfortably alongside substantial Translink investment in the region in recent years.
This closure has been timed in order to minimise disruption for railway users and the wider community in the city.
Bus substitutions will be in place between Derry and Coleraine, via Limavady, for NI Railways passengers during this period.
Buses will depart from Foyle Street Bus Centre, and will service Waterside Railway Station.
Customers who would normally travel to and from Bellarena should be aware that bus substitutions will serve Limavady Bus Station during this period.
During the closure period, the normal NI Railways timetable will operate between Great Victoria Street and Coleraine, with all services ultimately terminating in Portrush.
Bus substitutions serving Castlerock, Limavady and Derry will be available from Coleraine Bus and Rail Centre.
In addition to the forthcoming weekend closure, we will be working closely with our contractors, Farrans and Rhomberg Sersa, to carry out scheduled evening works on the line between Mondays and Fridays during the period 25 March-13 April, incorporating the full weekend closure.
This will have an impact on the 06:12 service from Derry, which will be a bus substitution until Coleraine, and the 21:10 from Great Victoria Street, which will operate to Coleraine before another bus substitution to accommodate passengers travelling to Derry, via Castlerock and Limavady (for Bellarena).
All other scheduled services to and from Derry will run without planned interruption during this period.
More details will be made available before this work gets underway, and every effort will be made to keep noise and disruption to a minimum.
As work continues to progress on the North-West Hub, two additional weekend closures will be implemented during June, with a 12-day closure of the line in October.
During the forthcoming weekend closure, engineering equipment will be operating along the line.
As always, Translink has ask the local community to remain vigilant, continue to use designated railway crossings safely and not to become complacent.
“It will be important to impress upon young people the potential dangers of using the tracks as a shortcut or trespassing on or near NI Railways property or around engineering sites.
“Translink is committed to the North-West, and we are hopeful of seeing an increased use of public transport in the region once the new Hub is operational.
“Passenger numbers have grown substantially since the introduction of the hourly NI Railways service between Derry and Coleraine in July 2017, with passenger numbers 24% higher than in 2017/18.
“Along with our contractors, Farrans and Rhomberg Sersa, Translink would like to thank commuters and members of the community in the North-West for their patience while we carry out this essential work.
“Further information can be found at www.translink.co.uk
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