Belfast–Larne line
Template:Short description Template:More citations needed Template:EngvarB Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox rail line The Belfast–Larne line, or Larne Line, is a railway line in Northern Ireland, operated by Northern Ireland Railways. It runs as double track along the majority of its route north along the scenic east Antrim coastline from Belfast to the coastal seaport town of Larne, serving commuters and ferry passengers.
Route
Belfast
From Template:Stnlink, the line crosses the River Lagan on the Lagan Viaduct, branches from the Bangor line, recrosses the Lagan parallel to the M3 motorway on the Dargan Bridge and reaches its first stop, Template:Stnlink, which replaced the former Yorkgate station in 2024. This in turn replaced the line's original Template:Stnlink terminus in 1992. Parallel to the dual five-lane M2 motorway (once the UK's widest), the line now heads northeast, past the main Northern Ireland Railways engineering depot and engine sheds, along the coast towards Whitehouse, a former halt. The line then continues north along the coast of Belfast Lough.
Whiteabbey
At Whiteabbey, the line enters a cutting and climbs towards Bleach Green Junction. The station is long gone here too (1977), but the lines diverge here, with the Derry~Londonderry line continuing to Template:Stnlnk and Template:Stnlnk. The next stops – Template:Stnlnk (University of Ulster, level crossing), Template:Stnlnk (former junction) and Template:Stnlnk (level crossing) – are still a few hundred yards inland, and Belfast Lough can be seen from time to time where development is sparse. After Trooperslane, the line passes through a former halt at Template:Stnlnk. This station was closed in the early 1970s.
Carrickfergus
Carrickfergus town still has three stations, Template:Stnlink, Template:Stnlnk and Template:Stnlnk. The former halt at Template:Stnlnk has been closed since 1977 (around the same time as Bleach Green Halt). At Downshire bridge the line crosses the A2 road once more and from here north, it follows the coastline at low level, offering views over the lough towards County Down and the Copeland Islands.
Downshire
From Downshire, the line runs through a former halt at Template:Stnlnk. The station here was closed back in 1977 (similar to Barn and Bleach Green Stations). Erosion has affected maintenance along this section, and the line becomes single track now at Kilroot power station (site of a closed halt), where previously it carried on as double track to Template:Stnlink. The outer up track has been removed (officially temporarily) for safety reasons. At Whitehead Station, there is a passing loop and a spur to the former Excursion Station which is the headquarters of the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland.
Larne
Then north to Larne as single track, there are three intermediate halts, Template:Stnlink, Template:Stnlink, and Template:Stnlink, each serving villages en route. On the coastal side, the peninsula of Islandmagee blocks views of Scotland, but forms the wildlife wetlands of Larne Lough. Small sections of the track at the Larne end are built on causeways, forming ponds landside of the railway.
On entering the town, the railway again crosses the road inland to Larne Town station before reaching its terminus at Larne Harbour station, sharing its building with the ferry terminal for the Port of Larne.
Services
On weekdays, trains run half-hourly from Belfast Grand Central, with the outbound terminus alternating every half an hour between Template:Stnlink and Template:Stnlink. Extra services operate at peak times to and from Template:Stnlink and Template:Stnlink. The service reduces to hourly operation after 8pm.
On Saturdays, a similar pattern is maintained to that of the weekday service, minus additional peak-time trains.
On Sundays, the line reduces to hourly operation from Grand Central, with the outbound terminus alternating every hour between Whitehead and Larne Harbour. First services on Sunday are later and last services are earlier.[1]
Ferry connections
P&O Ferries operates ferries to the Scottish terminal of Cairnryan throughout the year.
Onward rail connections
The nearest railway station to Cairnryan is at Template:Stnlnk, with Template:Stnlink the next nearest. A two-hourly bus service operates between Ayr or Girvan and Stranraer, operated by Stagecoach West Scotland as services 358 and 360, calling at Cairnryan ferry terminal and both Girvan and Stranraer railway stations.[2] However, this is not designed to connect with timetabled ferry services.