The Belfast to Bangor line (known simply as the Bangor line by NI Railways[1]) is a railway line in Northern Ireland, originally part of the Belfast & County Down Railway. All services are operated by NI Railways, the only operator for Northern Ireland (NI). Unlike the rest of the United Kingdom, no railway in NI is part of the National Rail network and none is owned by Network Rail. Services run every half-hour, with up to six trains per hour in each direction (3 express and 3 stopping services) at peak times.[2]
All NIR services on this line terminate at Belfast Lanyon Place stopping at stations in between.
Trains typically operated between Portadown and Bangor on weekdays and Sundays, and between Lisburn and Bangor on Saturdays. However, this service has been temporarily suspended due to the closure of the Lisburn to Belfast Lanyon Place line for the Belfast Grand Central enabling works.[2][3]
The Belfast-Bangor Line is part of the key link into Belfast city centre. Trains run from Lanyon Place to Sydenham for planes from George Best Belfast City Airport.
The Bangor Line serves important museums including the Ulster Museum, where passengers can alight at Botanic and for the Ulster Folk & Transport Museum alight at Cultra.
There is a private rail siding at Cultra[4] which is used occasionally for access by the museum to the main rail network, but is not used by passenger services.
Passengers can alight at Titanic Quarter station for the Odyssey Arena and the Titanic Quarter.
There are some connections to private sidings at Whitehead and Cultra.
