... I'm not psychic by any means; I just know from countless experience that Northern Ireland Railways (NIR) wouldn't have me at my destination in the time their timetable would have me believe. And sure enough the journey was not without its problems for that particular night I ended up not on ... Read review
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A review by ADBoyce on Northern Ireland Railways October 22nd, 2002
Author's product rating:
Frequency of trains
Satisfactory
Reliability of trains
Occasionally on time
Comfort of trains
Slightly uncomfortable
On-board facilities
Very poor
Advantages:
Fares are reasonable with frequent promotions, staff are generally helpful, all trains have disabled access (despite their age) .
Disadvantages:
Frequent delays, old and dirty trains, some stations lack basic facilities .
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
It had been a long day in the big smoke and I was looking forward to the journey home. My feet were aching, I was tired and hungry and the train was due to leave at 21:15. According to the timetable I would arrive home at 22:55 just in time for bed but somehow I knew that it would be after eleven before I did. I'm not psychic by any means; I just know from countless experience that Northern Ireland Railways (NIR) wouldn't have me at my destination in the time their timetable would have me believe. And sure enough the journey was not without its problems for that particular night I ended up not on a train, but in a taxi and remarkably I managed to get home before the train had even reached my station.
The whole episode began when I reached the platform and the porter asked where I was travelling. When I told him my destination he said it would be the third train to enter on platform one. Already late, in succession three trains entered the platform one after another and as the third entered I got up to board it when the guard cried out to me. "That's not your train mister" and somewhat confused I sat back down again in anticipation of when it would arrive. Five minutes later I was beginning to feel a bit apprehensive and knew something was wrong so checked with the porter as to when it would be arriving. "It's already gone," he said and at the words "about five minutes ago" my heart sunk. It was the last train and being 50 miles from home I started to panic at the thought of how I would manage to get back there so late at night. The Station Manager looked equally panicked and asked if there was anyone else waiting for the train. When four others stood up I knew I was not alone.
The saga ended when the Station Manager fetched us a cab that would take us along the route the train would travel. Ironically at several points along the way we could see the train in the distance chortling its way through the darkened countryside. When the taxi finally arrived at my destination it was 10:50pm and I could see the train approaching the station. Despite any apparent delay in organising the taxi and dropping off the other passengers, the taxi had still managed to arrive before the train. And so, once again, a standard train journey turned into something of an escapade. Alas, this is something synonymous with NIR.
Translink is the organisation charged with managing the province's public transport network and has sole responsibility for Northern Ireland Railways. This includes everything from trains, to stations, track and signalling. It was formed in 1995 after a government review aimed at promoting the use of public transport. In general it adopts an approach of integrating buses and trains so that most parts of Northern Ireland are accessible by one or both. I'll not bore you with all the nitty gritty details but the most important thing to note is that it's still a publicly owned and publicly funded organisation. This is important, as you will find out later when I get to the reasons for NIR providing the poor service that it does.
The rail network here consists of four main lines connecting the cities of Belfast, Dublin and Londonderry, and the major towns of Coleraine, Portadown, Newry, Larne and Bangor. There are various main stations dotted across the network, generally in larger towns and these are usually manned by staff. The larger stations are well maintained and provide basic facilities such as toilets, vending machines, a shop or café. The majority of stations however are simply comprised of a shelter, a few seats and a copy of the timetable. It is at these stations in particular that vandalism is rife and timetables are often missing which, for an infrequent traveller or tourist, can be a nightmare. There are no monitors to inform you of delays and no telephones allowing you to check train times either. If your mobile phone is handy you may also find that the company's help line number isn't. And on the occasions I have used it I have found it not to be helpful at all - most of the staff aren't kept informed of when trains are delayed - they simply rhyme off the timetable to you.
Speaking of staff - there are plenty of them - all employed by Translink and they are generally very helpful. They work in difficult conditions with aging trains and frequent delays but somehow manage to retain a pleasant personality and will help you in whatever way they can. They do make mistakes on occasions as I've already demonstrated but then no one is entirely perfect. Where delays occur they will do their best to remedy the situation and if you find your train has left without you they'll certainly get you home in some shape or form! The company employs an independent monitor to assess its performance on areas of service and it's a condition of their passengers' charter that all staff wear the distinctive Translink uniform. Likewise, trains are monitored for punctuality, reliability and cleanliness.
Dirty floors, broken windows and knackered heating aren't my idea of a comfortable means of travel and if you are anyway sane they wont be yours either. This is often the case with the trains of NIR and it's largely due to their age. Most of them are a decade older than myself (I'm 21) and it's for this reason that they so often break down. On the parts of the track where trains can average a speed greater than 50mph they become incredibly noisy and creak to the point where you expect the carriage to dislodge itself at any minute. The seats aren't the most comfortable and a train that sways from side to side may leave you feeling a little queasy. Don't venture to the bathroom though unless it's essential. The toilets on board are generally filthy, cramped and on most trains the door never locks properly. On one occasion I was on board a train that happened to be veering a corner when some poor chap was doing his 'business'. The door of the cubicle swung open and neither he nor I knew where to look. If you go hungry too, don't expect a quick solution - where catering is provided it's usually poor and nothing more than crisps, tea and sandwiches.
Sadly the majority of these problems are attributed to a serious under-funding of public transport in Northern Ireland for many decades. If you happen to complain to Translink (as I have done on occasions) you will find they hold their hands up to the problems of their network. The company itself does try hard to please its passengers and it would be unfair of me to suggest otherwise. Recent innovations have included the upgrade of key stations on the network, improvements to minor stations and refurbishment of certain trains. At the time of writing the company is awaiting delivery of some 30 new trains to be employed in 2004 and plans are afoot to upgrade certain stretches of track.
Despite the problems of aging trains, the safety record of NIR is almost immaculate. Where people have been killed or injured on the railways it has largely been due to accidents rather than faults on the part of the company. They are strict on safety. In one instance where a train broke down just yards from a station, passengers were not allowed to disembark until the train could be pulled into the station. Major incidents such as the Hatfield and Potters Bar disasters are simply unheard of.
Fares are somewhat reasonable and discounts are available for students provided they have a travelsave stamp (costing £6 per year) attached to their International Student Identity Card. Over 65's travel free provided they have their smartpass and children under 16 travel at half the adult fare. Weekly and monthly season tickets represent particularly good value for money and there are frequent promotions on most routes. In the summer special discounts apply which allow you to travel between any number of stations on the network for a flat rate of £5 per adult (£12.50 for families). On Sundays this is reduced to £3 per adult. The rail network extends to the popular holiday destinations of Portrush and Bangor and these tickets in particular provide for a cheap day out.
More recently the company has come to provide an award winning website that allows you to keep up to date with delays and travel information. There's a handy journey planner aspect to the site which, when the new trains eventually arrive, will prove invaluable. All too frequently it's a case of trains being delayed for one reason or another and what you plan online is rarely what you experience in your actual journey.
As a frequent rail traveller I could list countless incidents where I have been aboard a train that has broken down or where the train has been so cold I shivered the entire length of the journey. There have been instances where urine has run down the aisle of a carriage as one of the toilets had over flown. There have been countless incidents where I have been late for work or Uni because the train has broken down. Where I've applied for compensation it's usually been in the form of travel vouchers and you might argue that these are more insulting than compensatory. Be warned also - they don't compensate against loss of earnings and if the boss sacks you for being late several days in a row don't expect Translink to back your case.
Just recently eight people were injured when a train was derailed close to where I live. It wasnt through any fault of the train company but by a landslide that had caused a giant boulder to land on a section of track. I happened to take a train to Belfast and found it to be early despite the disruption this particular incident had caused on the netwo rk. And so you begin to see the diversity of the problems faced by NIR.
On the whole, there is a lot to be said for Northern Ireland Railways. It's a great way of seeing the countryside and, despite its problems, represents a cheap means of getting around. Sadly the network only covers around half of Northern Ireland so it?s not a means to be relied upon if you want to see the entire province. Unlike its mainland counterparts, how it is managed remains the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Assembly which, in recent years, has set out to improve the service. With additional funding and the replacement of all its rolling stock, NIR is certain to provide a service to be envied in years to come.
*For those interested in finding out more of the company as a whole and the stations covered by NIR you can find full details on the company's website:
Advantages: Cheap for students, avoids traffic Disadvantages: slow, lateness.
...I have become acquainted to Northern Ireland Railways.
Well, what can I say? I could tell you that it’s a wonderful service, that the trains are always on time etc. but I doubt that many of you would believe me, and you would be right!
Northern Ireland Railways is part of a public transport company, "Translink". There are 5 main lines operating out of Central Station in Belfast. There is the Londonderry Line, The Portadown Line, The Bangor ... ...last, but certainly not least the Larne Line - notoriously bad, well known for being delayed. At the moment, both Central Station and Bangor stations are being renovated. Hopefully this will mean greater improved services for everyone, or at the very least, somewhere warm to sit while you wait on your late train.
I take the Larne Line. As a student it costs me £4.20 return every day to Belfast. Students are only entitled to this if they have a International ...
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Advantages: Friendly staff Disadvantages: Where shall I start?
...This can be reflected in Northern Ireland by NIR. I get the train every day to university because I cannot afford a car but the service offered by NIR does encourage you to start thinking about saving those pennies.
My local stop is only about ten minutes away from my house and it is a hole. Fair enough, it is not the main stop in my town (it lies on the outskirts) but I do expect some kind of decent stop. It is a brick shelter which gives very ... ...is filthy, smelly with lots of graffitti. The graffitti is constantly painted over only to be graffitted on again...the result being one big mess.
As we are all standding huddled as close together as possible for protection from the wind and rain, the announcer system booms out that there will be a delay of about six minutes. Everyone sighs, but whats new. It frequently happens.
The train comes and, gee, surprise, surprise, it is backed to bursting ...
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Advantages: No traffic jams Disadvantages: late, smelly, draughty, crowded
Northern Ireland railways are a good idea in theory. The train's a good idea for those travelling outside Belfast into the city, as it's more relaxing (in theory) and there's no traffic jams to worry about. If only it was that simple.....
NIR are well known for their lack of reliability in Northern Ireland. It's rare that the trains run on time, and because the stock is so old, they're very prone to breaking down. I have also heard the usual excuses, ... ...within the rail network in Northern Ireland for £4. There are also similar rates available during the summer months. There are also good offers on certain routes, but they change frequently. They also offer half price rail travel for those on Job seeker’s allowance, so long as you have a card provided free of charge from the social security office.
Staff in general are very helpful, however, I have found a few very rude staff, especially in ...
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Advantages: Trains, ticket prices, friendly staff, efficient service - need I go on Disadvantages: Could have more lines and a catering trolley on board trains
...company who operates under the Northern Ireland Transport umbrella company, called Translink, has gone from strength to strength as they are truly providing a great 21st Century transport service; although a consistent stream of future investment is still needed to expand the network further.
Let's look at some statistics:
In the past five years, expecially with the introduction of new trains, passenger numbers have increased by as much as 60 percent ... ...if the railway lines in Northern Ireland were to expand again into once used territory - i.e. Armagh, Comber and Co. Tyrone, however, it is only a matter of time before this happens. Now we have local government, our local politicians are recognising the need for major transport development in the future. However, N I Railways must ensure that for the short term anyhow (the next 7 to 10 years), that they keep all existing lines and assets, and develop ...
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...you are thinking about using Northern Ireland Rail - DONT! If the government want us to use public transport they will have to completely overall this network. As for me il be taking the car in future and using one of Dublin City Centre car parks and this would still be a hell of a lot cheaper than £110 it took for five of us to use the train! ...
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Advantages: Don't have to fight lanes of traffic in Belfast Disadvantages: Late, dirty buses, rude staff
...Translink, the owner of both Ulsterbus and NorthernIrelandrailways is running ads at the minute to leave the car at home and get the bus, fair enough if they could provide us with a service that would persuade me to leave my car at home.
Ulsterbus have been running the bus service within NorthernIreland since 1967, and operate over 1000 buses across the province. They regularly update their bus stock, and most coaches, especially the Goldliner service, express coaches between towns and cities, are relatively new. The older buses are generally used for school runs where they are promptly trashed by gangs of schoolkids.
There is also a variety of bus sizes, from the small 15 seaters for use within town servieces to the 'bendy buses' which are used mainly for the Belfast - Londonderry route. 'Bendy buses' are the ones that look...
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Advantages: Comfortable, Reliable, Punctual Disadvantages: Busy on Fridays and Sundays
...Having travelled extensively in Ireland, Iarnod Eirann operate a mix of short haul services around Dublin (known as the Dart), outer suburban services marketed under the name 'Arrow' and main line services from Dublin to Sligo, Westport, Galway, Limerick, Tralee, Cork, Waterford and Rosslare. Cross border services to Belfast are run jointly with NorthernIrelandRailways under the name 'Enterprise'. Local services operate out of Cork and Limerick, those out of Limerick being formed of 'Arrow' type stock, and those from Cork by a mix of 'Arrow', and older hauled coaches. Although old, they are reasonably clean inside, and being steam heated are delightfully atmouspheric. However, its something of a case of enjoy them whilst you can as more 'Arrows' are on order, which may bring slightly more frequent services, at the expense of less...
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...traditional hotels with character that preserve some history and semblance of bygone days. Sadly, the Slieve Donard is the only one still operating as a hotel today, recently undergoing a major refurbishment to it's facade and is the jewel in Hastings Crown. They like to think of it as the "Gleneagles" of NorthernIreland, and I can sort of see why.
Old Railway hotels are always steeped in history and they often have large elaborate reception areas and lounges, which would have been full of the hustle and bustle you would come to expect at a railway station in the old days. One such hotel on the mainland in UK that I have always liked because of its history is the Midland Hotel in Manchester, but that is where the comparisons end.
The Slieve Donard Hotel was originally built by the Belfast and County Down Railway, as an 'end of line...
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