Rail line between Londonderry and Coleraine to close over two September weekends

Passengers travelling between Derry~Londonderry and Coleraine are being urged to plan ahead as essential engineering work will close the railway line across two weekends in September.

Rail replacement buses will operate during the closures, while early-morning services will also face changes on the following Tuesdays.

Dates passengers need to know

Engineering work will take place on:

• Saturday 19, Sunday 20 and Monday 21 September

• Saturday 26, Sunday 27 and Monday 28 September

There will also be changes to some early-morning rail services on Tuesday 22 and Tuesday 29 September.

Passengers should allow additional time for their journeys and check the arrangements for their intended service before setting off.

Rail replacement buses to operate

Rail replacement bus services will run between Derry~Londonderry and Coleraine during the affected periods.

Valid rail tickets will also be accepted on appropriate scheduled bus services.

Translink said the closures will allow several maintenance and improvement activities to be completed together, reducing the likelihood of further disruption at other times.

John Glass, Translink Director of Infrastructure and Projects, said:

“We know these works will affect some journeys, particularly on the two Mondays, and we’d encourage customers to plan ahead and check service information before travelling.

“While no disruption is ever welcome, these works are essential to maintaining the safety and reliability of the railway. By completing several activities during the same closure periods, we can minimise the need for future disruption.

“We’d like to thank passengers and local communities for their patience and understanding while this important work is carried out.”

Other railway services unaffected

Rail services between Coleraine and Belfast Grand Central Station will continue to operate as normal.

There will also be no impact on trains running between Coleraine and Portrush.

Services on the Bangor, Larne and Portadown lines, along with cross-border rail services, are expected to operate normally.

Advice for Belfast City Half Marathon passengers

The first weekend of engineering work coincides with the Belfast City Half Marathon on Sunday 20 September.

Passengers travelling from Derry~Londonderry to Belfast for the event are advised to take the 6am 212 bus service from Foyle Street Buscentre.

The service is scheduled to arrive at Belfast Grand Central Station at 8am. Passengers can then use scheduled services to continue to Lanyon Place.

Check before travelling

Passengers can check the latest arrangements using the Translink Journey Planner app or through Translink’s website.

Travel information is also available by calling: 028 9066 6630

Translink will provide further updates through its social media channels. Passengers travelling on any of the affected dates should check their journey shortly before departure and leave additional time for the replacement connection.