Public encouraged to make ‘smart moves’ by train to Bangor on May 16 to mark historic milestone
The 150th anniversary of the opening of the Holywood – Bangor Railway Line will take place this month (18 May 2015) and to mark the major historic milestone, Translink is encouraging more people to visit Bangor and enjoy a range of special events and activities taking place on Saturday 16th May.
Steeped in history, the railway in North Down has come a long way since construction was completed by the Belfast, Holywood and Bangor Railway Company (BHBR) in 1865 when the population of Bangor was less than 3,000.
In the past decade alone, passenger numbers on the Bangor railway line have grown by 89%. Today, the line is thriving with over 2.87 million passenger journeys made in 2014/15. Customers today can choose from 100 services per day and six departures per hour during peak times.
Gemma McMurray, Translink NI Railways Route Manager – Bangor Line, said there are many reasons for the continued popularity of train travel:
“Travelling by train is a ‘smart move’ for many people in Northern Ireland. Both regular commuters and visitors to North Down enjoy a wide range of benefits by using the train – relaxing hassle-free journeys on board modern clean trains, frequent and reliable services, free on board wi-fi, time-savings compared to car travel and great value with a range of attractive tickets to choose from.
“During this special anniversary year, we want more people to explore North Down by train and enjoy all the excellent attractions situated along the route. Stop off in Holywood town centre and browse the speciality boutiques, step back in time at Cultra’s Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, blow away the cobwebs at Crawfordsburn Country Park, explore Grey Point Fort at Helen’s Bay, soak up the fun at Bangor’s Pickie Fun Park and Aurora Aquatic Complex or relax in the serenity of Bangor Castle Walled Garden.
“On Saturday 16th May, a range of events will be taking place in Bangor making it a perfect destination for a fun family day out. There will be music and food galore with the Continental Market at McKee Clock Arena and the Ards and North Down Pipe Band Championships taking place in Castle Park.
“There will also be entertainment in Bangor Bus & Rail Centre from 2 – 4pm with historical characters in costume provided by the Ulster-Scots Agency, memorabilia and model railway displays, Bluegrass musical performances as well as face-painting and balloon-modelling for kids. Translink customers can also enjoy complimentary treats provided by ‘The Salt House and Steam Coffee and Bake House’ and ‘Station News’.
“To get there, passengers can take advantage of a third-off rail day return tickets for travel after 9.30am or the Family & Friends ticket offering unlimited all day travel on Translink bus and train services for up to 2 adults and 4 children for just £22.
“We also want our passengers to tell us why they love their journey by train on the Bangor railway line– simply tweet Translink_NI #smartmovers with their stories. All the tweets will be entered into a competition to win prizes including travel and local attraction tickets plus copies of historian Robin Masefield’s new book ‘Be Careful, Don’t Rush, celebrating 150 years of train travel between Holywood and Bangor’ .
“We’ve also worked closely with Robin to create a series of Bangor Railway posters that will be put on display in coming weeks along the route and provide an interesting overview of each individual station’s unique history.
“We’re really looking forward to celebrating the 150th anniversary and welcoming more visitors to Bangor for a great day out on May 16,” said Gemma.
Alex Irvine, Tourism Development Officer, Ards and North Down Borough Council, said:
“Visitors and tourists have been coming here by train since the railways inception to enjoy the many attractions and activities the area has to offer. We are delighted to be supporting this weekend of celebrations and we hope that people will take this opportunity to jump on board and come to Bangor for a busy day of activities on May 16th.”
For further information on the Holywood – Bangor Railway 150th anniversary click www.translink.co.uk/HBR150/. For Translink NI Railways travel information call 028 90 66 66 30.