The £5.6 million remodelling of Portrush station has been completed by lead contractor Graham, and the station handed back to Northern Ireland’s transport authority Translink, in advance of its official opening, which will take place on 25 June 2019.
The work has been completed ahead of the 148th Open, Portrush, to be held in the town this July. The event, which is expected to attract around 190,000 visitors, offers a significant opportunity to develop the economy of Portrush town and the wider North Coast, bringing substantial benefits to the area in terms of visitor numbers, spend and investment.
As part of the remodelling, the ticket office was demolished and replaced by a more modern station building. Platforms were extended to accommodate six-car train sets and provide increased capacity. In addition, Graham has installed modern facilities, providing enhanced passenger information and a new public address system. The new station also includes increased cycle storage space to encourage active travel and ‘greener’ tourism links.
Funding for the station was secured from the Department for Communities (£4.7 million) and Department for Infrastructure (over £900,000). The station is one element of a wider £17 million Portrush Regeneration Programme, led by the Department for Communities, which also includes a major public realm and revitalisation scheme for the town. The station’s contemporary design will complement the surrounding public realm works.
Jonny Kerr, Graham’s contracts director, said: “We are very excited to be handing over the completed train station at Portrush to Translink and eagerly await the response from the travelling public to what is a gateway to the town and North Coast.
“Portrush is one of Ireland’s most popular seaside resorts. The new station’s increased capacity will allow for further passenger and visitor growth as well as delivering wider economic benefits to the region.
“I’d like to thank the project team and all of our partners for their hard work and collaborative approach in delivering this project safely and ahead of schedule and in time for the upcoming 148th Open taking place in the town.”
Translink’s head of rail service operations Richard Knox added: “We are delighted to take possession of Portrush train station from our contractor, and we look forward to welcoming the public to make use of what is above all their facility.
“As Translink continues our journey towards making public transport ‘your first choice for travel’ in Northern Ireland, investments like Portrush train station are of critical importance. We are proud of what Portrush station has to offer the travelling public, and we’re certain that those passing through this summer will be impressed by what they encounter, from modern waiting facilities, improved passenger information and signage to local amenities and attractions, as well as enhanced cycle storage to promote more ‘active’ travel.”
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