Knockmore Railway Line To Belfast International Airport: Public Support Grows For Improved Transport Links

Sunday, July 13, 2025

The imaginable for reopening nan Knockmore railway statement that passed done towns specified arsenic Crumlin, Glenavy and Ballinderry, has been nan taxable of extended section liking successful Northern Ireland. Flickr / Albert Bridge After having rider services suspended successful 2003, nan imaginable reopening of nan statement is yet being investigated and those down nan connection dream that a nonstop obstruction nexus to Belfast International Airport could beryllium provided. The feasibility of bringing backmost nan work is being considered by Translink, Northern Ireland’s nationalist carrier provider. The findings from this study should beryllium made disposable later this year, and celebrated and governmental attentions person precocious been sparked by nan project.

The Knockmore Line argument

The Knockmore statement (an aged statement which utilized to link Antrim and Lisburn and different towns pinch Belfast) closed complete 2 decades ago. But location person been expanding demands from commuters, section residents and from those promoting tourism to person nan statement re-instated, peculiarly pinch a position astatine Belfast International Airport. There is besides chat of nan alleged Belfast – Lisburn – Antrim – Belfast “Circle Line” which is seen arsenic offering enhanced connectivity successful nan area, including for passengers transiting to aliases from nan airport.

Translink has deferred plans connected re-opening nan statement to Knockmore successful ray of nan expanding request for improved nationalist carrier links to Belfast International Airport. As portion of their study for reopening, Translink is not conscionable moving retired nan costs and engineering to reopen nan railway, but besides looking astatine what nan effect would beryllium of reintroducing stations astatine Ballinderry, Glenavy and Crumlin – each stations that erstwhile served nan line. The feasibility of creating a caller position astatine Belfast International Airport, providing valuable carrier entree to 1 of Northern Ireland’s busiest carrier hubs, is besides nether consideration.

Support for Railway Re-opening arsenic General Views

There has been overwhelming nationalist support for nan re-opening of nan Knockmore line. A Belfast Live canvass published past week besides showed overwhelming support for nan nexus pinch 1,389 of those who voted supporting nan reopening of nan railway statement to nan airport. Its support spans nan community, nan commuters, and those who recreation successful nan regular commuters from their accommodation. Many travelers getting to nan airdrome now are utilizing taxis, individual cars aliases buses that impact perchance lengthy recreation and cost. A nonstop train relationship would supply a faster, cheaper and less-polluting recreation choice.

The study besides drew attraction to nan trouble that group travelling to Belfast International Airport person astatine coming successful reaching it. Seven 100 thirty-three said that they usually thrust their ain cars and parkland astatine nan airport, and 395 trust connected rides from family aliases friends. 182 group usage nationalist carrier alternatives for illustration buses, 104 do not person a car and usage taxis instead. Ordinarily, connected nan ground of these alternatives, nan absence of a done obstruction solution would beryllium a awesome inconvenience for passengers.

Potential gains for tourism and business

Reopening nan Knockmore statement would beryllium of awesome worth some to nan section system and to nan tourer manufacture successful Northern Ireland. It would besides make it easier for Northern Ireland travellers to get to cardinal destinations successful nan region specified arsenic Belfast, nan Causeway Coast and nan Mourne Mountains from Belfast International. A proper, coagulated obstruction work could make nan area much charismatic to visitors, particularly pinch truthful galore flying into Belfast International Airport from crossed nan world successful nan dream of experiencing immoderate of nan unsocial taste and tourer attractions it has to offer.

Business connections A nonstop train relationship would besides make business recreation to and from Belfast International Airport overmuch little time-consuming, and truthful make Northern Ireland a much charismatic location for world delegates to recreation to and from for world conferences, meetings and investment. The obstruction work had nan imaginable to service some vacation makers and business travellers, which could greatly use nan section system and tourism sector.

Challenges and Public Concerns

Not everyone is thrilled astir nan caller obstruction service, which enjoys wide support. There is besides immoderate worry among passengers that nan caller nexus could slow nan process of disembarking astatine nan airport. This was expressed by a fewer unhappy passengers who stock nan fearfulness that nan further usage of nationalist carrier could perchance slow down nan gait astatine which planes are boarded and deplaned.

Some cynics, moreover, wondered if nan beingness of a caller obstruction work mightiness person nan effect of expanding costs for passengers, particularly if airlines aliases recreation operators levied surcharges for faster boarding aliases for being nan first successful nan queue. But this is each speculative correct now arsenic location has been nary charismatic connection of further fees for nan way service.

Airport and Stakeholder Engagement

Belfast International Airport has travel retired successful favour of nan scheme, nan spokesperson said nan airdrome is moving constructively pinch Translink successful narration to nan feasibility study and will beryllium pleased to return show of immoderate study if it is brought forward. The airdrome is important to nan process, because we want to make judge that immoderate caller solutions are not only effective but besides meet nan communal needs of nan airdrome and its travelers.

A Translink spokesperson besides said nan feasibility study is advancing and a draught study would beryllium published later this year. It will see circumstantial recommendations and further stakeholder chat to guarantee nan connection champion serves nan public, visitors and nan business community.

Next Steps for nan Project 52.

As Translink progresses pinch nan feasibility study, nan early of nan Knockmore statement is astir apt now astir apt limited connected uncovering nan backing for it. If nan study determines that reopening nan statement is feasible, nan adjacent shape would beryllium elaborate planning, engineering activity and moving pinch section partners to hole nan railway for imaginable reconstruct to meet early rider demand.

The re-opening of nan Knockmore statement could beryllium a awesome boost to Northern Ireland’s infrastructure. Now, pinch awesome nationalist backing and a clear imagination successful place, and pinch cardinal stakeholders including Belfast International Airport connected board, this strategy has nan powerfulness to revolutionise nan measurement group get to and from nan airdrome and alteration amended connections for nan region.”

Conclusion

The imaginable reopening of nan Knockmore railway statement is an eagerly awaited connection for section commuters and nan galore travellers venturing to Belfast International Airport. “The surge of support for nan task shows that location is simply a clear request for enhanced nationalist carrier and greater connectivity crossed Northern Ireland. nigovernment) So while location are immoderate morganatic concerns to beryllium addressed, nan early for Northern Ireland’s carrier has ne'er looked brighter pinch nan imaginable of improved tourism, business activity and section accessibility. As Translink wraps up its feasibility study, it is evident that this has nan imaginable to beryllium a game-changer for nationalist transit successful nan area.