Northern Ireland Railways NIR (NI Railways)

It's only been in the last year or so that I have started to use the train on a semi regular basis. I suppose that in itself is an indication that things have been getting better on NI Rail; new rolling stock better customer information in transit makes for a more positive experience. On my local line, the Belfast -Carrickfergus route we still get the odd slamdoor type train which are well past their sell by date. New trains are so much better, more comfortable, cleaner environment and clear travel information. I like the electronic signage on the platforms too, information is displayed on train arrival or departure times or just what platform to get what train. ...  Read the complete review

I like NIR or northern ireland railway, I really do. On the days that i have to take a train due to car difficulties or I want a drink after work I find this the most de-stressful way to travel. I only started using the train within the past year and was almost nervous as to how to even use it but it couldn't have been easier. And I actually think its quicker to get to Belfast or to Lisburn from Portadown than driving. I know it's quite expensive but it is very smooth, I have never not got a seat, and you can just switch off. Also the announcements of the upcoming stations are much clearer. I remember when NIR nominated itself as part of ...  Read the complete review

If you're not local to Northern Ireland, you may not know that there still exists in the UK a non-privatised passenger railway. And it's one of NI's best kept secrets. Years... no, decades of severe underinvestment and infrastructural issues caused by the Troubles lead to NIR being in a very bad state at the start of the nineties. The network had shrunk to just a few routes: the Portadown - Belfast - Bangor corridor, the Belfast - Larne line, the Belfast - Antrim - Ballymena - Coleraine - L'derry line, and the Coleraine - Portrush branch. Trains were a mixture of old diesel multiple units and very old diesel multiple units. To cut a long but gradual ...  Read the complete 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 ...  Read the complete review