Railway receives sleepers delivery

Railway receives sleepers delivery

7 August 2024

THE Downpatrick and Co Down Railway has taken delivery of a lorry load of timber railway sleepers.

They have been generously donated by Translink and Babcock, the main rail systems lead contractor on the multi-million pound Belfast Grand Central Station transport hub project. 

The significant sleeper contribution will support the heritage railway’s ongoing efforts to maintain and enhance its historical railway infrastructure as it continues to recover from last November’s devastating flood which swamped the Market Street facility.

The railway sleepers were formerly part of the approach tracks to the old Great Victoria Street station at Central Junction which closed in May and are now being replaced by new materials for the new Belfast Grand Central Station that will replace the Europa and Great Victoria Street bus and rail stations.   

Downpatrick and County Down Railway chairman Robert Gardiner is delighted with the donation.

“We are immensely grateful to Translink and Babcock for their generous donation of these timber sleepers,” he said.

“The donation ensures we can continue to renew our infrastructure and operate our heritage railway for the enjoyment and education of future generations.”

Mr Gardiner said the fact that these sleepers come from Belfast Great Victoria Street station and are being recycled further underscores the positive environmental impact of this donation.

“The donated sleepers will be used in the coming months and years to replace ageing track components and Translink and Babcock’s generosity not only helps us maintain our railway, but also sees materials saved for reuse instead of going for scrap,” he explained.

“By recycling these timbers and gifting them to a charity, Babcock is not only aiding the heritage railway, but also promoting environmentally friendly practices, as well as sustainability and community support.”

Mr Gardiner also thanked AMC Training and Consultancy for identifying the local railway’s need for donations and coordinating directly with Babcock and Railway Plant Services to ensure the safe delivery of materials to their site.

The donation of the sleepers comes just a few weeks after a leading government department signalled its intention to work alongside the Downpatrick and Co Down Railway to help it reopen after last November’s flood.

The Department for Infrastructure commitment came after the minister in charge visited the heritage railway to meet with officials and volunteers who have been left with a repair bill in excess of £3m.

The railway was engulfed by the flood which also swamped a number of town centre businesses, a number of which have not yet reopened.

A number of fundraising events have been held recently after officials appealed for public support to not only reopen for business, but preserve a piece of unique living history for future generations to remember the past.

In the wake of the devastating flood, heritage railway officials have worked tirelessly to navigate the aftermath of the catastrophic incident which they say left the organisation in a state of “disarray and threatening its entire future.”

The flood left a trail of devastating destruction in its wake, with the water causing substantial damage, necessitating urgent repairs to locomotives, carriages, track, bridges, platforms, and buildings.

The financial burden has been described as “substantial” with volunteers describing the task to return the railway to its pre-flood state and operational condition to ensure its long-term viability and continued contribution to the community as “monumental”.

Infrastructure minister, Mr John O’Dowd, said his visit to the railway provided him with the opportunity to experience the “rich railway heritage”.

He said the railway “brings to life the rich rail heritage of the area and indeed across the island” and that the enthusiasm, passion and pride for rail travel past and present was in abundance.  

Mr O’Dowd said it was “inspiring” to see and hear how the volunteers and the local community responded to the autumn flooding events and to hear of the preparations that are being made to become operational again.

He also confirmed that a feasibility study looking to identify viable flood risk management and engineering solutions in Downpatrick will include the heritage railway.

Mr O’Dowd said his department, as the rail safety authority, was working with the heritage railway to ensure safety compliance for the reopening of the facility which volunteers hope could potentially be before the end of the year.

Railway officials are pleased Mr O’Dowd was receptive to their concerns and open to exploring avenues for support and collaboration between his department and the heritage railway “strengthening the relationship” between the heritage railway and their regulator.