Trains at Lisburn , Knockmore , Crumlin & Antrim + 4018 Travelling along the Antrim Branch - 2014

In this video we see NIR 3000 & 4000 Class DMU's using the closed Lisburn to Antrim Branch while working diverted Derry/Londonderry Services due to engineering work between Bleach Green , Mossley & Antrim on the 23/3/14 & 1/6/14.

The Lisburn to Antrim Branch is 18 miles long and it opened in 1871 there was 4 stations on the line Knockmore , Ballinderry , Glenavy & Crumlin there was also a station at Aldergrove but it closed in September 1960.

The Bleach Green line which runs from Bleach Green to Antrim was closed in 1978 however Translink decided to reopened the line in 2001 and run Belfast to Derry/Londonderry trains via Mossley this left the Antrim branch with just a local services running between Lisburn & Antrim services were also reduced and then sadly in 2003 NIR announced the line was to be closed.
Passenger services were withdrawn on the 29th June 2003 the last train was formed by a 6 car 80 class DEMU. The RPSI ran multiple trips up and down the line on the last day using Loco No.4 & A rake of wooden body coaches this also turned out to be one of the last outing for the RPSI's wooden body coaches they were replaced by Mk2 coaches due to new safety rules which spelled the end of use of any wooden body coaches on the mainline.

However since closure the Lisburn to Antrim line has been used as a diversion for Derry/Londonderry trains when the Bleach Green line is closed for Engineering work.
However it now been a few years since the line was last used for diverting trains.

The line has also seen use by engineering trains and it has also been used by DMU's , P Way Machines & GM locos on driver training duties.

As well as that the line has also been used by several railtours.

The line did see use by spoil trains in early 2017 & 2018 during the ballast cleaning work on the Portadown line between Lisburn & Lurgan.
Ballinderry was being used as a spoil / ballast loading & unloading point

The last train to call at any of the stations on the branch was 450 Class DEMU 455 on the 18th February 2012 while working the MRSI 450 Class Farewell Tour.
The train called at Crumlin & Ballinderry

As off January 2020 the amount of yearly use on the line has fallen to almost 0
The only use the line has seen recently was by NIR's MPV on driver training runs.
And the platforms at Knockmore , Ballinderry , Glenavy & Crumlin have been demolished and the passing loops & signals at Ballinderry & Crumlin have been removed.

People have been campaigning to get the line reopened and also to get a station built for Belfast International Airport as the line runs right past the Airport but sadly these plans have came to no avail.

During the video we see
3003 departing Lisburn on the 3rd line
4012 Coming off the branch at Antrim
4018 Passing the remains of Crumlin , Glenavy & Ballinderry Stations + Approaching Lisburn on the 3rd line. (Onboard Footage)
3003 (Again) Running along the 3rd line out of Lisburn
4014 Passing Crumlin
3020 Passing Knockmore on the 3rd line