Work at the new £5.6m train station in Portrush has taken another step towards completion with the installation of the long-awaited gateway images facing onto Eglinton Street!
Funding for the new station has been secured from the Department for Communities (£4.7m) and the Department for Infrastructure (£900k+) and is part of the wider £17m Portrush Regeneration Project, led by the Department for Communities.
Selected by public vote last summer, these will capture the essence of the Causeway Coast, showcasing some synonymous events and sights including the North-West 200, the air show, coastal views, heritage railway images, iconic venues and of course golf, helping to cement the station’s status as a landmark in the town.
The images will add to the station’s sense of ‘place’ within Portrush, helping the facility to become one of the town’s best known landmarks and in prime position to welcome thousands of visitors during The 148th Open this summer.
John Glass, Translink’s Director of Infrastructure and Projects, said:
‘‘We’re very proud of our new train station in Portrush, and we are looking forward to opening it to the public in the coming weeks, ahead of the busy summer season and The 148th Open, an event without parallel in Portrush’s history.
‘‘We are also very proud of the gateway images, which have just recently been installed on-site – we think they will be a tremendous addition to the town, and a real talking point for visitors and locals alike.
‘‘People have been keen to get a glimpse of these evocative images, which really capture the spirit of the town and the wider Causeway Coast, highlighting all aspects of Portrush life, from the beach to the air show – they will add vibrancy to Portrush, cementing the status of the town and the station itself as major features of North Coast life for decades to come.
‘‘This new, fully accessible station will offer modern, waiting facilities, improved passenger information and signage to local attractions and amenities, as well as enhanced cycle storage to promote active travel and ‘greener’ tourism links. As Translink continues to transform public transport to be ‘Your First Choice’ for travel in Northern Ireland, major investments like this in Portrush are critical, not only to encourage a modal shift in transport habits but to grow passenger numbers. With well over 600,000 journeys already made to and from the existing Portrush Train Station on an annual basis, the new station is designed to accommodate future growth.’’
