Kennedy unveils new Titanic Quarter signage at Belfast Train Station
28th March 2012
Transport Minister Danny Kennedy launched an event today to mark the renaming of the Bridge End Station in Belfast which will now be known as Titanic Quarter Station.
Danny Kennedy said: Work on the station has just been completed. The improvements are part of an overall £7million project to extend platforms across the railway network in order to allow for the introduction to service of the new Class 4000 trains.
I am committed to delivering an accessible, modern and comfortable public transport system and this is another project which demonstrates the improvements to public transport.
The completion of the work is very timely given the imminent opening of Titanic Belfast and the station will from now on be called Titanic Quarter Station. The new Titanic Quarter Station is the gateway station to many of Belfasts newest attractions and developments in the area including Titanic Belfast, the Public Records Office, the Odyssey and Belfast Metropolitan College.
As well as the platform extension work, a number of other station improvements have been carried out including new shelters and new lighting. A new ramped access has been constructed to the pedestrian footbridge over the Sydenham by-pass which will make the station fully accessible and Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) compliant.
Minister Kennedy said: I am confident that the completion of this overall project will ensure the continued modernisation of the transport infrastructure and with the introduction of the Class 4000 trains, will help contribute to increasing rail passenger numbers.
Catherine Mason, Group Chief Executive for Translink said: Our property and infrastructure team have worked extremely hard together with our contractors to complete this project ahead of schedule. There is a growing excitement within the city and throughout Northern Ireland and beyond around the Titanic celebrations and we want to ensure we play our part.
We have worked closely with colleagues in the East Belfast Partnership, Harbour Commissioners and Belfast City Council to reopen the pedestrian link making access to the various developments and tourist attractions just a short 10-15 minutes walk away. The renaming of the station to Titanic Quarter reflects the work that has been done to modernise the facilities and position it as a quality and accessible travel option for anyone visiting the Titanic Quarter area. Over the coming weeks there are a number of fantastic events including the light show and the MTV concert and we hope to encourage more passengers to consider using the train as a better way to travel.
Twenty new trains are being purchased with total costs of £114million. Eleven of the trains are now available for passenger service with all 20 scheduled to be in service before the end of the year.
Bridge End Station opened in 1977 to serve the Harland & Wolff shipyard and harbour estate. It replaced the nearby Ballymacarrett Station (opened 1 May 1905 and closed on 9 May 1977) and is the gateway station to both the Titanic Quarter and East Belfast.