Re-imagining Armagh City Centre for the benefit of a railway line
also, a Lurgan-based firefighter proves fitness skills to win challenge and Armagh dad says NI 'way behind’ in vital PKU drug legislation.
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Co Armagh is known for its stunning natural landscapes, historic sites, and vibrant local communities but one of the key aspects always open for debate is Co Armagh's infrastructure or lack thereof…
Armagh’s railway links have been a topic of much discussion over the years - we’ve covered multiple studies and feasibility reports surrounding the reintroduction of the line linking Portadown and Dungannon.
And it’s not just the city that has seen a station erased. Originally named Madden Bridge, the Tandragee railway line was located on the Madden Road between the villages of Tandragee and Gilford. It closed on January 4, 1965 but much of its former glory remains to this day with the platforms still visible and old station house lovingly restored to a private dwelling.
In a stark comparison, sadly much of Armagh railway station’s remains are buried beneath the earth on Station Road. There are very few other remaining features of our locomotive past - and unless otherwise educated - you would be forgiven for thinking that we had never been connected to what was once a vital transport link to Monaghan and also Keady, passing over the famous Tassagh Viaduct.
The history of the railway in Armagh is a long and eventful one. Built in 1848 the first trains left the town of Belfast and journeyed to Armagh. The railway line was part of the fabric of society, connecting the cities and towns near and far.
109 years later on October 1, 1957 the last train made embarked on the well-used Portadown – Armagh route and the crowds came out in force to wave it off. Sadly there are very few remaining markers to the once glorious Victorian building due to redevelopment of the area.
If Armagh was once again to form connections to the outside world via rail links, where could we run a new line? Let’s face it, Lurgan for example might be convenient for passengers but a nightmare for road users. The traffic chaos caused on an almost quarter hourly basis on the town’s main throughfare has drivers chomping at the bit with many asking could the railway line not be raised in the air - viaduct style?
In Armagh we have a different option - The Mall!? No, we are not proposing to eradicate our glorious Mall. Legend has it a tunnel runs underneath it. Could this house an uninterrupted entry point for a railway line? Perhaps the Gaol could become a railway station? And wouldn’t it be lovely to see it used again.
But what else did we lose? The convenient connections to outlying areas for one and ultimately, does our lack of railway hinder the economic growth of Armagh City and surrounding areas?
Listen to our podcast from 2021 with Portadown Armagh Railway Society (PARS) Chairman William Hutchinson and Committee member Willie Parr who told us all about the organisation and the progress their campaign had been making.
Headlines
Firefighter John best in province as he wins fitness and skills challenge
Northern Ireland ‘way behind’ in vital PKU drug legislation, says Armagh campaigner
Archer with Keady roots hoping for European Games success
Housing Executive repair schemes proving handy in Laurencetown
Popular town centre eatery on the market as Lurgan’s Palomo bistro to be sold
Council chair pledges support ahead of Daisy Hill Hospital rally
Council to take action to detect shops selling vapes to kids
Five ABC firms outed by HMRC for failing to pay staff minimum wage
Help for struggling Armagh families thanks to new community campaign
Armagh scouts raise funds for charity to mark 90th anniversary
Lookback…
A train ticket purchased for 8s and 9d at Armagh Station on September 30, 1957 may today be worth a whole lot more.
On October 1, 1957, The Belfast Telegraph reported that the ‘last ticket for Armagh’s last train’ would likely become a ‘collector’s item’.
Locals ‘thronged’ to witness history in motion as the train left Armagh station to the detonation of fog and fireworks. As an added touch, the train which had previously run on a modern diesel engine, for it’s final journey, reverted to steam.
The publication mentioned that G.N.R. had seen some of its most frequent users come from the city with a Mr. Hugh Donnelly from Allistragh wracking up almost 7,000 journeys on the line, equating to almost a quarter of a million miles over a 14 year period.
Mr. Donnelly is reported to have travelled on the line the full journey to Belfast on its final day, ‘for sentimental reasons’.
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