GREAT Victoria Street Station (GVS) in Belfast city centre closed on May 10, after the departure of the last train, the 23.32 to Bangor, formed of three-car diesel multiple unit No 3012.
GM 8112 was on display in Platform 2 for part of the day and a special Last Day Ticket was issued as a memento of the historic occasion.
While many enthusiasts attended the final day’s operations and the closure received extensive media coverage, the occasion was fairly low-key because the rail element of the adjacent Grand Central Station is due to be operational this autumn.
Removal of track by recycling contractor Hamills started on May 11, with road/rail machines working towards GVS from Westlink and City Junctions.
Demolition of the platforms and removal of lineside equipment was also in progress during week ending May 18, while items that were to be recovered for reuse elsewhere had been marked prior to the closure date.
From May 11, all timetabled services on the Belfast-Portadown corridor have used the direct curve between City Junction and Central Junction which had previously only been used by ‘Enterprise’ services, some peak hour and
