Transport Minister Danny Kennedy has launched a £3.6million investment project that will transform passenger facilities at Portadown Railway Station.

Serving around 900,000 passengers’ every year, Portadown is the fifth busiest station in Northern Ireland. Following the completion of the project next year, the benefit for the increasing numbers of rail passengers will include safer and quicker access with greatly improved accommodation and facilities.

Danny Kennedy said: “I am committed to delivering an accessible, modern and comfortable public transport system.

“This major Regional Development investment will provide improved facilities for all passengers and bring added benefits for people with disabilities. It will also deliver a refreshing facelift to one of Portadown’s most familiar frontages.”

Complementing the extensive remodelling of the interior will be a new lift entrance at Obins Street and a new footbridge with lift access making all platforms fully accessible for all.

Catherine Mason, Group Chief Executive for Translink said: “The team in Translink who have developed the plans for these refurbishment works have worked hard to provide a vision that will revitalise the station facilities for both our customers and employees.

“Thanks to the investment from our Minister and his department the enhancements will mean better access for all users and visitors to the station. We are pleased that rail travel continues to grow as more people adopt it as their preferred way to travel. Our new Class 4000 trains continue to roll out on schedule and we are looking forward to all 20 being in service across our network including the Portadown line later this year.”

Work on the scheme is due to begin over the next few weeks and is due for completion in December next year.
Welcoming the news Upper Bann Ulster Unionist MLA Jo-Anne Dobson said she was “delighted to again see first-hand the designs for a new Portadown Train Station and discuss with officials their plans for the construction of this new state of the art facility for Portadown. 

“I commend Minister Danny Kennedy MLA and those responsible for planning the new station design which I was pleased to hear will commence construction phase in the not too distant future.  Once construction has been completed Portadown will have a modern and fresh Train Station fit to meet the future transport needs of local commuters.”