Great video 😃. I'm moving to Northern Ireland next month and planning on doing some train journeys, once I've got settled in. Also, lots of hiking and beach and forest walks 😁.
20 years since I visited Northern Ireland and sampled the old class 80 'Thumpers' on the Portrush and Derry services - your vid reminds me it's about time I made a return visit. Keep up the reports, always a great watch whether near or far.
Hi John, well thanks very much, glad you found it enjoyable. It was my very first time anywhere in NI outside Belfast tbh and it certainly won’t be my last. I think I’ll spend some more time there next time though as I definitely want to do the giants causeway. Cheers for the comment 😊👍
Brilliant. Love these off the trail reports from fascinating places. And you are so right about the semaphore signalling. It’s like a step back in time but with modern rolling stock. I wonder if you get to try Irish food? Haha. There is apparently an Irish breakfast which I would definitely try were it not for the doctor’s face appearing scowling at the mere thought. Thank you for the energy
Cheers John, I did have a couple of decent breakfasts - not sure how Irish they were though (it was only the Premierinn)! Really enjoyed this trip and I hope that came across in the video. A great destination, recommended 👍😊
Great Video Mark! Glad you enjoyed your visit to Portrush. The train station at Portrush was replaced a few years ago for the Open Golf championship. I used to get the train up to Portrush everyday when I was at college, but back then we had old Thumper Class 450’s and 80’s. Just join your ko-fi.
Hi AFUK, yes cheers for the membership - much appreciated. I’ve been editing a new video this evening so only just gotten around to the ‘daily TH-cam comments review’ 😂 I really liked Portrush, yes I heard the station was replaced, can’t help wondering about the old one really but I’m glad they kept some of the old signalling etc. If I had the time, I would play more golf but it’s fallen by the wayside a bit lately. Prefer travelling these days 😊👍
Thanks, Mark. Love your videos. I was born in Belfast but left in 1965. Been in Australia all these years and have never been back to the UK. Cheers mate!
Cheers Jim, Australia must be treating you well, you’re certainly not missing much here atm! I’ve never been to Australia tbh but one day I’ll make it 👍
Yes that would be a great journey. I think I saw a double-decker bus as I came into Portrush. Something like that (if that’s the 402) would be great from the front seat, top deck 👍
Been tempted to do a flight from Liverpool to Derry, and then catch the train from there. Will definitely take a trip up to Portrush when I do so! Thanks :)
I’d like to fly Loganair out there but I might just have to use the Ryan I think - it’s just so much cheaper. Definitely recommend Portrush though- exceeded my expectations 👍
Thanks Mark , I came across your impressive work for the first time last week and have been going through videos .Very enjoyable ! From reading threads I gather you are recovering from a recent illness. Wishing you all the very best. Just ticked all your boxes . Keep up the brilliant work.
Hi O’Pagoda, well thanks for the kind words - much appreciated. Don’t go too far back on the videos, I kind of started it as a bit of fun tbh, just with an old iPhone! So quality is not that great early on but I do hope I’ve improved somewhat over the last year 😂 Yes, I’m still struggling a bit with things atm as it was quite a debilitating time, but I am getting out doing stuff again which I reckon is the best way of getting through things (yolo and all that). I’m sitting in the NHS lounge at Aberdeen airport as we speak. Cheers again for the support - it’s really motivating, thank you 😊👍
Another splendid train adventure. I just love watching these - for me - nostalgia-tinged trips you do. It makes me almost contrite that I left the UK in the 70s and came to live in the Antipodes (Australia). I now sit and watch trips like this over a plowman's lunch and glass of wine and wonder "what if" had I stayed in Europe. Paul InOz
Cheers Paul, I dunno mate, I sometimes feel like I should’ve left or at least travelled more when I was younger. Making up for it now though and it means so much to me that people (like yourself) are watching from the other side of the globe. Thanks for the support, really appreciated 😊
When I did the trip from Lanyon Place to Derry (before my trip over the water and Queen Street to Balloch!) on my return we were told our train would end at Coleraine. We then transferred to the Portrush train which continued to Belfast. Nothing in the timetables about this, and - as you found - the Portrush train was popular. Nice trains, nice staff, lovely views.
And Coleraine station’s rather nice too I thought 👍 I didn’t make it to Derry/Londonderry but I believe it’s lovely and I may try getting there with Loganair at some point. Thanks Chris 😊
Excellent Mark, I really must get out there soon, it looks a very interesting little network. Oh btw you may want to move your Kofi thank you banner forward 30 seconds as you can't see it at all when the end screen appears, certainly when watching on a TV 😆👍🏻
Hi mate, cheers yep there’s a few lines to explore. Londonderry/Derry I’d like to do next and maybe Larne too. Ferry to begin with maybe? Thanks for the kofi feedback - it looks fine on my player so I haven’t realised an issue, I’ll change it next time tho anyway to be on the safe-side 👍
Its funny how that train passes close to my house between Ballymena and Ballymoney every hour..... I see it regulary and wonder what they are like inside etc. Now I know and I`m well impressed, well done, great video.
I was up in Northern Ireland the weekend before St Patrick's Day. Riding a train north out of Lanyon Place, I happened to glance back at the station, to see staff removing the old "Belfast Central" nameboards from a track level entrance into a waiting van. Pure coincidence that I happened to be there at that particular my moment in time!
Someone will have those - collectors items. There’s a footbridge by me that they took down to be refurbed. It had one of those cast iron plates on it that tells you who made it and when it was made. The bridge came back lovely and clean - guess what was missing!
the trains are going through a Refurb at the Moment and being fitted with USB points the new station at Portrush was only opened in 2019 in Time for the open Golf Championship,
Hi Stephen, thanks for the info. Yes I noticed the class 3000 that I took from the airport to Bangor had usb points fitted. Overall, I think the trains were decent enough for these kind of journeys. Didn’t realise Portrush was a big golf town - I really liked the place and will hope to go back there one day and check out the rest of the coast too. Cheers 😊👍
@@janer2709 hi Jane, glad you enjoyed it - I wasn’t sure what to expect when I got to Portrush tbh I didn’t think there was much about. But as soon as I got to the coast that just changed my mind completely. Yes it rained and I got wet, but I’ll never forget the trip and that’s the point of travel isn’t it😊 Hope that came across in the film and thanks for taking the time to comment 👍
@@LetsMakeaTrip yes, which I was pleasantly surprised to see as the last time I had been in Portrush before 2 weeks ago, it had been a gaming arcade so I didn't go in. I wandered around the store as my first time in the building.
Ah cheers Tim, thanks, as always, for the comment. Yes, correct me if I’m wrong but I got the impression Great Victoria Street was the main, central location.
Get this train 2 portrush guiet often more oft from gt Victoria street. And more choice of a good seat Your are right central station / laynon place nothing special for a main city station but on board journey the route is quite scenic So well done for a great video blog and shame about the weather?ps june and July best months in portrush with the smell of fish /chips and amusements open and lots of people in it make it much more homely and atmospheric.etc.Belfast northern ireland
Do you know if catering is on the derry train still heading up to derry on 4march last time I went on was halloween and no catering at all but there was work going on from gvs to yorkgate so that probably explains why
Ah that is good to hear because I know some of them were fitted out as I had usb on the train out to Bangor. Overall I thought the Translink trains were pretty good 👍
@@LetsMakeaTrip Yeah Translink's trains are brilliant imo, they may not be world class but for price and the service they provide they're definitely one of a kind, especially since they don't do seat booking or a carriage class system lol
But for the weather a lovely journey, I do like your destination very picturesque, just a thought why not get a pair of light weight hiking boots for your journeys? they are usually water proof and comfortable to wear for long periods of time, I speak from the experience of having wet feet for a day while out on Bodmin Moor not something I will ever do again, the wet feet that is. Take care and stay safe, cheers.
Hi Simon cheers mate, yes I’d definitely recommend Portrush and if the rest of that coastline is just as nice I reckon it’s worth a longer trip. I don’t know why I didn’t wear my walking shoes on this one, I’ve got several pairs at home as I used to do quite a bit of walking. Old age probably 😂 All the best 😊
Yes I think I caught a glimpse. I loved Portrush - fantastic coastline. I will go back one day, some people have suggested the bus that takes the coastal route to the giants causeway etc.
Great video 😃. I'm moving to Northern Ireland next month and planning on doing some train journeys, once I've got settled in. Also, lots of hiking and beach and forest walks 😁.
20 years since I visited Northern Ireland and sampled the old class 80 'Thumpers' on the Portrush and Derry services - your vid reminds me it's about time I made a return visit. Keep up the reports, always a great watch whether near or far.
Hi John, well thanks very much, glad you found it enjoyable. It was my very first time anywhere in NI outside Belfast tbh and it certainly won’t be my last. I think I’ll spend some more time there next time though as I definitely want to do the giants causeway. Cheers for the comment 😊👍
Very good music choice! Thank you for the great travel report! :D
Hi Laszlo, thanks for the comment. I spend ages fussing about the music so it’s nice to get some good feedback about it 😊 All the best, Mark 👍
I'm actually planning on going to Portrush on the train for my birthday! It's such a scenic route. Good job man!🙂😃😀
Cheers mate and happy birthday for whenever it is. Enjoy Portrush!
Brilliant. Love these off the trail reports from fascinating places. And you are so right about the semaphore signalling. It’s like a step back in time but with modern rolling stock. I wonder if you get to try Irish food? Haha. There is apparently an Irish breakfast which I would definitely try were it not for the doctor’s face appearing scowling at the mere thought. Thank you for the energy
Cheers John, I did have a couple of decent breakfasts - not sure how Irish they were though (it was only the Premierinn)! Really enjoyed this trip and I hope that came across in the video. A great destination, recommended 👍😊
Great Video Mark! Glad you enjoyed your visit to Portrush. The train station at Portrush was replaced a few years ago for the Open Golf championship. I used to get the train up to Portrush everyday when I was at college, but back then we had old Thumper Class 450’s and 80’s. Just join your ko-fi.
Hi AFUK, yes cheers for the membership - much appreciated. I’ve been editing a new video this evening so only just gotten around to the ‘daily TH-cam comments review’ 😂 I really liked Portrush, yes I heard the station was replaced, can’t help wondering about the old one really but I’m glad they kept some of the old signalling etc. If I had the time, I would play more golf but it’s fallen by the wayside a bit lately. Prefer travelling these days 😊👍
Belfast and Northern Ireland are amazing. I want to go there and ride on those amazing trains.
Hi Andrew, yes well I definitely recommend this route - not just because of the line but the destination as well. Most enjoyable!
@@LetsMakeaTrip So true.
The man wants to travel on a train.
Thanks, Mark. Love your videos. I was born in Belfast but left in 1965. Been in Australia all these years and have never been back to the UK. Cheers mate!
Cheers Jim, Australia must be treating you well, you’re certainly not missing much here atm! I’ve never been to Australia tbh but one day I’ll make it 👍
Great video. More than ever, want to visit this area now and experience the trains and explore northern Ireland.
Cheers Mark, yep I loved it over there. Will be back in March for some more trips 👍
Excellent footage 🍷🍷🍷🥂🥂🥂🍾🍾🍾👍👍👍❤️❤️❤️🙌🙌🙌
Thank you Derisley, as always 😊😊😊😊😊😊🔥🔥🔥🎬🎬🎬🎬🎬🎬🎬☕️
There's also a Causeway Rambler bus, service number 402, run by Translink which starts in Coleraine and takes you all round the coast.
Yes that would be a great journey. I think I saw a double-decker bus as I came into Portrush. Something like that (if that’s the 402) would be great from the front seat, top deck 👍
My auntie i from Portstewart and her family owns a holiday house in the area. I recommend they reopen the old station there.
Thanks for doing this, I am considering a trip to Portrush.
Been tempted to do a flight from Liverpool to Derry, and then catch the train from there. Will definitely take a trip up to Portrush when I do so! Thanks :)
I’d like to fly Loganair out there but I might just have to use the Ryan I think - it’s just so much cheaper. Definitely recommend Portrush though- exceeded my expectations 👍
Thanks Mark , I came across your impressive work for the first time last week and have been going through videos .Very enjoyable ! From reading threads I gather you are recovering from a recent illness. Wishing you all the very best. Just ticked all your boxes . Keep up the brilliant work.
Hi O’Pagoda, well thanks for the kind words - much appreciated. Don’t go too far back on the videos, I kind of started it as a bit of fun tbh, just with an old iPhone! So quality is not that great early on but I do hope I’ve improved somewhat over the last year 😂 Yes, I’m still struggling a bit with things atm as it was quite a debilitating time, but I am getting out doing stuff again which I reckon is the best way of getting through things (yolo and all that). I’m sitting in the NHS lounge at Aberdeen airport as we speak. Cheers again for the support - it’s really motivating, thank you 😊👍
Another splendid train adventure. I just love watching these - for me - nostalgia-tinged trips you do. It makes me almost contrite that I left the UK in the 70s and came to live in the Antipodes (Australia). I now sit and watch trips like this over a plowman's lunch and glass of wine and wonder "what if" had I stayed in Europe. Paul InOz
Cheers Paul, I dunno mate, I sometimes feel like I should’ve left or at least travelled more when I was younger. Making up for it now though and it means so much to me that people (like yourself) are watching from the other side of the globe. Thanks for the support, really appreciated 😊
When I did the trip from Lanyon Place to Derry (before my trip over the water and Queen Street to Balloch!) on my return we were told our train would end at Coleraine. We then transferred to the Portrush train which continued to Belfast. Nothing in the timetables about this, and - as you found - the Portrush train was popular. Nice trains, nice staff, lovely views.
And Coleraine station’s rather nice too I thought 👍 I didn’t make it to Derry/Londonderry but I believe it’s lovely and I may try getting there with Loganair at some point. Thanks Chris 😊
Great trip report
Cheers Luis 😊👍
Excellent Mark, I really must get out there soon, it looks a very interesting little network. Oh btw you may want to move your Kofi thank you banner forward 30 seconds as you can't see it at all when the end screen appears, certainly when watching on a TV 😆👍🏻
Hi mate, cheers yep there’s a few lines to explore. Londonderry/Derry I’d like to do next and maybe Larne too. Ferry to begin with maybe? Thanks for the kofi feedback - it looks fine on my player so I haven’t realised an issue, I’ll change it next time tho anyway to be on the safe-side 👍
Its funny how that train passes close to my house between Ballymena and Ballymoney every hour..... I see it regulary and wonder what they are like inside etc. Now I know and I`m well impressed, well done, great video.
Cheers Gary. Yep, lovely train (and line). I’ll definitely return one day 👍
Once i didn't get off at Coleraine and ended up in Londonderry/ Derry.
Around the coast at Fair head you can see the Mull of Kintyre, 13 miles away. On a clear day that is, lol.
Cheers Jim. Beautiful scenery up there around Portrush. Loved it 👍
fantastic video thank you for showing
Hi Jeanette, glad you enjoyed it and thanks for the comment 😊
I was up in Northern Ireland the weekend before St Patrick's Day. Riding a train north out of Lanyon Place, I happened to glance back at the station, to see staff removing the old "Belfast Central" nameboards from a track level entrance into a waiting van. Pure coincidence that I happened to be there at that particular my moment in time!
Someone will have those - collectors items. There’s a footbridge by me that they took down to be refurbed. It had one of those cast iron plates on it that tells you who made it and when it was made. The bridge came back lovely and clean - guess what was missing!
There used to be 3 terminus stations in Belfast, it has changed a lot since my young days when last there!
The starting place for the Enterprise will be moving to Belfast Grand Central when that opens
the trains are going through a Refurb at the Moment and being fitted with USB points the new station at Portrush was only opened in 2019 in Time for the open Golf Championship,
Hi Stephen, thanks for the info. Yes I noticed the class 3000 that I took from the airport to Bangor had usb points fitted. Overall, I think the trains were decent enough for these kind of journeys. Didn’t realise Portrush was a big golf town - I really liked the place and will hope to go back there one day and check out the rest of the coast too. Cheers 😊👍
The Open's coming back to Portrush again in 2025. Really enjoyed this video Mark. Hope you get the chance to explore more of our country.
@@janer2709 hi Jane, glad you enjoyed it - I wasn’t sure what to expect when I got to Portrush tbh I didn’t think there was much about. But as soon as I got to the coast that just changed my mind completely. Yes it rained and I got wet, but I’ll never forget the trip and that’s the point of travel isn’t it😊 Hope that came across in the film and thanks for taking the time to comment 👍
12:42 the building in the background with the clock tower is the original station building.
Yes I thought it might be. I went inside but I think some of it was a discount store or something like that?
@@LetsMakeaTrip yes, which I was pleasantly surprised to see as the last time I had been in Portrush before 2 weeks ago, it had been a gaming arcade so I didn't go in. I wandered around the store as my first time in the building.
the woman in the purple coat at 7:18 is my aunt.
I hope she didn’t mind the video 😊
@@LetsMakeaTrip just asked her she seemed excited at the idea of being on TH-cam.
@@LetsMakeaTrip not entirely sure if she understands how it works but good anyway
Excellent once again. It was a good day when Central was renamed Lanyon Place. There was nothing central about Belfast Central. 😂
Ah cheers Tim, thanks, as always, for the comment. Yes, correct me if I’m wrong but I got the impression Great Victoria Street was the main, central location.
@@LetsMakeaTrip yeah Great Victoria is in the heart of the city. It closed in the 70s and became a bus station. It reopened in the 90s.
Get this train 2 portrush guiet often more oft from gt Victoria street. And more choice of a good seat Your are right central station / laynon place nothing special for a main city station but on board journey the route is quite scenic So well done for a great video blog and shame about the weather?ps june and July best months in portrush with the smell of fish /chips and amusements open and lots of people in it make it much more homely and atmospheric.etc.Belfast northern ireland
Cheers Paul. Love to go back to Portrush in the Summer. Limited time I spent there but looks so scenic. Thanks for the comment 😊
Video's score: 10
Cheers for now!
Thank you Pedro, glad you enjoyed it. CFN!
Do you know if catering is on the derry train still heading up to derry on 4march last time I went on was halloween and no catering at all but there was work going on from gvs to yorkgate so that probably explains why
Hi mate, I was only over there a few days tbh and that was a while back. Not sure what the current situation is like 😊
Great footage, thanks.
PS Coleraine is pronounced "Coalraine" 🙂
Thanks Kay - never knew that about the pronounciation. Will try and remember for next time 😊👍
Fun fact we've just had all of our trains and busses fitted with USB charging ports on all seats in the past month lol
Ah that is good to hear because I know some of them were fitted out as I had usb on the train out to Bangor. Overall I thought the Translink trains were pretty good 👍
@@LetsMakeaTrip Yeah Translink's trains are brilliant imo, they may not be world class but for price and the service they provide they're definitely one of a kind, especially since they don't do seat booking or a carriage class system lol
But for the weather a lovely journey, I do like your destination very picturesque, just a thought why not get a pair of light weight hiking boots for your journeys? they are usually water proof and comfortable to wear for long periods of time, I speak from the experience of having wet feet for a day while out on Bodmin Moor not something I will ever do again, the wet feet that is. Take care and stay safe, cheers.
Hi Simon cheers mate, yes I’d definitely recommend Portrush and if the rest of that coastline is just as nice I reckon it’s worth a longer trip. I don’t know why I didn’t wear my walking shoes on this one, I’ve got several pairs at home as I used to do quite a bit of walking. Old age probably 😂 All the best 😊
🗣I'll Gladly Give You Some Free Reflexology Mark, When Your Feet Get Tired & Sore Buddy, From All Your Travels!! 😉
Did you say they are capable of a top speed of 19 miles per hour or 90 miles per hour
Gotta be 90 I would say 👍
i am from Coleraine
It’s lovely round there I thought 😊
You can go Direct to Portrush now
I’d love to go back - really nice place.
Barry’s/curry’s you can see the Big Dipper when you are coming out of the train
Yes I think I caught a glimpse. I loved Portrush - fantastic coastline. I will go back one day, some people have suggested the bus that takes the coastal route to the giants causeway etc.
Pronounced Cole raine not Coler aine
Portrush's claim to fame is that it is ranked 19th in Ireland based on the number of red cars per person.
😂 great factoid!
Cole Raine not Coler aine
the way he pronounces coleraine 😭😭
I can hear you, you know 😂
@@LetsMakeaTrip I know.
it was meant as more of a joking way to say it XD