Client: Translink 
Architect: Gregory Architects 
Contractor: GRAHAM

GRAHAM completes new £5.6m Portrush train station

The new Portrush Train Station was completed ahead of the 148th Open, Portrush, which was held in the town in July 2019. The event attracted around 190,000 visitors and offered a significant opportunity to sustainably develop the economy of Portrush town and the wider North Coast and brings substantial benefits to the area in terms of visitor numbers, spend and investment.  

The main driver

The new train station on Eglinton Street became one element of a wider £17 million Portrush Regeneration Programme, led by the Department for Communities, which also included a major public realm and revitalisation scheme for the town. The new station is a contemporary design to complement the surrounding public realm works.  

Collaboration down to a ‘T’

Jonny Kerr, Contracts Director at GRAHAM, said at the time: ‘We are very excited to be handing over the completed train station at Portrush to Translink and eagerly await the response from the travelling public to what is a gateway to the town and North Coast. Portrush is one of Ireland’s most popular seaside resorts. The new station’s increased capacity will allow for further passenger and visitor growth as well as delivering wider economic benefits to the region.”  

Mr Kerr added: “I’d like to thank the project team and all of our partners for their hard work and collaborative approach in delivering this project safely and ahead of schedule and in time for the upcoming 148th Open taking place in the town. This is a proud achievement for GRAHAM and we look forward to seeing the lasting impact this project has for both residents and visitors of Portrush and the wider North Coast for many years to come.”  

Richard Knox, Translink’s Head of Rail Service Operations, said at the time: “We are delighted to take possession of Portrush Train Station from our contractor, and we look forward to welcoming the public to make use of what is above all their facility.  

As Translink continues our journey towards making public transport ‘your first choice for travel’ in Northern Ireland, investments like Portrush Train Station are of critical importance. We are proud of what Portrush Station has to offer the travelling public, and we’re certain that those passing through this summer will be impressed by what they encounter, from modern waiting facilities, improved passenger information and signage to local amenities and attractions, as well as enhanced cycle storage to promote more ‘active’ travel.  

The official opening of the site on Tuesday 25th June 2019 marked a formal end to our work on the new station. To mark that event, Translink installed a time capsule on-site, complete with contributions from local organisations, to commemorate this eventful year in Portrush’s history, which won’t be completed until 2069.”  

Bringing expertise to the fore

Hardscape were involved in the overall Portrush public realm regeneration scheme and have worked with GRAHAM and the Doran Consultancy on various other schemes in Northern Ireland. Approximately 500m2 of granite materials chosen were Royal White, Nordic Yellow and Pink Pearl each of which matched the same palette of materials for the wider Portrush public realm. Portrush Train Station provides a real sense of Place for the town and is a great gateway for the world to come and see all that Portrush has to offer. 

Our area has world-class scenery and tourist attractions and a new train station will potentially bring more people to the area and will give a far better first impression of Portrush for anyone visiting by train.

Local Alliance councillor Chris McCaw