Belfast and County Down Railway The original
Downpatrick railway station was constructed as part of the
Belfast and County Down Railway (BCDR) mainline from
Queens Quay, Belfast to
Downpatrick. However, with growing railway expansion in the
Victorian era and the connecting Downpatrick, Dundrum and Newcastle Railway being subsequently built with a junction north of Downpatrick for through trains between
Queens Quay, Belfast and
Newcastle railway station (County Down). The awkward
permanent way with
Downpatrick railway station being on a branch necessitated the construction of the triangle and Loop platform. Therefore, trains could call at Downpatrick or use the avoiding line with connections for passengers and goods at the Loop Platform, thereby making the railway operationally from a
signalling point of view, more efficient using a
railway triangle. Downpatrick Loop Platform was opened on 24 July 1892 and closed on 16 January 1950.
Downpatrick and County Down Railway Because the Loop Platform had no road access, it was spared demolition unlike most of the BCDR mainline from
Belfast Queen's Quay to
Newcastle. It remained derelict from its closure in 1950 until the Autumn of 1987, when the
Downpatrick & Ardglass Railway (since renamed the Downpatrick and County Down Railway) reached the Loop Platform with rebuilt track from Downpatrick town. The first train to call at the Loop Platform since its closure was a
works train hauled by a former
CIÉ E Class diesel on 10 October 1987. Passenger services began on 5 December 1987. In January 1993, the canopy was restored with funding from the
International Fund for Ireland. In Spring 2014, the
Loop Line (The former mainline which avoided Downpatrick) was re-laid and the platform refurbished. During 2015, relaying commenced on the
South Line (The direct line to Downpatrick). Due to its isolated nature and simplistic features, it is a popular filming location and was used as
Polegate Junction in
Agatha and the Truth of Murder, as well as
Derry Girls Season 3 episode
Strangers on a Train. == Services ==