Randalstown Viaduct: From Railway to Green Haven


In the heart of Randalstown, County Antrim, a remarkable transformation has taken place. The imposing eight-arched railway viaduct, designed by the famed architect Sir Charles Lanyon and built by engineer William Dargan in the 1850s, has been revitalised into a beautiful urban green space.

This is an example of an historical structure being reclaimed from its industrial past and potential decay or ruin, to become something positive for current and future communities.

The viaduct, spanning the River Maine, carried its last trains in the 1950s, after which the tracks were lifted and a linking bridge over the main road removed. However, community efforts starting in the 1990s breathed new life into the structure, replacing the road bridge and clearing the overgrown viaduct to become a crucial part of a footpath and cycleway linking two ends of the town. 

During the 2020s, it has been further transformed into a community garden, offering a serene escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life below. Today, it stands as a testament to the power of community spirit and the beauty of nature. The garden proved to be something of a biodiversity haven, with an amazing number of butterflies and hoverflies, when I visited in early September. With fears about insect declines and a backdrop of climate change, such oases are vital.


Historical context

Part of what was then called the Belfast and Ballymena Railway, the 22-metre high viaduct was built at a cost of £200,000 for the line from Randalstown to Cookstown which opened in 1856. Not even a hundred years later, on 28 August 1950, the Ulster Transport Authority announced the withdrawal of passenger train services between Cookstown Junction and several other stations and halts, including Randalstown. Though good services continued, it was the end of an era for the local railway system.

The closure of the railway line was met with protests from local councils along the network. One point of concern was the significant expense involved in making the roads suitable for replacement bus traffic, highlighting the challenges faced by the community during this transition. But roads had helped seal the fate of railways and there was no major clamour for the services to be maintained.

The line between Cookstown Junction and Kilrea was eventually closed completely in 1959 due to being uneconomic to operate. The closure affected several stations, including Randalstown, and marked the end of South Derry's only remaining railway line. The last goods train ran on the line on 30 September 1959, bringing an end to over 80 years of railway service. 

An article in the Mid-Ulster Mail noted: "... the general public showed little interest in the closure and many did not even know it was taking place on Wednesday."

Today, Randalstown's station survives only in the name Station Road — but the viaduct endures. Its rebirth as a green space is a testament to Randalstown’s resilience and community spirit. Hopefully it will get use as an active travel route and recreational spot. This will need continued funding and efforts to maintain it, but the benefits are there for all to see. At least as far as this history fan is concerned, those benefits include a reminder of our heritage and knowledge of what came before.

Have you visited the Randalstown Viaduct? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Location: Randalstown, Antrim BT41, UK

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