Park and Ride Aboard the Shamrock Steamer

Shamrock Steamer.’ In conjunction with Down Community Transport, the railway will be offering a Park’n’Ride service from the Down Business Park on the Belfast Road directly into the heart of the carnival between 10am and 5pm. Downpatrick Railway Chairman Michael Collins said that the St. Patrick’s Day boarding at the Inch Abbey terminus is a sure way of beating the traffic and letting you steam into the town for the festival celebrations. “We know that many people end up parking as far out as the former Abbey Lodge Hotel site and the Down Business Park on the Belfast Road and end up having to walk a fair distance into the town centre. “So many people use our trains to get into the carnival and save the hassle of parking, but our Inch Abbey car park is  quite limited, so we’ve teamed up with Down Community Transport and Down Business Park in order to increase car parking spaces.  “There will be a shuttle bus between the Business Park and our Inch Abbey Station, where you can walk onto a steam train that will take you into the heart of the carnival!” [caption id="attachment_21155" align="alignleft" width="400" caption="'Harvey', the steam engine pulls out of Inch Abbey railway station. Join the Shamrock Special on St Patrick's Day. You can park and ride from Inch Abbey leaving your car near the Down Business Centre."][/caption] And after a break of two years, there will once again be a traditional music group providing passengers with a “Rail” session on board or at the station. Mr. Collins added, “There will be plenty of crack on board. As well as sampling railway travel at its most traditional, there’ll be music at its most traditional!” But as well as providing a means of getting from A to B on St. Patrick’s Day, Mr. Collins has suggested a visit to Inch Abbey itself. “First of all, why not visit a Christian heritage site while celebrating Ireland’s Patron Saint? You also get the best view of Down Cathedral, the site of St. Patrick’s Grave, from on board the train.” From 10am a heritage diesel train will be running the park and ride service between Inch Abbey and the town centre before the steam train takes over at 2pm. Tickets will be available on board the train, and refreshments will be served all day onboard a buffet carriage while you wait for the train. Return tickets cost £5 adult, £4 children or senior citizens, while children aged three years old or below go free, and for motorists using the Business Park this includes the cost of the Shuttle Bus and all day parking for themselves and their passengers. Train tickets can be bought at both Inch Abbey and Downpatrick Stations. There’s no need to book and for further information check out the railway’s website at www.downrail.co.uk]]>