The Railway Preservation Society of Ireland has said that a new safety management system for operating mainline steam in Northern Ireland is well on its way to being completed.

It will then be time to submit their work to the safety and railway authorities to be approved and can mean mainline steam tours in Northern Ireland can return.

Unfortunately, since late 2023, the RPSI has been unable to operate steam tours in Northern Ireland.

For those that don’t know, whilst the RPSI can operate within the premises at Whitehead, when operating on the mainline, they need a driver, fireman, guard and inspector from either Northern Ireland Railways or Iarnród Éireann.

From Iarnród Éireann, there are currently three drivers and two fireman, however, for Northern Ireland, there are two firemen, but the only steam driver on Northern Ireland Railways died in early 2023.

This means that the RPSI cannot operate north of Dundalk until crews are trained and qualified, this normally consists of classroom training as well as experience, training and examination somewhere like the North Yorkshire Moors Railway or on the Fort William – Mallaig line.

It is hoped the new safety management system can be in place and mainline running can commence sometime in 2024.