THE first train has departed Downpatrick & County Down Railway since the beginning of the pandemic.
The former NIR 450 Class railcar was taken out for a test run along the Inch Abbey line.
It is hoped that the station will welcome passengers back on board by Christmas.
Downpatrick & County Down Railway (DCDR) has been carrying out significant work on the track between Downpatrick and Inch Abbey, which has seen every joint unbolted and lubricated, rails changed, signage erected, and track geometry improved in anticipation of reopening.
Robert Gardiner, DCDR Chairman, said: "Whilst we've been keeping our locomotives and railcars ticking over at regular intervals to keep them in good order, we need to do a few refreshers to get people back in the swing of operating.
"The first train out of the gates for nearly two years was former NIR 450 Class railcar, with a number of runs along our Inch Abbey line.
"It was a pretty special moment travelling out to Inch Abbey for the first time in nearly two years, and then watching the railcar travelling backwards and forwards through the beautiful Quoile basin was just incredible."
