A pocket-sized steam-and-diesel railway that trundles two miles of narrow-gauge track right along the edge of the Antrim coast, between Bushmills and the Giant's Causeway. Half the fun of the Causeway starts before you even get there.
What it is — a heritage railway following the route of the old Giant's Causeway Tramway, with vintage-style carriages pulled by steam engines and a diesel, past dunes, the River Bush and open sea. Train lovers and small children both come off it grinning.
The ride — about 2 miles and roughly 20 minutes each way between Bushmills station and the Giant's Causeway. Sit back, watch the coast roll by, and step off a short walk from the stones.
How long & how much — allow about an hour there and back (longer if you tack on the Causeway). Fares are around £8 adult, £6 child, family about £27, with under-2s free — confirm current prices on the day. A train ticket usually gets you a discount on Causeway visitor-centre entry.
It runs seasonally, not year-round. Trains run to a published timetable on operating days only — broadly Easter to autumn (plus Santa specials at Christmas), a few trips a day. Check the dates and times before you set off; it's volunteer-run, so a quick call ahead saves a wasted trip.
Pairs with the Causeway — this is the perfect add-on to a Giant's Causeway day. Ride the train down, walk the famous columns, ride back — an easy, memory-making loop for all ages.
Getting there — Bushmills station, Runkerry Road, BT57 8SZ, with free parking on site. Turn up, buy your ticket, hop on.
Plan your visit
Check it's running, then just turn up
The railway runs seasonally to a timetable — roughly Easter through to autumn, with special Santa trains around Christmas, on set operating days with a few trips through the day. There's no cliff-edge booking to worry about: on running days you turn up at Bushmills station, buy a ticket and climb aboard. Fares are modest — about £8 adult, £6 child and £27 for a family, under-2s free — and confirm the current rates and the day's timetable on the railway's own site before you travel. It's run by volunteers, so if you're making a special trip it's worth a quick call ahead to make sure the trains are turning that day.
Seasonal · ~20 min each waySteam & diesel trainsFree parking at BushmillsSteps from the CausewayRefreshments & picnic area
The one thing to check first:
This is not a year-round, turn-up-anytime train — it runs on set days to a seasonal timetable, and the running days and times change through the year. Check the current timetable (and, being volunteer-run, ideally call ahead) before you make the trip. Fares and times here are a guide — confirm them on the day.
Before you set off
What to bring
🧥A coat and a jumperThe carriages are open to the coastal air and the sea breeze is part of the charm — a layer keeps everyone happy even on a bright day.
☔Waterproofs on a wet dayRain only sharpens the coast — misty headlands, that fresh sea smell, and a cosy rattle along the track. Bring a waterproof and enjoy it.
🥪A picnic, or coins for the kioskThere's a picnic area and refreshments at the station — pack a picnic to enjoy by the platform or the Causeway after your ride.
📷A camera for the engineThe little blue steam engine and the red-and-cream carriages are a proper photo — kids love watching it get up steam before you leave.
Good to know
Everything before you go
Cost
Around £8 adult, £6 child and about £27 for a family of four, with under-2s travelling free — and a train ticket usually earns a discount on Giant's Causeway visitor-centre entry. Confirm the current fares on the railway's own site before you travel.
Booking
No advance booking needed — on running days you turn up at Bushmills station, buy a ticket and board. Check the day's timetable first.
Season & times
Runs seasonally to a published timetable, broadly Easter to autumn plus Santa specials at Christmas, on set operating days with a few trips through the day. Days and times vary through the season, so always check the current timetable — confirm on the day.
The ride
A 3ft narrow-gauge heritage line running about 2 miles between Bushmills and the Giant's Causeway, roughly 20 minutes each way, following the route of the historic Giant's Causeway Tramway along the coast.
The trains
Vintage-style carriages pulled by steam locomotives and a diesel — a real treat for train fans and little ones alike. The exact engine on the day varies with the timetable and events.
Best for
All ages — a gentle, short and scenic ride that's especially loved by young children and anyone keen on trains. Easy to combine with the Causeway walk.
Toilets
Facilities are available at Bushmills station. Confirm on the day.
Accessibility
It's a heritage railway with vintage carriages, so access varies — if anyone in your group has specific access needs, call ahead and the volunteers will help you plan.
Weather
The ride is lovely in any weather — sun over the dunes and sea, or a fresh, moody coast in the rain. Bring a coat and enjoy the day whatever the sky's doing.
Facilities
Refreshments and a picnic area at Bushmills station. Arrive about 10 minutes before your train.
Parking
Free parking at Bushmills station on Runkerry Road.
Questions
Before you go
Does the railway run all year round?
No — it runs seasonally, roughly Easter to autumn plus Santa trains at Christmas, on set operating days to a timetable. The running days and times change through the year, so check the current timetable (and, as it's volunteer-run, ideally call ahead) before you travel.
Do I need to book, or can I just turn up?
On running days you just turn up at Bushmills station, buy your ticket and hop aboard — no advance booking. Just make sure it's an operating day and check the day's departure times first.
How long does the train take?
The ride is about 2 miles and roughly 20 minutes each way between Bushmills and the Giant's Causeway. Allow about an hour for the round trip, or make a half-day of it by walking the Causeway in between.
Is it a real steam train?
The railway runs both steam locomotives and a diesel, so on the right day you'll see (and hear, and smell) a proper little steam engine at work. Which engine is out depends on the timetable and any special events, so it's worth checking if steam is what you're after.
How much does it cost?
Fares are modest — around £8 adult, £6 child and about £27 for a family, with under-2s free, and a train ticket usually earns a discount on Causeway visitor-centre entry. Confirm the current prices on the railway's own site before you go.
Is there parking?
Yes — there's free parking at Bushmills station on Runkerry Road, plus refreshments and a picnic area.
Getting there
Giant's Causeway & Bushmills Railway, Bushmills station, Runkerry Road, Bushmills BT57 8SZ — on the Causeway coast between Bushmills village and the Giant's Causeway, with free parking on site.
The trains you ride today follow the route of something genuinely groundbreaking. The original Giant's Causeway Tramway opened to Bushmills in 1883 and, according to historians, was hailed at the time as the first long electric tramway in the world — a nine-mile narrow-gauge line drawing power from a hydro-electric station on the River Bush, running visitors up the coast from Portrush. In its early days steam tram engines shared the work with the electric cars; the extension out to the Causeway itself opened in 1887.
For over sixty years the tramway carried holidaymakers to the stones, before it closed at the end of the 1949 season and the line was lifted. It might have stayed a memory — but the idea of reviving a stretch of it took hold, using narrow-gauge equipment gathered for an earlier tourist railway at Shane's Castle. Rebuilt over the final two miles of the old route, the Giant's Causeway & Bushmills Railway carried its first passengers at Easter 2002.
Now it's run largely by volunteers who clearly love it, with steam and diesel engines and vintage-style carriages doing the honest work of a proper heritage line — a short, scenic, unhurried ride along one of the loveliest coasts in the world. Catch the timetable, bring the kids, and go and live a little of that history. All aboard.