Dare you board the Phantom Flyer? All aboard for a spooky experience with ghosts, vampires and vampire-hunters and face painting for the kids, all on Ireland's only full size heritage railway.

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This event is running on Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th October

There’s something strange a-coming at the Downpatrick & County Down Railway this Halloween, something mysterious is brewing, and it’s getting spookier by the day. As Halloween draws near, whispers of ghostly happenings and strange encounters are spreading through Downpatrick, just like a deathly cold breeze on a chilly night to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.

Three young children dressed for Halloween with painted faces.

Our phantom face painter Kaz-a-Doodle will make you look super-scary – all included in the price!

For the past few years, the railway has been as quiet as a ghost, but all of that is about to change. This era of calm is now shattered like the veil between worlds, as a renewed reign of mayhem and mischief dawns, with the railway’s paranormal reputation once again rekindled this 28th and 29th October.

This year, a team of seasoned local ghost hunters who have uncovered a horrifying truth – ancient spirits have stirred within the heart of Downpatrick, endeavouring to breach the divide between realms into our world. To bolster its sinister forces, it has conjured a legion of malevolent monsters and apparitions, including a maleficent witch and an zombie railway worker.

But don’t worry, we’re not scared! We’ve called in an expert, a relative of the famous vampire hunter Van Helsing, who will be here to help keep our railway safe.

Can you join us to take back our railway from these ghostly fiends? Hop on the Phantom Flyer, our special Halloween Scream Train, if you’re a brave spook hunter to help our brave guardian to chase away this ancient mischief from our tracks. But be careful; the line between being a hero and becoming a ghost’s snack is very thin!

This Halloween, the Downpatrick & County Down Railway invites kids, families, and anyone who loves a ghoulish adventure to join us on the Phantom Flyer. Don your darkest Halloween outfits to fit in with your mysterious fellow passengers and together, we shall face the darkness that lurks in Downpatrick’s historic railway.

Prices & tickets

Charges are detailed below. Additional charges apply for food and drinks in the buffet and gifts in the shop. Donations are also welcome.

Face painting with Kaz-a-Doodle is included in the price for kids!

  • Family ticket (2 adults + 2 children, or 1 adult + 3 children): £46
  • Additional adults: £12.50
  • Additional children (all ages): £12.50
  • Infants (not requiring a seat): FREE
  • Carers: FREE (Please see our Carers Policy for more details)

This DCDR event is run in partnership with Avalard Productions Ltd. and we are grateful for funding support from Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.

 

Times

Phantom Flyer departures from Downpatrick are at: 15:00, 16:15, 17:30, 18:45

 

The Phantom Flyer – your questions answered

We’ve listed the common questions about our Phantom Flyer below. Use our Contact Us page if your question isn’t covered here.

Where does the train go?

The Phantom Flyer will be rattling around our own railway network of three miles of track. You do not leave the train during the experience, which lasts around an hour. Be sure to use the toilet before we leave!

Is it steam or diesel?

The Phantom Flyer will be using our 450 class diesel train, as seen in Derry Girls.

I am a carer – do I have to pay?

Carers can travel free of charge if they meet the criteria in our Carers Policy. You can’t book this online, so please contact us after you book for the rest of your group to arrange this, explaining your requirements. You can contact us here to arrange your carer’s ticket.

How long does the visit last?

Your visit will last approximately one hour.

Do I have to pre-book?

It’s best to pre-book, using our website.

I don’t have a printer, what do I do with my tickets?

Don’t worry. You don’t need to print your ticket out, though some people do find it handy. You can just show us your ticket on your phone, or you can even write down the booking reference and bring it with you.

What if I miss my train?

If you miss your booked time, don’t worry. We will try our best to accommodate you on the next train. If you manage to miss the last train of the night, then talk to us and we will see what we can do.

Do you have wheelchair access?

Yes. We have wheelchair access into the main station building, as well as wheelchair friendly carriages with double-doors, and accessible toilets at Downpatrick Station. Please ask a member of staff for help into the carriages, as a ramp will need to be used. At checkout, please select the option ‘Wheelchair space required’. You can also use our Contact Us page if you have specific requirements.

Can I bring a pram or buggy?

Space is limited on our trains, and it is not possible to wheel a pram down the carriages of the train you travel on. There is an area for prams and wheelchairs on one of our carriages, but we can only carry a few prams at a time. If possible, we would prefer you leave the pram in the station or in your car. Please talk to our station volunteers if you need help with this.

Where is the railway station?

Downpatrick Station is on the main Downpatrick-Newcastle road (the Ballydougan Road). The entrance for the station is between Rathkeltair House (the tax office) and the Translink bus station. Look out for the brown road signs that say “Railway Museum” and follow those.

For more details, please see our How to Find Us page for maps and directions.

Where can I board the train?

You can only start your journey at Downpatrick Station.

Are dogs allowed?

Due to the nature of the event we can only welcome Assistance Dogs onto the train.

Can you take Visa/Mastercard/etc.?

Yes, we can take credit cards and debit cards via our online booking system, or if you prefer email us at info@downrail.co.uk and we can arrange to make booking and take payment over the phone. We can take payments on the day in our station shop, but it’s best to book in advance if you want to be sure of getting on the train!

Will there be toilets on the train?

There are no toilet facilities on the train but we have toilets at Downpatrick station.

Will the shop and museum be open?

Yes, both the shop and museum will be open.

Will there be any food and drink available?

We will be operating a small buffet on the train where you will be able to purchase soft drinks and confectionery.

Can we eat on the train?

You can indeed! Our buffet carriage will be selling a range of snacks and drinks, but we would ask that you clean all rubbish away on exiting the train.