The first portion of the Belfast and County Down Railway to be opened was along the shoreline of Belfast Lough this was opened on 2nd August 1848 and ran only as far as Hollywood. The rest of the line connecting Bangor with Holywood was opened for business in May 1865. The main line was then taken towards Dundonald over the Holywood Arches, through Ballymacarrett / Bloomfield and Knock, this line then continued on through into Comber and on into Newtownards this was later extended to Donaghadee with the first train entering the town on 3rdJune1861. Meanwhile the next section of line on the opposite side of Strangford Lough was opened on 10th September 1858 and this ran on to Ballygowan / Saintfield and Ballynahinch.  The railway track was lifted in the 1960's and the line has now been turned into a nature walk.

County Down Railway.

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