Editing Northern Counties Committee (section)

===A lack of capital and a change of name===
The {{abbr|B&BR|Belfast and Ballymena Railway}} continued to prosper but lacked capital and matters came to a head at when it was reported that the capital was totally expended and borrowing powers had been exceeded by £10,000. It was essential that the company raise additional funds to double the existing single line out of Belfast, as it was no longer adequate for the current volume of traffic and to replace many of the original wooden stations. It was therefore proposed to make a submission to Parliament as soon as possible.

{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title           = Ballymena and Portrush Railway Act 1858
| type                  = Act
| parliament            = Parliament of the United Kingdom
| long_title            = 
| year                  = 1858
| citation              = [[21 & 22 Vict.]] c. liii
| introduced_commons    = 
| introduced_lords      = 
| territorial_extent    = 
| royal_assent          = 
| commencement          = 
| expiry_date           = 
| repeal_date           = 
| amends                = 
| replaces              = 
| amendments            = 
| repealing_legislation = 
| related_legislation   = 
| status                = 
| legislation_history   = 
| theyworkforyou        = 
| millbankhansard       = 
| original_text         = 
| revised_text          = 
| use_new_UK-LEG        = 
| UK-LEG_title          = 
| collapsed             = yes
}}
In 1858, with the connivance of the {{abbr|B&BR|Belfast and Ballymena Railway}}, the neighbouring {{abbr|BBC&PJR|Belfast, Ballymena, Coleraine and Portrush Junction Railway}} promoted the '''{{visible anchor|Ballymena and Portrush Railway Act 1858}}''' ([[21 & 22 Vict.]] c. liii) to empower the {{abbr|B&BR|Belfast and Ballymena Railway}} to purchase the {{abbr|BBC&PJR|Belfast, Ballymena, Coleraine and Portrush Junction Railway}} at a future date. The sum required was to be paid for by the issue of new shares. This manoeuvre was aided by the links both companies had with William Dargan.

{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title           = Ballymena and Portrush Railway (Coleraine Junction) Act 1859
| type                  = Act
| parliament            = Parliament of the United Kingdom
| long_title            = An Act to enable the Ballymena, Ballymoney, Coleraine and Portrush Junction Railway Company to make n Junction Railway at Coleraine.
| year                  = 1859
| citation              = [[22 Vict.]] c. xxxi
| introduced_commons    = 
| introduced_lords      = 
| territorial_extent    = 
| royal_assent          = 
| commencement          = 
| expiry_date           = 
| repeal_date           = 
| amends                = 
| replaces              = 
| amendments            = 
| repealing_legislation = 
| related_legislation   = 
| status                = 
| legislation_history   = 
| theyworkforyou        = 
| millbankhansard       = 
| original_text         = 
| revised_text          = 
| use_new_UK-LEG        = 
| UK-LEG_title          = 
| collapsed             = yes
}}
However, a complication arose when the {{abbr|BBC&PJR|Belfast, Ballymena, Coleraine and Portrush Junction Railway}} was granted approval in the '''{{visible anchor|Ballymena and Portrush Railway (Coleraine Junction) Act 1859}}''' ([[22 Vict.]] c. xxxi) in April 1859 to build a bridge over the [[River Bann]] at [[Coleraine]] to connect with the [[Londonderry and Coleraine Railway]]. Since this was after the 1858 act, the bridge could not be included in any sale of the {{abbr|BBC&PJR|Belfast, Ballymena, Coleraine and Portrush Junction Railway}}. An additional act was promoted to regularise the situation. In addition, this later bill made provision to change the title of the {{abbr|B&BR|Belfast and Ballymena Railway}} and to alter the dates of the half-yearly meetings.

When the last half-yearly accounts ending in March 1860 were issued, it was possible to declare a dividend of 4%.

{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title           = Belfast and Northern Counties Railway Act 1860
| type                  = Act
| parliament            = 
| long_title            = 
| year                  = 
| citation              = [[23 & 24 Vict.]] c. xlvi
| introduced_commons    = 
| introduced_lords      = 
| territorial_extent    = 
| royal_assent          = 15 May 1860
| commencement          = 
| expiry_date           = 
| repeal_date           = 
| amends                = 
| replaces              = 
| amendments            = 
| repealing_legislation = 
| related_legislation   = 
| status                = 
| legislation_history   = 
| theyworkforyou        = 
| millbankhansard       = 
| original_text         = https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/Vict/23-24/46/pdfs/ukla_18600046_en.pdf
| revised_text          = 
| use_new_UK-LEG        = 
| UK-LEG_title          = 
| collapsed             = yes
}}
With the passage of the '''{{visible anchor|Belfast and Northern Counties Railway Act 1860}}''' ([[23 & 24 Vict.]] c. xlvi) on 15 May 1860, the Belfast and Ballymena Railway ceased to exist and the Belfast and Northern Counties Railway (BNCR) took its place.