Categories: travel updates

Update 03/10/2024:

Translink is now making preliminary plans to commence rail services from Belfast Grand Central Station on Sunday 13th October.

This will see the rail line between Belfast and Lisburn reopen for passenger services and Enterprise services will operate to/from Belfast Grand Central Station.

A new rail timetable will be in place and passengers will be encouraged to plan their trip using information on the website www.translink.co.uk or Journey Planner available from Monday 7th October.

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Belfast's brand new Grand Central Station, Northern Ireland’s state of the art integrated transport hub, is now open.

As the main terminus station for Belfast it will offer increased connectivity and integration with the wider public transport network for connections across Northern Ireland, ROI and beyond. It will also increase reliability and efficiency of services across the network.

Passengers should allow extra time to interchange to another bus or rail service if continuing on a different route.

Rail passengers should note, those travelling to / from the Portadown line will need to interchange at Grand Central Station if travelling to / from Botanic, City Hospital, Lanyon Place, York Street Station, or to / from stations on the Larne, Bangor and Derry~Londonderry lines.

The latest information on Belfast Grand Central Station can be found on the Translink website.

Use Translink's Journey Planner or Traffic Watch NI for information specific to your intended route.

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Belfast Grand Central Station Phased Opening

Cross Border Enterprise Rail Services

All Enterprise services will operate to and from the new station and will no longer serve Lanyon Place Station. 
The current bus substitution arrangements will continue for cross border passengers until the train line reopens between Belfast and Lisburn.

Local Train Services arrangements until opening date

The following arrangements continue to apply until rail services commence at the new station.

Travelling to and from Belfast City Centre and to/from Lisburn Train Station including rail halts along Lisburn Road:

• Travelling from stations on the Bangor, Larne or Derry~Londonderry lines into Belfast, get off at either York Street or Lanyon Place Stations and either walk, cycle or use scheduled Metro or Glider services to interchange between Belfast Stations (including Botanic and City Hospital) or access the city centre. 

• Botanic and City Hospital train stations are closed.

• Express bus substitution services operate between Lisburn Train Station and Europa Buscentre until Saturday 7th Sept and Grand Central Station from Sunday 8th Sept.

Monday to Friday:
• Bus substitution services will operate between Belfast Lanyon Place and Lisburn Train Stations serving rail halts along the Lisburn Road to serve nearby schools.

Route as follows:
o Lanyon Place Train Station 
o Northern Mall, Gt Victoria Street (Out) Bruce Street (Rtn)
o Bradbury Place (Botanic)
o Elmwood Ave/City Hospital, Lisburn Road
o Adelaide, Lisburn Road
o Kings Hall, Balmoral
o Finaghy Crossroads
o Dunmurry, Tesco
o Derriaghy
o Lambeg
o Hilden
o Lisburn Train Station

This shuttle service will operate approximately every 10mins at peak times (morning and afternoon/evening) and every 30 minutes off peak.

Weekends only:
• Bus substitution services operate between Belfast Lanyon Place and Europa Buscentre serving stops adjacent to City Hospital, Queens University and Botanic.

Route as follows:
o Lanyon Place – Northern Mall, Great Victoria Street - Bradbury Place - Lisburn Road - University Road - Bradbury Place – Bruce Street - Lanyon Place Station 

• Valid rail tickets will be transferable to these services and passengers will also have the option to buy a ticket on board.

• From Monday 2nd September, new smart School Travel Passes will also be transferable to the bus substitution services and pupils will simply tap on to travel.

• Regular Metro and Ulsterbus services operating along the Lisburn Road will also be enhanced.

Bus Timetables and City Centre Bus Stop Changes

Adjustments to Ulsterbus / Goldliner and Metro timetables are currently operating to help maintain bus service reliability and performance during increased traffic pressures on the city centre network. 

The location of some city centre stops has also changed these will continue until further notice. 

These are necessary to maintain service reliability as public realm improvements around Grand Central Station are delivered requiring road and lane closures.

More information is available at Metro Stop Changes and Ulsterbus Stop Changes

Public Realm Street Works 

Public Realm Works surrounding the new station are ongoing and will continue through 2025 to significantly upgrade the streets and enhance pedestrian safety making it easier and more accessible for all. 
Various bus service enhancements as well as pedestrian and bus passenger priority measures are now live. Use of public transport is encouraged to access this city. Road users are advised to expect some delays.
 

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Passengers are encouraged to plan their journeys using the Translink website and Translink's Journey Planner, as well as following Translink on social media for real time information. You are encouraged to leave extra time for your journeys during the ongoing phasing of the new transport systems.