Belfast Grand Central station
Belfast Grand Central station (originally the Belfast Transport Hub[6]) is a railway and bus station in the city centre of Belfast, Northern Ireland. The first bus service, to Dublin, departed from the station on 8 September 2024, and the first rail service, also to Dublin, departed from the station on 13 October 2024.[7][8]
Belfast Grand Central  | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Translink rail and bus station | |||||
 The station enterance | |||||
| General information | |||||
| Other names | Belfast Transport Hub | ||||
| Location | Weavers Cross, Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland | ||||
| Coordinates | 54°35′41.16″N 05°56′23.24″W / 54.5947667°N 5.9397889°W | ||||
| Owned by | Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company[1] | ||||
| Operated by | Translink | ||||
| Platforms | 8 | ||||
| Tracks | 8 | ||||
| Train operators | NI Railways Iarnród Éireann (On cross border services) [2] | ||||
| Bus routes |
| ||||
| Bus stands | 26 | ||||
| Bus operators | |||||
| Connections | Bus, Taxi, Trains, Bikes | ||||
| Construction | |||||
| Structure type | At-grade | ||||
| Parking | Great Northern Car Park 535 spaces 9 Handicap Spaces [3] | ||||
| Bicycle facilities | 300 cycle parking spaces[2] | ||||
| Accessible | Yes[2] | ||||
| Architect | John McAslan + Partners [4] | ||||
| Other information | |||||
| Fare zone | 1 [5] | ||||
| Website | https://www.translink.co.uk/corporate/media/pressreleases/bgcsupdates | ||||
| Key dates | |||||
| 2019 | Construction started | ||||
| 8 September 2024 | Soft Opening Bus Services start | ||||
| 13 October 2024 | Official Opening | ||||
| |||||
| |||||
The new station has eight platforms.[9] Two of these islands are short and two long.[10] It is the terminus of Northern Ireland Railways' Dublin, Derry, Larne, Bangor and Newry lines.
Bus station
change
The bus station features 26 stands Seating is available throughout, with priority seating at select stands.
Opening
changeOn 8 September 2024, Belfast Grand Central welcomed its first bus passengers, with services to Dublin Busáras via Dublin Airport and Belfast International Airport. [11][12][13]
Controversies
changeSome issues with the scheme have arisen, including:
- The removal of the Boyne bridge
- The lack of connection the Gilder
- The replacement of the large roof covering the railway platforms
- The absence of Irish language signage has disappointed Irish language campaigners,
- Some have complained that traffic has become congested around the new station during rush hour.
Services
changeRail services
changeGrand Central acts as the terminus for all active railway lines in Northern Ireland, with the exception of the Coleraine-Portrush line.
References
change- ↑ "Information about ownership". whatdotheyknow.co.uk. Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company. 2024-06-17. Archived from the original on 2024-07-18. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Cite error: The named reference
Translink.co.ukwas used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page). - ↑ "Great Northern Car Park". 2024-06-03. Archived from the original on 2024-06-03. Retrieved 2024-06-03.
- ↑ "Belfast Grand Central". mcaslan.co.uk. John McAslan + Partners. 19 May 2016. Archived from the original on 1 December 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
- ↑ "iLink Zone information". translink.co.uk. Translink. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
- ↑ "Belfast Transport Hub to be called Grand Central Station". 2022-04-08. Archived from the original on 26 June 2022. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
- ↑ MacAuley, Conor. "New £340m transport hub a 'game changer' for Belfast". RTÉ.ie.
- ↑ "Belfast Grand Central Station to be a 'game-changer' for public transport".
- ↑ Corscadden, Jane (2022-04-07). "Translink announces name of new Belfast transport hub". BelfastLive. Archived from the original on 23 July 2022. Retrieved 2022-07-23.
- ↑ "Belfast Transport Hub - Future Belfast". www.futurebelfast.com. 31 January 2016. Archived from the original on 14 February 2018. Retrieved 2018-02-13.
- ↑ "Belfast Grand Central Station welcomes first customers". The Irish News. 2024-09-08. Retrieved 2024-09-08.
- ↑ "Belfast: Grand Central Station opens to the public". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 2024-09-08.
- ↑ "Belfast Grand Central Station officially opens as first bus passengers depart new £340m hub". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 2024-09-08. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2024-09-08.