Northern Ireland

New bus lanes, Metro timetable changes and train station closures as Translink prepares for Belfast transport hub

Changes have been caused by work on Belfast’s major new transport hub, Grand Central Station, which is expected to open this autumn

Buses in Belfast as a three-day strike action set to go ahead next week after public transport unions reject 5% offer. PICTURE: MAL MCCANN
Translink have made several changes to Metro, bus and rail services from July. PICTURE: MAL MCCANN (Mal McCann)
By Allan Preston

The ongoing construction of Belfast’s new major transport hub, Grand Central Station, has meant several changes to Translink services across Metro, bus and rail travel.

On track to open this autumn, it will be ten times larger than the current facilities and designed to cater for 20 million passengers a year.

Set to be the largest integrated transport facility on the island of Ireland, it is promised to become “a game changer helping inspire and reimagine the city” where more people will travel on public transport.

Listed below is also a roundup of everything you need to know about changes to services on your journey.

Railway

From Wednesday, July 3, bus substitutions will be operating between Belfast and Lisburn to allow for rail infrastructure works for Grand Central Station.

Train services from Lanyon Place to Lisburn stations will be affected by a line closure in place until early autumn.

Express bus substitutions will operate between Belfast and Lisburn, with a shuttle bus between Lanyon Place and Europa Buscentre every 30 minutes, serving stops beside City Hospital, Queen’s University and Botanic.

Passengers using the Lisburn Line stations will need to use regular scheduled Metro and Ulsterbus Lisburn Road Services, with valid rail tickets accepted on these services.

Changes to NI Railways services from July will include bus substitution services between Belfast and Lisburn. PICTURE: TRANSLINK
Changes to NI Railways services from July will include bus substitution services between Belfast and Lisburn. PICTURE: TRANSLINK

The Enterprise service will still operate from Portadown to Dublin, with Belfast customers transferred by bus between Belfast Lanyon Place and Newry train station.

The Saturday Belfast/Dublin services will not operate at 9.36am from Belfast to Dublin Connolly and the 12.21pm Dublin Connolly to Belfast.

On Sundays, the 1pm Dublin Connolly to Belfast and 5.05pm Belfast to Dublin Connolly will also not operate.

Ulsterbus

From July 1, bus timetable changes were announced as well as some bus stop changes in Belfast City Centre.

They have been introduced to make sure people can still move into and around Belfast city centre as the rail infrastructure work intensifies.

A number of Ulsterbus services will now operate to and from Laganside Buscentre instead of Europa, with shuttle bus services also in place in Belfast City Centre to help passengers adjust.
A number of Ulsterbus services will now operate to and from Laganside Buscentre instead of Europa, with shuttle bus services also in place in Belfast City Centre to help passengers adjust.

The following Goldliner/Ulsterbus journeys will no longer operate to and from the Europa Buscentre, moving instead to Laganside Buscentre.

  • 218, 218a, 219a, 221, 222 Antrim, Ballymena & Coleraine area
  • 256, 256a & 653b Larne & Ballyclare area
  • 502 Bangor area
  • 5, 505, 7, 507, 9b, 10 Newtownards area
  • 511, 511b Comber and Shrigley
  • 512 Ballygowan and Raffrey

These services will operate from Donegall Square North:

  • 203 Bangor area
  • 206, 655 Newtownards area

These services will operate from Adelaide Street; (inbound arrival) Linenhall Street:

  • 215, 515 Downpatrick area
  • 518a, 520, 237 Newcastle area (237a will no longer operate)
  • 652 Cairnshill Park & Ride

All other scheduled services continue to operate to and from Europa Buscentre, but passengers are advised that other service times could change.

Metro

Certain Metro 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14 as well as 646,648 and 649 bus stops will be moving in Belfast city centre, with passengers urged to familiarise themselves with the new locations.

There are also changes to some Metro routes and timetables.

Translink have announced Metro timetable changes from July as work continues on Grand Central Station.
Translink have announced Metro timetable changes from July as work continues on Grand Central Station.

From July 1, the route changes are as follows;

  • 1A to 1G; 2A to 2H; and 13 and 14 – terminus will change from Upper Queen Street to Donegall Place.
  • 1A-G stop M, located outside Next.
  • 2A to H – stop N, located outside Footlocke.
  • 13 and 14 – stop M, located outside Next.
  • 2J to 2M: Timetable alterations – boarding stop moved from Wellington Place to Donegall Place - stop N, outside Footlocker, 2M will operate a 40 minute service from 9.40am.
  • 646 (previously Metro 95) – departure terminus changed from Donegall Square East to Europa Buscentre.
  • 648/649 – stop moved from Donegall Place (Footlocker) to Donegall Place (McDonalds).
  • 7A – 7D – timetable changes.
  • 7E – changing to 6F and will operate from Donegall Square West (outside Danske Bank) with other Metro 6 services (moved from Howard Street).
  • 7G and 7H – stop moved to Howard Street (outside Post Office).
  • 8 Services will depart from Howard Street (Deanes) – inbound will no longer serve Great Northern Mall or Naval Club.
  • 9A to 9C – will operate from Bedford Street - inbound will no longer serve Great Northern Mall or Naval Club.
  • 9E to 9K – timetable changes.
  • 93 inbound will no longer serve Great Northern Mall or Naval Club.
  • 10K and 10M will use Divis Street, omitting Grosvenor Road stops..

The following stops will no longer be served;

For Outbound - Durham St, Falls Recreation Centre, Roden St, Servia St, Royal Hospital.

For Inbound – Royal Hospital, Gibson St, Roden St, Cullingtree Rd, Stanley St, GVS.