Train services will not begin at Belfast’s new bus and train station until rail safety checks have been completed.
On Monday, Translink has announced the opening date of the new £340m Grand Central Station in Belfast as Sunday September 8.
While buses will be operational at the transport hub from this date, a date for rail services to become operational in and out of Grand Central Station has yet to be announced by the transport provider.
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On Tuesday, Translink’s chief executive Chris Conway confirmed to the BBC’s Good Morning Ulster programme he was not yet able to confirm when train services would begin.
He explained the rail facilities “have to be approved by the safety authority” but he added that he hoped to be able to announce a rail launch date “soon”.
“It’s the largest infrastructure project on the island of Ireland and therefore needs careful management as we move to the opening phases,” he said.
“We’ve laid over 6km of new track. We’ve implemented a brand new digital signalling system and a new contactless system with automatic gates and barriers.”
Mr Conway explained that all of the new equipment required testing and training for railway workers.
“But most importantly we have a safety authorisation process to go through and the safety authority have to have their say on that,” he added.
“Therefore we’re doing a phased opening to make sure it’s safe for everyone and to make sure everyone gets used to the new facilities.”
Currently the rail line is closed between Lisburn and Belfast Lanyon Place to complete the engineering works to connect the track and install new signalling for the new station as well as take forward the required safety testing, commissioning and training.
It also facilitates the construction of the new bus stands.
This closure has also affected the cross-border Enterprise service, which is running bus substitution services between Belfast and Newry.
There will be a new 2 hourly cross border rail timetable in place from Monday 26th August.
This is to accommodate the new hourly Enterprise Belfast / Dublin services due to be introduced later this year.
When the new Grand Central Station opens, 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 also continue for cross border passengers until the station opens and the train line reopens between Belfast and Lisburn.