Northern Ireland

Still no date for start of train services at new Belfast Grand Central Station

The phased opening of the new transport hub in the city will see bus services begin on Sunday

Grand Central Station in Belfast. PICTURE: MAL MCCANN
A date for train services at the new station has not yet been announced. PICTURE: MAL MCCANN

There is still no date for the start of rail services at the new Belfast Grand Central Station.

It comes as the new transport hub will begin its phased opening from Sunday as it prepares to welcome the first bus passengers.

More: First look inside the new Belfast Grand Central Station as it prepares to open on Sunday

The Europa Bus Centre will close its doors on Saturday when bus services will then relocate to the new hub. It will operate its first service, a 5am bus to Dublin, on Sunday.

However, Translink still has not revealed when rail services will begin at the new site.

Speaking on Wednesday, Translink chief executive Chris Conway told The Irish News that a date has still not been finalised.

“We’re working very closely with the safety authority obviously safety is our number one priority and we hope to be able to announce a date for that soon,” he said.

It is to become the largest integrated transport hub on the island of Ireland, replacing the Europa Bus Centre and the former Great Victoria Street Station.

Grand Central is expected to see around 20 million customer journeys each year as the main transport gateway to Belfast.