Belfast Grand Central station

For the railway station formerly known as "Belfast Central", see Lanyon Place railway station.

For the hotel in Belfast with a similar name, see Grand Central Hotel Belfast.

Belfast Grand Central
Translink rail and bus station
The station at the Grosvenor Road at soft opening, 8 September 2024
General information
Other names	Belfast Transport Hub
Location	Weavers Cross, Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
Coordinates	54°35′41.16″N05°56′23.24″W / 54.5947667°N 5.9397889°W / 54.5947667; -5.9397889
Owned by	Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company [1]
Operated by	Translink
Line(s)	Bangor Derry~Londonderry Dublin Larne Portadown/Newry
Platforms	8
Tracks	8
Train operators	NI Railways Iarnród Éireann (On cross border services) [2]
Bus routes	X1 X2 X212 13 13a 109 209 209b 212 238 238b 250 250b 251 251a 251b 251c 270 271 273 300 300a 513 600 650 651
Bus stands	26
Bus operators	Goldline Ulsterbus Metro Eamonn Rooney Hannon Coach
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]
Key dates
2019	Construction started
8 September 2024	Soft Opening Bus Services start
13 October 2024	Official Opening
Route map (Click to expand) Show NI Railways Network map Legend Year closed Great Victoria Street 2024 Belfast Grand Central Westlink / Central Junction to Lanyon Place Adelaide Balmoral Finaghy M1 Dunmurry Derriaghy Lambeg Hilden Lisburn Knockmore 2005 Lisburn-Antrim line Banbridge, Lisburn & Belfast Jn Rly to Banbridge Maze 1974 Broomhedge Halt 1973 Damhead 1973 Moira M1 Pritchard's Bridge 1844 Lurgan Goodyear Halt 1983 Seagoe 1842 River Bann Portadown to Dungannon 1965 to Armagh 1957 Tanderagee 1965 Banbridge Jn Rly to Banbridge Scarva Acton Crossing 1954 Poyntzpass Augheranter Crossing 1954 Knockarney Crossing 1965 Newry and Armagh Railway to Armagh Goraghwood 1965 to Warrenpoint 1965 Mullaghglass 1901 Bessbrook and Newry Tramway Craigmore Viaduct Newry MacNeill's Egyptian Arch Wellington Inn 1852 Adavoyle 1933 Northern Ireland Ireland border Mt. Pleasant 1965 M1 Castletown River Dundalk Clarke Dundalk Junct. station 1894 ← to Enniskillen│to Greenore → 1957/1952 GNR(I) Works Castlebellingham 1976 to Ardee 1975 Dromin Junction 1975 Dunleer 1984 Newfoundwell Boyne Viaduct Drogheda MacBride Oldcastle branch line (freight only) Laytown Laytown Viaduct Mosney 2000 Gormanston Balbriggan Ardgillan 1867 Skerries Skerries Golf Club Halt 1960 Baldongan 1847 Rush and Lusk Rogerstown Viaduct Donabate Broadmeadow viaduct Malahide Portmarnock Clongriffin Baldoyle 1852 to Howth Howth Junction & Donaghmede Kilbarrack Raheny Harmonstown Killester Clontarf 1956 Clontarf Road Fairview DART depot River Tolka North Wall Yard to Alexandra Road Western Commuter & Sligo Line Docklands The Royal Canal Dublin Connolly Luas Red Line to Tallaght and Saggart Loopline Bridge Trans-Dublin Line & Rosslare Line = Northern Commuter = Newry/Portadown Line This diagram: view talk edit Show Dublin line route diagram Legend Year closed Great Victoria Street 2024 Belfast Grand Central Westlink / Central Junction to Lanyon Place Adelaide depot Adelaide Balmoral Finaghy Dunmurry Derriaghy Lambeg Hilden Lisburn Knockmore 2005 Lisburn-Antrim railway line to Glenavy, Crumlin, Antrim (disused) Maze 1974 Moira Lurgan River Bann Portadown Tanderagee 1965 Scarva Poyntzpass Goraghwood 1965 Newry Belfast-Dublin railway line to Dundalk Clarke, Drogheda MacBride, Dublin Connolly = Northern Commuter This diagram: view talk edit Show Portadown/Newry line route diagram Legend Year closed Great Victoria Street 2024 Belfast Grand Central Belfast-Dublin line to Portadown, Newry, Dublin Connolly City Hospital Botanic Lanyon Place River Lagan Belfast-Bangor line to Holywood, Helen's Bay, Bangor Lagan Viaduct over River Lagan Cross Harbour Rail Link over Belfast Harbour York Street Yorkgate 2024 York Road depot York Road 1992 Fortwilliam Traincare Depot Whiteabbey Belfast-Larne line to Carrickfergus, Whitehead, Larne Town Belfast-Derry line via Greenisland 1963 Monkstown 1981 Mossley 1982 Mossley West Ballyclare Junction 1961 Ballyclare branch line to Lisnalinchy, Ballyclare 1930 Ballyrobert 1920 Doagh 1970 Templepatrick 1981 Dunadry 1954 Muckamore 1961 Lisburn-Antrim line to Crumlin, Knockmore, Lisburn Antrim Cookstown Junction 1976 Cookstown branch line to Randalstown, Cookstown 1955 Kellswater 1971 Andraid 1850 Ballymena and Larne Railway to Kells, Kilwaughter, Larne Town 1950 Ballymena Ballymena, Cushendall & Red Bay Rly to Rathkenny, Parkmore, Retreat 1940 Cullybackey Glarryford 1973 Killagan 1973 Dunloy 1976 Ballymoney Ballycastle Railway to Dervock, Armoy, Ballycastle 1950 Derry Central Railway to Garvagh, Kilrea, Magherafelt 1950 Macfin 1954 Coleraine Coleraine Harbour 1963 Coleraine-Portrush line to University, Dhu Varren, Portrush River Bann Coleraine Waterside 1861 Barmouth 1856 Castlerock Castlerock Tunnel Downhill Tunnel Downhill 1973 Umbra 1861 Magilligan 1976 Bellarena River Roe Limavady Railway to Limavady, Dungiven Limavady Junction 1976 Ballykelly 1954 Carrichue 1954 Faughanvale 1859 Eglinton 1973 River Faughan Derry~Londonderry This diagram: view talk edit Show Derry~Londonderry line route diagram Legend Year closed Great Victoria Street 2024 Belfast Grand Central Belfast-Dublin line to Portadown, Newry, Dublin Connolly City Hospital Botanic Tunnel Botanic Lanyon Place Lagan Railway Bridge over River Lagan Belfast-Larne railway line & Belfast-Derry railway line Titanic Quarter (Bridge End) Queen's Quay 1976 Belfast and County Down Railway to Comber, Ardglass, Newcastle 1950 Ballymacarrett 1976 Victoria Park 1981 Sydenham Tillysburn 1945 Kinnegar 1957 Holywood Marino Cultra Craigavad 1957 Seahill Helen's Bay Crawfordsburn 1997 Carnalea Bangor West Bangor This diagram: view talk edit Show Bangor line route diagram Legend Year closed Great Victoria Street 2024 Belfast Grand Central Belfast-Dublin line to Portadown, Newry, Dublin Connolly City Hospital Botanic Tunnel Botanic Lanyon Place River Lagan Belfast–Bangor railway line to Sydenham, Holywood, Bangor River Lagan (Lagan Viaduct) Belfast Harbour Cross Harbour Rail Link York Street Yorkgate 2024 York Road depot York Road 1992 Greencastle 1954 Whitehouse 1954 Whiteabbey Belfast–Derry railway line to Ballymena, Coleraine, Derry~Londonderry Bleach Green 1977 Jordanstown Belfast–Derry railway line via Monkstown 1963 Greenisland Trooperslane Mount 1977 Harbour branch line to Carrickfergus Harbour Clipperstown Carrickfergus Barn 1977 Downshire Eden 1977 Kilroot 1977 Whitehead Whitehead Excursion RPSI depot Ballycarry Magheramorne Glynn Larne Town Ballymena and Larne Railway to Kilwaughter, Kells, Ballymena Larne Harbour This diagram: view talk edit Show Larne line route diagram
Location Belfast Grand Central Location in Northern Ireland Show map of Northern Ireland Belfast Grand Central Location on the island of Ireland Show map of island of Ireland Location in Belfast city

Belfast Grand Central station (originally the Belfast Transport Hub ^[6] ) is a railway and bus station in the city centre of Belfast, Northern Ireland. It has replaced Great Victoria Street railway station and the Europa Buscentre. ^{[7] [8]} It is built next to its predecessors, in a new neighbourhood called Weaver's Cross. ^[9] 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. ^{[10] [11] [12]}

Context

The first railway station in Ulster was opened on the site of the former Great Victoria Street station in 1839 on the Ulster Railway. It became the northern terminus of the GNR's non-stop Dublin–Belfast express in 1947, and in 1962, platform 5 was removed to allow construction of a bus station providing a truly integrated bus-rail station for the first time in Belfast's history. ^[13] Northern Ireland Railways (NIR) closed the railway part of the station altogether in 1976 and the original buildings were demolished, being replaced by the Europa Hotel and Great Northern Mall. Railway services resumed, however, in 1995 with the opening of a rebuilt Great Victoria Street station, integrated with the Europa Buscentre. ^[14]

Station location and facilities

The station is located on a 8-hectare (860,000 sq ft) site owned by The Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company (trading as Translink) between the former Europa Buscentre and Belfast Great Victoria Street railway station, ^[2] both of which it replaces. ^[9] The station's capacity is designed to cater for twenty million passenger journeys annually, more than the twelve million combined capacity of the pre-existing bus and railway station. ^[9] In addition to rail and bus improvements, the station also has cycle and taxi provision for enhanced connectivity, with 300 cycle parking spaces. ^{[15] [16]} It is said to be the "largest integrated transport facility on the island of Ireland". ^[15] During construction the transport hub was described as one of the Northern Ireland Executive's "flagship projects". ^[16]

A platform sign at Belfast Grand Central Station

Railway station

The new station has eight platforms ^[8] (double that of Great Victoria Street and Belfast Lanyon Place), composed of four island platforms with two faces each. Two of these islands are short and two long. ^[17] Like the former Great Victoria Street, it is the terminus of Northern Ireland Railways' Derry, Larne, Bangor and Newry lines. This also means that the Portadown to Bangor route no longer has direct through traffic and is divided into two separate lines. The Enterprise express service to Dublin has moved from Lanyon Place as part of the project, meaning the flagship express service between Belfast and Dublin terminates here. ^[18]

Bus station

A look towards the bus stands within Belfast Grand Central Station on opening day 2024

The bus station features 26 stands, eight more than the previous Europa Bus Centre. Seating is available throughout, with priority seating at select stands. The station also offers a range of amenities, including ATMs, vending machines, automated ticket machines, a help desk, a water refill station, and a sensory pod. There are accessible male and female restrooms, as well as Changing Places facilities.

Weaver's Cross

The area surrounding the hub will become a new neighbourhood which Translink has named 'Weaver's Cross'. ^[19] This 100,000 m² site is planned to comprise leisure, residential and commercial facilities. ^[20]

Station Quarter

Weaver's Cross, combined with the station and a rejuvenated Glengall Street, Hope Street and Durham Street, will become Station Quarter, Belfast's ninth Cultural Quarter. ^[21]

History

Construction

By February 2021, the first stage of enabling works was completed by construction contractor company Graham Construction, ^{[22] [23]} clearing the 8-hectare (860,000 sq ft) for construction. ^[24] The next stage of development, from February 2021, involved the relocating of bus engineering and operation facilities to new accommodation, and the construction of a new bus wash facility, engineering garage, storage facilities and a bus parking area. ^[24] The Main Works and Infrastructure Enhancement phases of the project were expected to be conducted in 2022, ^[24] with the project due for completion in 2024/2025. ^{[9] [24]} The project was said to potentially create 400 jobs over a five-year period. ^[25]

The main works of the project were delivered by a joint venture of Farrans Construction and Sacyr, with railway system works by Babcock. ^[26] The Busway Bridge was completed in August 2023. ^[27]

In April 2024, it was announced that Great Victoria Street station would close permanently on 10 May 2024, several months before the new Grand Central station was scheduled to open in autumn 2024.

On 29 May 2024, the first "The Grand Connection Roadshow" was held at Lanyon Place Train Station to communicate plans for the facility. The roadshow toured various locations throughout Northern Ireland, including shopping centres and train and bus stations. ^[28]

On 3 July 2024, Translink closed the rail line between Lisburn and Belfast Lanyon Place to facilitate the Grand Central enabling works scheduled for the summer. All stations between these two points were closed, with a temporary shuttle service running between Portadown and Lisburn. Enterprise passengers traveling to/from Belfast took a bus to/from Newry train station. ^[29]

On 8 July 2024, Translink launched a series of 11 videos across all its social media channels titled "The Grand Connection: Behind the Scenes at Belfast Grand Central Station." These videos showcased the progress made since the closure of Great Victoria Street station in May and highlighted how stakeholders and interest groups contributed to the station's development. ^[30]

On 13 August 2024, the first trains began arriving at the station for driver training runs. A NIR 4000 Class train operated these runs between Belfast Lanyon Place and Belfast Grand Central and Adelaide Depot. ^{[31] [32]}

On 19 August 2024, Translink announced that bus operations at Belfast Grand Central would commence on Sunday, 8 September 2024. The final day of operations at the Europa Buscentre was to be Saturday, 7 September, 2024.

On 4 September 2024, Translink invited the press for a final preview of Grand Central Station before its official opening. It also announced that the station's first departure would be the X1 Goldline bus service to Dublin Busáras, scheduled for 8 September 2024 at 05:00 UTC+1. ^{[33] [34]}

Opening

On 8 September 2024, Belfast Grand Central welcomed its first bus passengers, with services to Dublin Busáras via Dublin Airport and Belfast International Airport. Amir Kumat was reportedly the first passenger to enter the station, heading for Belfast International Airport. The former Europa Buscentre was converted into a corridor connecting Belfast Grand Central to Great Victoria Street. ^{[35] [36] [37]}

On 23 September 2024, the cross-border Enterprise service began trial runs at the new station, in advance of its relocation from Belfast Lanyon Place. ^[38]

On 3 October 2024, Translink announced that train services at Belfast Grand Central Station would commence on 13 October 2024, which marked the reopening of the Belfast to Lisburn Line.

Rail services began operating from the station on Sunday, 13 October 2024. The first departure was the 08:05 Enterprise service to Dublin Connolly, with a once-a-week stop at Lisburn and Lurgan, continuing on to Portadown, Newry, Dundalk Clarke, Drogheda MacBride, and finally, Dublin Connolly. The first arrival was the 09:15 Translink NI Railways service from Portadown. On board this train was the Minister for Infrastructure, John O'Dowd. Also present at the commencement of services was Translink's CEO, Chris Conway. The first 2000 passengers to use the station received a commemorative ticket. ^{[39] [40] [41] [42]}

Controversies

Some issues with the scheme have arisen, including:

• The planning permission, granted in 2019 for the construction of the new Belfast Transport Hub, ^[43] included a provision for the removal of the Boyne Bridge, where a bridge was originally built in 1863 to span the railway line leading into Great Victoria Street station, with the current bridge dating to 1936. ^[44] The bridge is to be replaced by a four-lane road with crossing points for pedestrians and there is to be a new plaza and event-space called Saltwater Square leading up to the entrance of Belfast Grand Central station. ^[45] Some residents from the Sandy Row district, which lies at the southern end of the Boyne Bridge, as well as architectural and heritage campaigners, opposed the decision to dismantle the bridge on grounds of pedestrian safety and of the "bleakness" of architecture of the proposed Saltwater Square and also because of the bridge's place in the history of Belfast's development. ^[46] The Sandy Row end of the Boyne Bridge, at its junction with Hope St, contains remnants of a bridge built in 1642, originally named the Great Bridge and later renamed the Saltwater Bridge, spanning marshy and sandy land and, which local folklore describes as having been ridden over by King William of Orange as he passed through Belfast on his way to the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. ^[47] During the construction works in 1936, workmen unearthed wooden pipes that had been made by boring through whole tree-trunks and then connected together using iron fixings. These were understood to be part of the first attempt, in 1680, to pipe a reliable source of clean, fresh water to the new town of Belfast. ^[48]
• The lack of integration with the new Glider rapid transport system, criticised as a missed opportunity for the transport hub nature of Grand Central. ^[49]
• The replacement of the large roof covering the railway platforms in the original plans with smaller canopies over each island platform sparked an outcry among railway campaigners. Translink responded, stating that the changes to the roof design of the new Belfast Grand Central Station were driven by considerations of "best design, passenger comfort, and air quality." ^[50]
• The absence of Irish language signage has disappointed Irish language campaigners, with Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin from An Dream Dearg stating, "This is not just a transport hub for Belfast; it serves people from across the entire island of Ireland. It's crucial that it reflects our identity as a city." A Translink spokesperson responded: "Translink is continuing to engage with all interested parties regarding multi-lingual signage at Belfast Grand Central Station for the official opening in the autumn of 2025."On September 12th, an Irish language protest took place at Grand Central Station, with a large An Dream Dearg banner displayed across the station floor. Protesters of all ages participated, holding signs with station names written in Irish. Eoghan Ó Gairmile from An Dream Dearg expressed their frustration, stating, That they deeply disappointed to see the new Grand Central Station launch without any provision for dual-language signage. ^{[51] [52] [53] [54] [55]}
• Some have complained that traffic has become congested around the new station during rush hour, with buses delayed by over 60 minutes or being cancelled. John O'Dowd, acknowledged that the new station has contributed to the issue but also highlighted the ongoing resurfacing work on the Sydenham Bypass as a significant factor. ^{[56] [57] [58]}

Services

Rail services

Grand Central acts as the terminus for all active railway lines in Northern Ireland, with the exception of the Coleraine-Portrush line.

Bangor Line

On the Bangor Line, the station operates a half-hourly stopping service to Bangor on weekdays and Saturdays, with additional express services at peak times. On Sundays, the line reduces to hourly operation between Grand Central and Bangor. ^[59]

Derry~Londonderry Line

The Derry~Londonderry Line operates an hourly service to Derry~Londonderry on weekdays and Saturdays, with some extra peak services terminating at Coleraine. On Sundays, this services remains hourly, however the terminus alternates every hour between Derry~Londonderry and Portrush. This results in only a two-hourly service to all stations beyond Coleraine. ^[60]

Dublin Line (Enterprise)

The Enterprise currently operates as an hourly service on the Dublin Line to Dublin Connolly via Portadown, Newry, Dundalk Clarke and Drogheda MacBride from Monday to Saturday. The Sunday service is two-hourly. ^{[61] [62] [63]}

Larne Line

On the Larne Line, the station operates half-hourly services on weekdays and Saturdays. The terminus for these services alternates every half-hour between Larne Harbour and Whitehead. Additional peak-time services operate to Carrickfergus and Larne Town. This pattern results in an hourly service to Larne Harbour. The service reduces to hourly after 7pm. On Sundays, an hourly service runs on this line with the same alternating terminus pattern - this has the effect of providing a two-hourly service to all stations beyond Whitehead. ^[64]

Portadown/Newry Line

The Portadown/Newry Line operates a half-hourly stopping service to Portadown on weekdays and Saturdays, with additional services (some operating as expresses) at peak times to Lisburn and Newry. On Sundays the line reduces to hourly operation between Grand Central and Portadown, with Newry only being served by the last train of the day. No trains stop at Scarva and Poyntzpass on Sundays. ^[65]

Preceding station		Northern Ireland Railways		Following station
Terminus		Northern Ireland Railways Belfast-Derry		City Hospital
		Northern Ireland Railways Belfast-Larne
		Northern Ireland Railways Belfast-Bangor
		Northern Ireland Railways Belfast-Newry		Adelaide
		Enterprise Belfast-Dublin		Portadown or Lisburn (Sundays only)

Bus services

The first bus to use Grand Central's bus station was the X1 Goldline bus service to Dublin Busáras on 8 September 2024. ^{[33] [66] [67]}

Preceding station		Ulsterbus		Following station
Newry Buscentre		Goldline Belfast-Dublin (Route X1)		Terminus
Dublin Airport		Goldline Belfast-Dublin (Route X2)		Terminus
Adelaide Street		Ulsterbus Belfast - Drumbo (Route 13)		Terminus
Loughview Park & Ride		Goldline Belfast-Cookstown (Route 209)		Terminus
Toomebridge By-Pass		Goldline Belfast-Derry (Route 212)		Terminus
Adelaide Street		Goldline Belfast-Downpatrick (Route 215) Belfast-Newcastle (Route 237)		Terminus
Ballynahinch		Goldline Belfast-Newcastle (Route 237A)		Terminus
Belfast High Street		Goldline Belfast-Ballymena-Coleraine (Route 218) Belfast-Ballymena-Coleraine (Route 219)		Terminus
Ballymena Railway Station		Goldline Belfast-Giant's Causeway (Route 221)		Terminus
Portadown Market Street		Goldline Belfast-Armagh/Monaghan (Route 251)		Terminus
Dungannon Bus Station		Goldline Belfast-Enniskillen (Route 261)		Terminus
		Goldline Belfast-Derry via Omagh (Route 273)
Belfast International Airport		Airport Express Airport Express (Route 300)		Terminus
Belfast City Airport		Airport Express Airport Express (Route 600)		Terminus
Stranraer Ferry Terminal via Stena Line		Eurolines Belfast-London		Terminus
		Eurolines Belfast-Edinburgh
Park Centre Belfast		Eamonn Rooney Newry Express (Route ??)		Queen's University
Sprucefield Shopping Centre		Hannon Coach Glasgow Express (Route ??)		Belfast, Stena Line Terminal

Gallery

• 
  Belfast Grand Central on 10 January 2023
• 
  Looking at BGC from the former railway station Great Victoria street
• 
  Inside Belfast Grand Central

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External links

Media related to Belfast Grand Central station at Wikimedia Commons

• Belfast Grand Central Website