The new station will further transform public transport, enhancing local and international connectivity it is a game changer for the whole of Northern Ireland, set to inspire people to use more sustainable travel for a better connected, cleaner and healthier region for everyone.
The start of rail services at Grand Central Station will bring enhanced connectivity and integration of the wider public transport network with bus, coach and rail connections across the island.
Access and Parking
Set Down and Pick up arrangements
Public Realm Works surrounding the new station are ongoing and will continue through 2025 to significantly upgrade the streets and enhance pedestrian safety making it easier and more accessible for all.
During this time set down and pick up for passengers and patrons of the station will be at the following:
St Andrew’s Square (access and exit via Hope Street). Passengers being set down here can walk through the Europa Buscentre, exit at Glengall Street and access the new station entrance from Durham Street.
Value Car Parks – (access and exit via Grosvenor Road). Passengers can utilise the set down areas which are available on the first floor of the multi-story car park. The first ten minutes are free of change for cars using Value Car Parks (longer term parking also available). Passengers being set down at this point should access the new station via the Grosvenor Road entrance.
Durham Street is closed to vehicles from the Glengall Street junction to the Hope Street junction until further notice. Pedestrians will continue to be able to cross Durham Street to access the Station, via a safe hoarded walkway from Glengall Street.
Local access only for vehicles to Glengall Street will be maintained via a new temporary access road from Durham Street to Glengall Street.
For anyone with accessibility or mobility requirements, Glengall Street can be used for pick up and drop off via the access road.
Taxis are also active on Glengall Street. All taxis can be requested to use this location as the preferred pick up / drop off point.
Car Parking Arrangements
For Cross Border Passengers who wish to park their car and travel to Dublin (Enterprise and X1 and X2 Services only):
Approaching from Gt Victoria Street / Sandy Row use Go Park Great Northern Car Park – 24 hour operation. A reduced rate of £12 per 24 hours is available. With 530 spaces simply present your train / coach ticket at the car park kiosk.
Approaching from Grosvenor Road, there are also 575 car parking spaces available at the nearby Value Car Parks on Grosvenor Road. For more information and parking rates see https://www.valuecarparks.com/.
Station Facilities
You can learn more about the facilities available at Belfast Grand Central Station at the link below.
Our Partners
Translink is working in partnership with a range of organisations to advance the transformation of transport and help encourage more sustainable travel helping NI reach its climate goals.
Grand Connection
A new Grand Connection video series has launched on Translink social media that takes you on a behind the scenes journey to showcase the people and the ‘Grand Expertise’ at work.
Learn more about the different project parts that need to come together to deliver this world class integrated station, so we are ready to give you a Grand Welcome in September.
What Passengers Can Expect
- Fully inclusive for all, this impressive facility will offer an enhanced user experience for up to 20 million customer journeys annually.
- There will be double the number of rail platforms from 4 to 8 and 26 bus stands compared with 16 increasing available capacity.
- Cross Border Enterprise services will relocate here with an hourly timetable planned for autumn bringing more passengers into the heart of the city.
- With a clear focus on active travel, streets adjoining the station will give more space to pedestrians and cyclists with parking for more than 200 bikes and extensive public realm works underway.
- Outside will be a new exciting public realm space, Saltwater Square, with a strong emphasis on arts and culture for everyone to enjoy.
School Services
For more information on school travel during this period visit our school services page or use our school services route finder.
Public Realm Enhancement Programme and Utility Works
Public realm works surrounding the new station are ongoing and will continue through 2025 to significantly upgrade the streets and enhance pedestrian safety making it easier and more accessible for all.
Durham Street Closure – from Saturday 12th October for 12 months
To facilitate essential public realm works around the new Belfast Grand Central Station, a full road closure of Durham Street (from Grosvenor Road to Hope Street) will commence on Saturday 12th October 2024 for a period of up to 12 months.
The works will involve sensitively dismantling the existing 1936 Durham Street/Boyne Bridge to facilitate the safe completion of the first phase of streets works associated with the new Station. Our contractor will seek to preserve key elements of the bridge, and we are continuing to engage with the local community on an arts and heritage programme which will utilise these materials for future projects.
Temporary traffic signals – Durham Street and Glengall Street
Translink working with DfI Road Service have provided temporary crossing points in both Glengall Street and Durham Street to ensure safe access for passengers travelling to and from the new Station which can be accessed from either Grosvenor Road or Durham Street.
This new temporary traffic signal system will remain in place until Durham St is closed on Saturday 12th October to facilitate necessary public realm works.
Phase Two Works - Glengall Street
The second phase of works on Glengall Street are planned to start in January 2025, outside the Grand Opera House. This will be timed to coincide with the downtime after pantomime season and before the start of new year performances.
Grand Central Station FAQs
For more information, you can read our Belfast Grand Central Station FAQs at the link below.
Park and Ride Services
Translink is encouraging people to consider the use of Park and Ride sites across NI – there are around 60 sites across NI with approximately 10,000 spaces offering convenience and flexibility with no parking hassles.
In addition, dedicated high frequency services operate from major park and ride sites including Sprucefield, Cairnshill, Black’s Road and Ballymartin.
A dedicated campaign to promote these sites is continuing with variable message signs in key areas to promote strategic locations.
Contactless Payment
Contactless payments were recently launched on all Ulsterbus and Goldliner services across Northern Ireland enabling faster boarding and an enhanced customer experience. This now means passengers can choose contactless payments on all bus and train journeys across the network enhancing integration, convenience and payment flexibility.
Other digital ticket options are also being heavily promoted as we prepare for the opening of Grand Central Station including the mLink mobile app, Smartcards, online ticketing, and Ticket Vending Machines. While cash will still be accepted, our aim is to get more passengers to prepay to speed up journeys and enhance convenience.
Equality Impact Assessment
You can download the Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) Final Decision Report in PDF and Word formats at the links below.
The Europa Buscentre History
A bus station has been located on the site of the Europa Buscentre since 1962, when the Ulster Transport Authority removed platform 5 at Great Victoria Street Railway station to make way for Belfast’s first joint bus and rail terminus.