Belfast Grand Central: A Look at Northern Ireland’s Newest Station
Belfast Grand Central is the brand-new railway station in the heart of Northern Ireland’s capital city. Let’s take a look around this modern station and explore what its opening means for train travel in Northern Ireland.
About Belfast Grand Central Station
Belfast Grand Central station is the brand new Belfast railway station built at the site of the former Great Victoria Street station, which closed permanently on 10 May 2024.
Last week, on 13 October 2024, the first rail service departed from Grand Central station following nearly five years of construction works.
Belfast Grand Central is a truly intermodal station, with city bus and long-distance coach services already operating from it since 8 September 2024.
Train services
Belfast Grand Central is without doubt a much larger, modern and pleasant station than its predecessor, Great Victoria Street.
The new station features four island platforms serving eight railway tracks, double the capacity of Great Victoria Street.
It will serve as the main railway station in Belfast for Translink’s Northern Ireland Railways (NIR) services to destinations across Northern Ireland, acting as the terminus for trains on the Portrush, Larne, Derry, Portadown, and Bangor lines.
Additionally, the Enterprise express trains to Dublin in the Republic of Ireland will now use Belfast Grand Central station instead of Lanyon Place station.
With train times adjusted for the opening of the new station, you are advised to check the new railway timetable on the Translink website.
Station features
Belfast Grand Central station will feature a range of modern facilities, including Wi-Fi for passengers, water filling stations, and ATMs.
The new train station will also introduce automatic ticketing gates, allowing passengers to purchase tickets that they can scan at the gates to access the platform.
While a small number of station shops have already opened, more are expected to open soon.
Both car parks and dedicated parking spaces for bicycles are available.
For passengers, the main benefit of the new railway station will be the excellent connectivity to other trains and Belfast-area public transport.
For passengers, the main benefit of the new railway station will be its excellent connectivity to other trains and public transport in the Belfast area.
Located in the heart of Belfast, the station also allows easy access to the city centre on foot, with Victoria Square just a 15-minute walk away.
Travel to Belfast
Want to travel to Belfast to check out the city’s brand new railway station yourself?
Follow in AndyB’s footsteps by travelling to Northern Ireland on the excellent Stena Line ferry to Belfast from Birkenhead.
Alternatively, why not purchase a great-value Irish Rail Sail ticket to Dublin (using the ferry from Holyhead in Wales) and then take an Enterprise train from there to Belfast?