As the city gets ready for the festive season, Belfast City Council has welcomed the addition of late-night weekend bus, coach and train services from Translink, starting on Saturday 30 November.
Working with a range of partners, including council, Belfast's Business Improvement Districts, Hospitality Ulster, Visit Belfast and local taxi companies fonaCAB and Valuecabs, the aim of the service is to encourage revellers to use public transport to visit the city and enjoy all the festive delights that Belfast has to offer in the knowledge they can get a bus, coach or train home.
Starting from Saturday 30 November, late-night Belfast Metro services will operate every Friday and Saturday starting around midnight and run through to 1.30am.
Additional late night Goldliner/Urby bus services will operate every Friday and Saturday from Belfast to towns and cities across Northern Ireland, departing at various times from around midnight.
Rail services will also operate later services across all lines on both Friday and Saturday nights, departing at various times up to midnight.
The late-night services will run for four weekends, up to and including Saturday 21 December.
Welcoming the services, Councillor Sam Nelson, Chair of the council's City Growth and Regeneration Committee, said: “The return of late-night services is extremely welcome and will play an important role in helping boost our night-time economy by allowing residents and visitors to the city to extend their enjoyment, knowing they have a safe and reliable route home.
“Belfast city centre has so much available for residents and visitors to enjoy in the run-up to Christmas, and we encourage people to make use of these services over the festive period to come in and experience everything the city has to offer.”
Translink Group Chief Executive, Chris Conway, said: “We are encouraging people to get familiar with the late-night services on offer and build them into their festive planning for great nights out in Belfast. People can extend their night out whether it’s going to the panto, socialising with family or friends or a shopping trip.
"Using greener public transport to get in and out of the city also means it’s a little gift to the planet too!
“We are pleased to be working with city partners again who will be helping us promote these services. We look forward to playing our part in helping to boost the night-time economy, supporting employment, tourism and keeping people better connected to the fantastic hospitality and festivities that the city has to offer."
Full details of all the late-night services are available on the Translink website at www.translink.co.uk/latenightservices
