Grand Central Station: Trains start running from Belfast station

Trains have started running from Belfast’s new £340m Grand Central Station.

The first departure was the 08.05 BST Enterprise service to Dublin Connolly Station.

It left on time with just over 100 passengers on board.

The driver was Derek Weir and among the first passengers were Margaret McAllister from Bangor and Chris Playfair from south Belfast.

The railway line between Lisburn and Belfast has been closed for more than three months to connect train services to the new station.

Buses began operating from the new station five weeks ago but it took longer for safety authorities to give the green light to the new rail system.

The main public transport services in Belfast are now under one roof.

It is billed by Translink as the “largest integrated travel hub on the island of Ireland” catering for up to 20 million passenger journeys a year.

The first train to leave Grand Central on Sunday morning was the 08:05 BST Enterprise service to Dublin Connolly Station.

The first arrival will be a train from Portadown due at 09:15 BST.

There are eight railway platforms and 26 bus stands at the new transport hub.

Land around the station is being redeveloped and there are plans to dismantle the nearby Boyne Bridge as part of the project.

Heritage campaigners trying to preserve the bridge failed in a last-minute legal attempt to stop work taking place.

The bridge was built in 1936 but has its origins in the 17th century at the time of William of Orange.

According to folklore, he rode over the bridge on his way to the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.

The road on which the bridge is situated, Durham Street, will be closed for the next year to facilitate the redevelopment.

Translink says the bridge will be “sensitively dismantled” with “key elements” preserved.

The opening of Grand Central Station last month has been blamed for an increase in traffic congestion in Belfast city centre.

The closure of Durham Street may add to the difficulties but the start of trains services means more people can opt for public transport.

Translink has thanked the public for their patience during the recent transition period when the Belfast to Lisburn train line was closed and bus replacement services were in place.

A spokesperson for Translink said it was “encouraging people” to use public transport into Belfast as the next phase of works could cause “some delays” for road users.

“Translink would like to take this opportunity to thank the general public for their patience during these essential works.”

The transport hub has been built behind the previous bus and rail stations serving central Belfast, Europa bus centre and Great Victoria Street train station, which have now closed.

The new hub is equipped with more modern facilities and services, including more frequent cross-border trains to Dublin beginning later this month.

The hub is situated between the Sandy Row area of Belfast and Grosvenor Road.

Plans for the new integrated station date back more than a decade.