Belfast night time economy leaders have reacted to late-night public transport plans leading up to the Christmas period.
Translink's late-night bus, coach, and train services at weekends during the festive period will begin on Saturday, November 30.
Working with a range of partners including the Belfast's Business Improvement Districts, Hospitality Ulster, Visit Belfast and local taxi companies fonaCAB and Valuecabs, the aim 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.
Read more: Translink announce late night Christmas train and bus timetables
Read more: Top travel magazine names Belfast Christmas Market as one of the best in the UK
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 21st December.
Commenting on the return of the late-night timetable, 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."
Michael Stewart, Belfast Night Czar, has welcomed the new services but have called for the services to be rolled out year-round. He said: "As Belfast Night Czar, I welcome the late-night bus and train initiative over the Christmas period.
"This will prove to be a welcome option for those customers and late-night workers who often struggle the rest of the year to get transport home safely. Late night transportation in a capital city should not be a barrier for the NTE, that is why we need support to introduce this initiative all year long starting in 2025. Late night transport should be for life, not just for Christmas!”
Councillor Sam Nelson, Chair of City Growth and Regeneration Committee on Belfast City Council, 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.”
Joel Neill, Operations Director, Hospitality Ulster, said: "Hospitality Ulster are very happy to see Translink's festive late-night bus and train services start. We are happy to have played our part in ensuring that Belfast city centre is well served during the festive season and that customers can come and go from the city on public transport late into the night.
"This is a crucial enabler that will serve to boost Belfast's night-time economy and support the hospitality businesses in our city centre that are so important within the local economy. We would encourage as many people as possible to avail of these services, to both stay safe and to prove that demand for such late-night services exists so that this approach may be replicated at different times of the year and in different regions."
Chris McCracken, Managing Director of Linen Quarter BID, said: “Linen Quarter BID welcome the return of Translink's Late Night Christmas Service. The expansion of routes will support Belfast's Night-time Economy, and extend customer's enjoyment of our many bars, restaurants, retail outlets and cultural venues, safe in the knowledge that they have a reliable journey home. We encourage the public to use the Christmas Late Night Service where possible and support the case for permanent late-night transport all year round”.
Full details are available on the Translink website at www.translink.co.uk/latenightservices and more details will follow soon.
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