This is my Saturday 12th April walk round the new Belfast Grand Central Station on the Grosveneor Road. The station is also known as Weavers Cross Transport Hub.
Belfast Grand Central Station is a newly built integrated railway and bus station in the city centre of Belfast, Northern Ireland. It has replaces Great Victoria Street railway station and the Europa Buscentre. It is built next to the site of its predecessors, in a new neighbourhood called Weaver’s Cross.
The first bus service to Dublin, departed from the station on 8 September 2024.
The first rail service, also to Dublin, departed from the station on 13 October 2024.
The first railway station in Ulster was opened on the site of the former Great Victoria Street station in 1839 on the Ulster Railway.
The Grand Central station is located on a 8-hectare (860,000 sq ft) site. The station’s capacity is designed to cater for twenty million passenger journeys annually. This is more than than the twelve million combined capacity of the pre-existing bus and railway station. In addition to rail and bus improvements, the station also has cycle and taxi provision for enhanced connectivity, with 300 cycle parking spaces. It is said to be the “largest integrated transport facility on the island of Ireland”.
Railway station
The station has eight terminus platforms (double that of Great Victoria Street), composed of four island platforms with two faces each.
Platforms 1–4 are 154 m long (accommodating up to a six car train). Platforms 5–8 are 224 m long (up to 9 cars).
Trains to Derry, Larne and Bangor usually use 1–4
Trains to Dublin and Portadown/Newry typically use 5–8.
Portadown to Bangor traffic is divided into two separate lines, whereas at the former station it had operated as a single line. The Enterprise express service to Dublin was also moved from Lanyon Place as part of the project.
Bus Station
The bus station features 26 stands, eight more than the previous Europa Bus Centre. Seating is available throughout, with priority seating at select stands. The station also offers a range of amenities, including ATMs, vending machines, automated ticket machines, a help desk, a water refill station, and a sensory pod. There are accessible male and female restrooms, as well as Changing Places facilities.
Weaver’s Cross
The area surrounding the hub will become a new neighbourhood which Translink has named ‘Weaver’s Cross’. This 100,000 m2 site is planned to comprise leisure, residential and commercial facilities.
Station Quarter
Weaver’s Cross, combined with the station and a rejuvenated Glengall Street, Hope Street and Durham Street, will become Station Quarter, Belfast’s ninth Cultural Quarter
Construction
Total cost, £340 Million.
By February 2021, the first stage of enabling works was completed by construction contractor company Graham Construction, clearing the 8-hectare (860,000 sq ft) for construction.
The next stage of development, from February 2021, involved the relocating of bus engineering and operation facilities to new accommodation, and the construction of a new bus wash facility, engineering garage, storage facilities and a bus parking area. The Main Works and Infrastructure Enhancement phases of the project were expected to be conducted in 2022, with the project due for completion in 2024/2025. The project was said to potentially create 400 jobs over a five-year period.
The main works of the project were delivered by a joint venture of Farrans Construction and Sacyr, with railway system works by Babcock. The project was designed by John McAslan + Partners with Arup Group and Juno. The Busway Bridge was completed in August 2023.
Issues and Controversies
Total cost is believed to be £340 Million. Many disagreed with this huge expenditure when there are so many other cash strapped projects.
The removal of the 1863 Boyne Bridge. The Sandy Row end of the Boyne Bridge contains remnants of a bridge built in 1642; originally named the Great Bridge and later the Saltwater Bridge. It is believed to have been crossed by King William of Orange as he passed through Belfast on his way to the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.
The new Glider rapid transport system not been linked into this ‘integrated’ system.
Metro Buses are not linked into this ‘intergrated’ system.
No taxi ranks provided as yet. ( April 2025 )
Translink have not sorted out a proper rail transport link to the “International” airport.
The absence of Irish language signage was criticised by Irish language campaigners. March 2025, Infrastructure Minister Kimmins decreed that bilingual signage, including Irish, would be installed at the station later in the year. This would cost another £150,000. The decision was welcomed by Irish language advocates but faced Unionist criticism.
In 2024, John O’Dowd, ( former Minister for Infrastructure ) admitted that the new station had added to severe traffic congestion in Belfast.
9 Comments
A great video, Tom. I've been in that station a few times by train from Portadown. I only ever drive to Belfast if I'm buying something that's too big to bring home on the train. After being used to Great Victoria Street Station, I was amazed at the size of Grand Central when I first got off a train in it.
I must take a better look round next time, as I never noticed that model of the station before. I've walked in before from Glengall Street, and it's a bit of a maze of boards.
The big improvement in my experience is no more standing freezing on a cold platform for ages waiting for the train.
I was actually there last Saturday to get the train for the scenic journey along the north coast as it was a lovely day.
Very impressive Tom….. it's huge! A nice addition to your beautiful Belfast. Will you take us on a train ride in the future? Thanks Tom, I enjoyed this video very much.
Like most modern buildings it's characterless, forgettable, bland. Think about large stations built in the Victorian era and prior and how gloriously pretty and inspiring they are, Edinburgh Waverly, St Pancras in London, Norwich station, etc. Why don't we build beautiful things anymore?
I must be getting more cynical as I get older, but I think it was a complete waste of public money. It looks like a half empty warehouse even on a 'busy' day. It's not even integrated as there are no Metro buses that pass by it, neither does the Glider. And there is no taxi rank – you'll notice the taxis just try to park on double-yellow lines outside. Unbelievable. They should have just extended the Great V St station, and spent some money on another rail route that people would use. A vanity project for Translink, who surprise surprise are still moaning about a lack of funding from government, ie us!
26 bus stands is a laugh and a joke. They only ever use 18 stands, waste of money.
That’s some place…..very nice addition to support transients and visitors. 👍👍👌
Waste of money, looks like an airport terminal, only thing missing is the airport runway, I agree it’s not for the elderly,hope I never have to use it.
A crackin' little video Tom. Well done! On the other side of the coin, what kind of a reporter are you? You didn't tell us where the mob-scoot shop was!!
It certainly does look quite grand and 21st Century, and probably suited more to London and Manchester that have hundreds of stations to cover, rather than little old Belfast that has about six on a good day (when the trains and buses are running)!! Of course I'm only joking! It looks as though buying your tickets has gone totally digital – I didn't see any manned ticket office. Still, it's quite an impressive building, uncramped and airy.
Pret a manger is one of those up-market-type cafes for the well-heeled – apparently!
I remember the Glengall Street bus station from the 60's; I think it had spaces for about six buses, including the airport shuttle that took about an hour to get to Aldergrove….how times change, except I think it still takes an hour, hey-ho. Ahhh, forgive me Tom, I'm in a picky mood this morning after a bad night!
I have tosay that you scared the wits out of me when you were trying to get across the road. I don't think you'd look your best decorating the radiator of a bus!! Finally, the question I shouldn't need to ask: Who's footing the bill for all this up-market enterprise?
Nice one Tom; I was hoping you get around to doing this one.
Wow what a complex this Tom, i think its great,and yes there will be for and against when projects like this are built, i don't know the politics behind this endeavour obviously but its only been operational for 6 months and still to be finished of,and it will surely have to meet the needs of the elderly and disabled I'm 78 tomorrow and i would have no worries about using it at all.
I think this will come into its own once folks start getting used to it and especially tourism and tourists, i wish it well.