Belfast holidaymakers using private bus companies to get to Dublin Airport could soon be able to travel from the new £340m Grand Central Station.
Translink is in talks with private companies Aircoach and Dublin Express over access to the taxpayer funded new station, which opened its doors for the first time this week.
The private bus operators are carrying increasing numbers of passengers travelling to Dublin Airport for their summer holidays and city breaks.
Both Aircoach and Dublin Express offer direct routes to the airport from Belfast, while many of Translink’s services stop in towns and cities on the way.
With the closure of the Europa Bus Centre next door to the private companies’ departure points on Glengall Street, a spokesperson for Aircoach confirmed it had entered into talks to move the service to the new station.
“We are in negotiations with Translink around securing Aircoach’s place in the new Belfast Transport Hub,” the company confirmed.
“In the meantime, the Aircoach stop continues to operate from Glengall Street in Belfast City.”
The Irish News understands and Dublin Express is also in talks with Translink.
However, Glengall Street is expected to close later this month to allow for works associated with Grand Central, with uncertainty over where the bus companies will depart from during that closure.
A spokesperson for Translink said applications from private operators to use bus stands at Grand Central will be considered once the surrounding public realm works have been completed.
“Private bus operators, providing a stage carriage service, can apply for access to Belfast Grand Central Station,” Translink said.
“These applications will be considered when the public realm is completed and all bus stands at the new station are open, subject to stand availability.”
Aircoach first started operating bus services between Belfast and Dublin 25 years ago. Dublin Express, part of National Express Ltd, is operated by Co Tyrone-based Quinn’s Coach Hire, and first started running in summer 2023.
Private bus operators who had worked out of the Europa Bus Centre previously have been transferred to the new Grand Central Station already, the transport body confirmed.
Hannon’s Coach, which operates a service from Belfast to Glasgow, a route which does not compete with Translink, has already transferred its services to the new station.
