Plans to ease Christmas congestion one year on from opening

An action plan is being drawn up to try to improve traffic flow in Belfast in the run up to Christmas.

There was widespread congestion last year after the opening of the new Grand Central Station and the closure of nearby Durham Street.

It is exactly a year on Monday since the £340m station opened, and Translink said the new transport hub has boosted bus and rail passenger numbers with an extra four million journeys on public transport.

There are hopes that Durham Street could reopen before Christmas, making access to the station much easier, but nothing has yet been confirmed.

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins is expected to give an update on Monday.

The minister’s officials have been working on a detailed plan to ease congestion in the city centre during this year’s Christmas period.

Thanks to new technology, they now have more data on traffic using key routes.

Access times on some bus lanes are being reviewed and consideration is being given to other measures to avoid logjams.

At the same time, there is a recognition that no action plan, even if Durham Street reopens, will completely solve Belfast’s congestion issues.

The closure of Durham Street in October last year has added to traffic on surrounding routes, like Grosvenor Road, Great Victoria Street and Donegall Road.

It was hoped it would only be shut for 12 months but there is no sign of it re-opening next month. November seems more likely.

There is a side entrance to Grand Central Station, facing the Grosvenor Road, but it is a not a designated set-down and pick-up point. However, that does not stop vehicles stopping there to drop off or collect passengers.

In doing so, a busy lane of traffic is blocked, much to the annoyance of motorists waiting to drive past.

Once Durham Street re-opens, access to the station will be more straightforward.

There are plans for a dedicated drop-off area and a place for taxis.

There was criticism from Irish language campaigners when the new station opened last year over the lack of English and Irish dual-language.

In March, Kimmins said Irish language signage would be added, but this has been put on hold due to legal action by opponents of the move, led by loyalist activist Jamie Bryson.

Translink say the new station has welcomed more than eight million people since it opened in September last year.

Rail services began in October.

There are now more cross-border trains. Fifteen services operate in each direction between Belfast and Dublin from Monday to Saturday with eight services each way on Sundays.

Grand Central has eight railway platforms and 26 bus stands.

The station’s manager, Louise Doyle, said Grand Central has been a “game-changer” for public transport.

“There’s a lot more people from down south coming up to Belfast and exploring Belfast. That’s great for our economy and for the city as a whole,” she said.

“It increases economic development… the bars, the restaurants, everything that they’re going to.”

She said an independent customer service study had found 96% passenger satisfaction with the new station.

One of the busiest periods in the past year was during The Open golf championship in July when extra services were put on to help sports fans travel to Portrush.

Translink has organised a number of special events to celebrate the first anniversary of the new station.