A new mode of travel for an energised Belfast - Glider Belfast

Translink is transforming public transport in Belfast in line with our Vision ‘To Be Your First Choice for Travel in Northern Ireland.’
We have ambitious plans to deliver excellent bus and rail services that will enhance connectivity and help to unlock the full potential of Belfast as a forward looking, dynamic and ambitious City, driven by talent and ready for investment.
Glider is a new, innovative mode of travel for Belfast, set to further enhance the image of the City and inspire even more people to choose public transport.
Our Metro, NI Railways, Enterprise, Ulsterbus and Goldline services already play a big role in the City. With over 800,000 passenger journeys made every week, we keep our City connected, enabling people to get to work, shop, study, socialise and visit. By moving people effectively, we help build a successful economy, giving our City a competitive edge to attract talent and investment.
We hope you will join us on our journey to build a better future, offering more opportunities through our public transport infrastructure and services.
www.translink.co.uk/gliderbelfast/
#GliderBelfast

[@williebone8956]

Translink are placing their aspiration & hope on a future bus based rapid transport system in Belfast with Glider vehicles. Glider is a sort of solid state bendy-bus idea that actually "bombed" in practice over here in Scotland! The fundamental difference with Glider is, the vehicles will travel along its own dedicated infrastructure being full time (or near) full time bus lanes within Belfast. Good Luck with the project!

[@willmcconnell7233]

The idea is to upgrade it to a tram system if demand allows. But for now it's essentially a trolley bus.

[@nicommute7638]

I went in one, the windows where hard to see out off they are so blacked out! But it felt nice and I love it! Also it dident ever use priority lanes it was so slow!

[@willmcconnell7233]

@0:38 How does it get from May street to Custom house, to Chichester St then to Wellington place then end up in College Square East? That's some convoluted route.

[@testfailed]

If you have been driving at the areas with no Gliders on site you will see builders making the roads wider because glider is really wide. Some routes on Belfast are very wide so glider can get through it.

[@BritishRail60062]

Nice idea and I hope it works out for them. However surely it would have been better to have used a tramway system like the Luas Tram in Dublin or the tramway in Nottingham? It would have been better in the long term and might have been cheaper?

[@nntflow7058]

Not really, the maintenance for the tram would be higher compared to this bus.

[@nriab23]

those ticket machines will be destroyed in some areas.....

[@FirebrandVOCALS]

Just a fancier flexi bus 😶

[@mrskybluejoannegreen1127]

Just went on one today

[@patsymillar9447]

A fast commute until it gets stuck trying to go round corners, and blocks 'll the traffic behind it

[@malcolmcampbell1968]

Yeah right !

[@mrskybluejoannegreen1127]

malcolm campbell it’s out now

[@miaumiau6014]

Make some in rathfern/newtownabbey or the Antrim road plz I still have to get fossil buses

[@greek9244]

Luckily it’s being extended up there. And most buses are now electric or hydro powered thankfully 0:50

[@oscyk]

why does it sound like the Luas 😭😭

[@morecorkycloud2689]

#gliderbelfast

[@testfailed]

r/youngkidsonyoutube

[@johnnymac8680]

It's a disaster waiting to happen. Complicated and unnecessary.

[@cbgaming3174]

This aged well... Because you nearly crash in to them when your behind them on roundabout

[@jasongnrfan7374]

We had these in Swansea Wales and they got rid of them

[@rabsy]

How many people are actually on this bus on each journey? A 53 seat luxury coach would do the job fine - No need for that monstrosity in the city!

[@TranslinkNI]

Hi Robert. The Glider can hold 105 passengers at a time.

[@rabsy]

TranslinkNI I know it holds 105 passengers but I bet there isn't even half that on the bus - No need for it!

[@EpikEthann]

@@rabsy But there is, glider 1 is super crowded for most the journey, I'd say glider 2 is less crowded.

[@TheGamer-hj4yk]

its gonna get pelted by rocks 😂😂😂😂

[@bigboots8785]

The Gamer228 and petrol bombs

[@itshoebag]

bruh i hate these 💀 the seats are so uncomfortable lmao.

[@robloxgamer2273]

:D

[@adamwalkeraw]

South Belfast disregarded as usual but hey at least we will still be taxed for it.one bus an hour at bottom tates Ave and the village on weekdays,no buses at all on weekends,this is in the centre of south Belfast in a busy built up urban area.can we please get some public transport before East and west get fancy shiny new buses!!!

[@TranslinkNI]

Hi Adam, The Department for Infrastructure has expressed its intention to extend the Belfast Rapid Transit (BRT) Glider Network to potentially serve South Belfast, North Belfast and Queen’s University/City Hospital. Any future extension will be subject to the success of the initial phase of the Glider network and the availability of funding. Regards, Translink.