The first day of Operations at Belfast's brand new Grand Central Station - 13th October 2024

[@Anonymoususer_8823]

Such a massive interchange hub. A bus terminal and railway station all in one building. Fabulous building I have to say.

[@steveramsey8415]

Great video. You do know what the Translink people call you train spotters don't you? They call you all WOO's. As in the trains go woo woooooo.

[@ldegmtrainspotter]

Great video! Nice new station presentation and lovely images with trains! Good work! Thumbs Up All the best Andrew

[@bob-seek-destroy-sd1708]

Very impressive indeed, nice to see the enterprise too, hopefully will be kept in service another few years

[@scottishtrainspotter7209]

I'll be looking into coming over to Belfast from Scotland to see this new train station, looking forward to it, greetings from Scotland.👍

[@WilderPoo]

If you're based in Glasgow, Hannon Coach do a direct bus service from Glasgow to this new station in Belfast. It's an interesting way to do the journey. Bus drives directly onto the ferry and comes with you.

[@travelbyplanestrainsandcruise]

A very good video of the new station ☘

[@TheHoveHeretic]

Belfast once more has a terminal station to be proud of. Just needs a splash of colour on the platforms IMHO. Seating around some raised flower beds perhaps? Watering 'em isn't going to be a problem, is it? Question: Pending reopening of Portadown - Armagh and The Derry Road (Enough excuses already ... just GET ON WITH IT!!), which platform does the RPSI have first dibs on for steam specials and charters? Any thoughts on the viability or otherwise of a reinstated Dungannon - Coalisland - Cookstown (maybe even on to Antrim) route?

[@Jamesyyxfef]

Nah flowers will look goofy

[@Deranged316]

The all island rail reviews recommends the Derry to Portadown and some others, but it’s decades away sadly, so there’s gonna no improvements on NI rail routes any time soon, if ever at this rate tbh

[@irishrailwayworld8862]

Excellent! Station looks good

[@Whizzy-jx3qe]

Platform five was the original platform in the old GVS Station were the Enterprise used to leave from until it was moved to platform two.

[@martinbitter4162]

The term Grand does fit. What is interesting is that the departure board is horizontal European style.

[@RailsandSky]

You would have thought that the Enterprise coaches and the locomotive would have been washed for the Opening Day. The generator van, in particular, is absolutely filthy.

[@irishrailtrains]

@RailsandSky True, they're only going to put the bare minimum amount of effort into cleaning them. They only ever seem to wash the front on the loco and the front of the DVT.

[@anoniaino]

The first one out of the station was fairly clean.

[@RailsandSky]

​@@anoniainoIt was filthy up to the waist.

[@Irish_Explorer]

Great video at 3:37 I noticed that a First class carriage has been removed which why is that?

[@thatoneexplorer_]

Supposdely due to wheel flats.

[@Irish_Explorer]

@@thatoneexplorer_ thanks for the explanation, that should hopefully be a temporary thing on that Enterprise, hope they return it back to service soon!

[@Whizzy-jx3qe]

26 bus stands with no bus stands for GL services to Newcastle,Kilkeel and Downpatrick access for these services is departing from Adelaide Street arrival at Linenhall street. Disappointed to say the least.

[@thomasscallan1718]

8 platforms, 3 trains. Must be a very small network

[@Deranged316]

Yep, look up the rail network for th sis land of Ireland you’ll see how there is very little in Northern Ireland, no plans to open anymore lines anytime soon either

[@damianodonnell5844]

Compete opposite is happening in the rep of Ireland , lots of new tracks planned and reopening of old stations that were closed in the 70s

[@Deranged316]

@@damianodonnell5844 they have them planned here too, but a 30 year timescale… so nothing is planned for soon, which lines are opening in the south soon?

[@hughofIreland]

It’s not bad if compared to, say, San Diego, which has a population of 1.4 million. The main station downtown has four platforms.

[@michaelogmason]

There is trains at other stations

[@TheUrbanOutsider]

interesting that the Enterprise is showing as hourly on the board, it's now back to 2 hourly

[@AindriuMacGiollaEoin]

Great station, I think they are ordering a new enterprise

[@Jamesyyxfef]

When?

[@Whizzy-jx3qe]

2028-29

[@niallpowderlyt195]

Great video does the enterprise train stop at grand central station and not lanyon place

[@MobilAvenue_]

Do they not have electric trains in Ireland?

[@irishrailtrains]

@MobilAvenue_ The only electric trains in Ireland is the Dart (Dublin Area Rapitld Transit), which runs from Malahide/Howth - Greystones.

[@TheHoveHeretic]

Nowhere near enough. The GSR (forerunner to CIÉ and IR) actually had some battery electric units way back before WWII. Designed by chemist Dr. James Drumm (a native of Co.Down who qualified at UCD), they operated the difficult route between Dublin's (closed) Harcourt St. and Bray, recharged the same way as modern battery buses (i.e. overhead pantograph connection to charger). Drumm ought to be a LOT better known for his groundreaking work.

[@joshuaW5621]

Belfast should have something similar to the DART.

[@radicallyrethinkingrailwaysina]

Yes I've never been to Belfast but have been to Dublin. Would be good for Irish main lines and the Belfast suburbs to be electrified

[@WSmogpule]

No tannoy announcements?

[@basictonal79]

It's a quiet station, no announcements.

[@willy.william4582]

@@basictonal79 Don't quote me, but I think that only applies to bus departures, not trains. I've heard them in other videos.