TRANSLINK: Dublin - Belfast night service. Kicked out of Dublin bus station on a bitterly cold night

With a departure time of 0040 and arrival time into Belfast at 0340 I was curious to see who caught this service, and how many would catch it. A small handful of waiting passengers couldn't believe we were kicked out of the bus station at 2315. This explained why our Translink coach to Belfast wasn't showing on the departure board - because it didn't leave from the bus station, but outside in the wind and cold.
Filmed January 2023 | Dublin, Ireland
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*** TIMESTAMPS:
00:00:00 Introduction
00:00:50 Dublin at night
00:01:57 Dublin Bus Station
00:04:17 The coach departure
00:05:22 Dublin Airport
00:05:55 Newry
00:06:29 Arrive Belfast

[@kevinellis8869]

This is another 'above and beyond the call of duty' trip. 11 out of 10 for braving the cold!

[@dooley-ch]

42 years ago this summer I set out with a rucksack, a rambler ticket and a youth hostel card to explore Ireland.. I was 18 years old… where did the years go? Thanks for the memories.

[@johncraig2684]

think you've spent enough time exploring now.......time to get a job now you idler

[@williamf4544]

Wow and you dont look a day over 59

[@mcsuibhne005]

That bus station , despite being next door to Ireland's biggest cop shop, is crack addict central . Watch out if you're visiting.

[@starrycrown]

You should change the name of your channel to “The Good Rider.” ❤ You are extremely patient and brave no matter what, even in the dark and freezing middle of the night. Enjoy your videos every time! 🎉😊

[@Jennyeq]

Crazy they kick you out of the bus station when there are still busses running from it!

[@TheEpicAppleEater01]

It's an experience. The security guards still work and do stand outside though.

[@ANTHONYBOOTH]

this kind of thing happens when people who were in the dunes of Calais three months ago are given positions of authority ...we can only expect more and more unjust behaviour...

[@brigitterice2007]

The reason is because there's not a lot of joined up thinking between The North and the South. Betcha that the only buses leaving that station after it's closed is the ones heading north. Dublin airport is woeful for waiting on buses. You get lashed with rain and the benches are set at an angle so if you are under 5'8" your feel. Don't reach the ground and you slide off. Avoid it or be prepared to be annoyed

[@thomasburke2683]

The bus station is closed to the prevent homeless addicts and other antisocial elements taking up residence. The main purpose of such late services is to pick up air travellers from the Dublin airport and bring them to Northern Ireland. Having said that , even on a mild night, I would be fearful of my safety there at such a late hour. It would be preferable if part of the bus station could be kept open for passengers, supervised by security.

[@AB-mw8oz]

You'd think. Have a waiting room where you have to scan your ticket seems like much more sense if you have buses leaving from your station at weird hours

[@Robutube1]

Well said. I wonder what he did when he got to the other end (Belfast) too - he didn't explain either situation.

[@ggg-eg5pz]

Incorrect, unions have insisted it closes even to bus passengers with tickets. You gobshite

[@jimvermeer9451]

And still we refuse to help the homeless, but helping illegal immigrants with houses and destroying Dublin. No problem

[@ggg-eg5pz]

@@jimvermeer9451 well said 👍 the above poster is basically blaming the homeless for Ireland premier bus station been closed overnight when that is just a deflection. Bus unions are the ones behind this closure, but like everything in Ireland the homeless get blamed. So what if some poor homeless guy or girl sit inside for some heat. It's taxpayers heat not the bus unions heat, it's just convenient to blame the homeless. It's 50 metres from Ireland biggest Garda station ffs. The homeless can sit in reception in store street for heat but are not allowed to sit in a public bus station. I don't see too many Africans or Ukrainian s walking around with rugsacks or sleeping bags.

[@fresagrus4490]

I caught this exact bus MANY times. I lived in Dublin and had a freelance reporter job where I would sometimes go to Northern Irish football matches that were over about 21.00. It has never been a bad experience, polite drivers, relatively comfortable, wifi always worked, and this was back then in 2013.

[@davidh7779]

Sadly since then the quality of WiFi has massively declined. Hardly ever works

[@paulmcgrath6118]

@@davidh7779 it’s 2023 , get yourself some mobile data

[@davidh7779]

@@paulmcgrath6118 lol just cos everyone has 4g now doesn't mean translink have an excuse to not bother with working WiFi anymore

[@paulmcgrath6118]

@@davidh7779 get a plan for your own mobile data plan

[@nigelmchugh5541]

Macbeth's "blasted heath" has nothing on BusAras ........ you'd nearly be as warm outside... It only has two things going for it, 1) the roof is now "listed" as an architectural feature, being a scallop shell design in mass concrete, one of the first projects undertaken by the fledgling State after WW2, design by British architect Ave Arup, and 2) There is an underground theatre called Eblana somewhere beneath the building that hasn't been used in almost 30 years...,

[@Someone-dv8uj]

The 60 seconds of Dublin was great. Reminds me just how nice Dublin is.

[@BibtheBoulder]

What a fabulous video. I love the fact you do those journey's most others won't even consider.

[@pkba40]

11 out of 10 for braving the cold, excellent video and thanks so much for them👏🏻😊

[@baseballfan99]

I have a 76 hour journey next week from New York to LA with one change in Chicago plus quite a few other trips as well in those 3 weeks. Your vlogs normalise doing mad things and believe me I have several lined up. Keep up the great work.

[@cannyexplorer5357]

Obviously the bus station don’t care about its passengers. It’s the same in England.

[@frglee]

I've travelled overnight by coach several times from London to Scotland and vice versa in recent years. The coach stations at Manchester Chorlton Street and Birmingham Digbeth were both open through the night to get a hot drink or snack and use the toilets during the 15 minute stops.

[@4Geopiper]

They should at least allow ticket holders in

[@stephenconnolly2582]

I live close to this location and the homeless and arse holes that walk the streets causing trouble at night is the reason for this

[@andrewrcmadwilkinson6999]

UNLESS YOU ARE AN ASYLUM SEEKER 😂

[@davidbegley5008]

There is alot of anti social behaviour in the area around that bus station in Dublin. No surprise it is closed up at a certain point in the night

[@mercilessmage7300]

Kicking passengers out of the bus station seems extreme. Surely it should close after the final departure? What if you’re a vulnerable or disabled passenger? Or there’s extremely adverse weather? Poor customer service and totally irresponsible. I’m glad to see that you managed to catch your bus Scott.

[@shutup2751]

unfortunately that part of dublin has had a bad reputation for years due to the amount of drug addicts in the area

[@williamf4544]

Most bus stations close at a certain time and buses departing or arriving in the wee hours collect and pick up outside or nearby -Edinburgh and Glasgow both close around midnight - i can understand why - security would be a nightmare with drunks druggies and trouser fumblers loitering the toilets looking for easy targets

[@krugerfuchs]

They don't care

[@Yourballix]

You literally say that about shops,bars offices

[@briangasser973]

Maybe the bus lines should not schedule routes after the station closes. If you have 7 paxs, is the departure time based on demand?

[@SeanMidlandstransporthub]

Great video mate! I did Belfast to Dublin on the Enterprise train last week and seeing your video makes me very glad I took the train!

[@inquisitor229]

Perhaps an earlier Dublin Bus trip to Dublin airport and wait in there for the coach....

[@givenfirstnamefamilyfirstn3935]

Great idea.

[@davidlally592]

And its the no 16 local Dublin Bus stopping service (from O Connell St to the airport)...

[@ancupola1994]

Thank you! Appreciated!

[@dmfub2348]

Unfortunately, like a lot of UK and European cities, Dublin city centre is plagued with drug users and homeless people. Now, not all are a nuisance. But in Dublin particularly, they would be completely overrun if they left the station overnight. As usual, it's because of other people and their behaviour that the rest of us suffer.

[@Butlinsgvn6]

Can’t blame them wanting somewhere warm to go

[@thenewjerseydevil997]

Very nice and interesting, again. Thank you Scott.

[@David2012342]

Have to say it was hilarious seeing in the background the shot of the garbage truck with the christmas lights on it, also wanted to thank you for your hard work on uploads, always worth watching hing your content

[@hi-tech55]

A very peaceful video Scott. Most enjoyable.

[@thenorthspotter]

Looking forward to watching it!

[@lincolncityful1]

Thanks Scott for Braving the cold 🥶

[@wpa4329]

hi thanks for a great video as usual when i was in ireland i can remember staying at the canal court hotel in newry the staff there was very helpful as in the rest of ireland, great people and very friendly look forward to visiting again from uk.

[@yyyfffff33333]

I prefer KZbinrs who slum it rather the ones who go flights in Business class ! This guy seems to do the same things I enjoy and the same cheap Eastern European destinations !

[@MidlandRailEnthusiast]

Another fantastic Vlog Scott keep up the good work

[@TehRavennn]

Great video! Translink are a fantastic company. I find for such a small country they have great buses that are comfortable

[@jheath17]

I often watch your videos on my laptop lying in bed, loverly and warm and feeling smug.

[@TheTravelMan]

Nice video, thanks for sharing 👍

[@samuelholmes3696]

Scott, it always pleases me to see you doing videos in and around my homeland of Northern Ireland! I did know Translink did a Dublin Belfast bus, but I have never taken it myself. Thanks for sharing your experiences.

[@michaellynn8]

You truly suffered for this video. Kudos for doing this.

[@davidrumbelow]

Thank you for your utube videos, I love travelling with you, sadly my wife can no longer travel so I travel with you

[@andneekey]

used this bus many a time. it very useful if you going to a show/concert in dublin and want to have a few pints

[@edgardebruin5539]

love your video

[@shanegriffin8682]

I'm a big fan of your videos. Next time you visit Ireland you should do a review of the 1am Dublin to Cork Aircoach service!

[@andyhughes5885]

You would have thought that as buses were still running the bus station would stay open.

[@GlenBoyle]

Not in Ireland, that's just ridiculous

[@mick1406]

Welcome to the 'reality' of Ireland!! Crazy!

[@andyhughes5885]

@@mick1406 The whole World has gone crazy Mick.

[@williamf4544]

They were a magnet for ant- social people of all sorts - not safe places to be - sounds strange but closing them made the area safer in general

[@mick1406]

@@williamf4544 Could have sim p le 'scanner' system installed. Then only legitimate ticket holder could gain entry, whilst riff raff kept out. Strange to punish your customers like this??

[@user-qf1vx2wn2w]

I hope your journey turned out OK and your health is OK 👍

[@Battismore-Blue]

I like how the departure board has Derry/Londonderry on it

[@davidsmith3263]

A “free” return trip on the tram might have got you out of the cold!

[@send2gl]

Gee, I felt cold looking at you standing outside. Odd that a night service calls at the coach station but it is closed.

[@yyyfffff33333]

What I want to know is , what the hell did he do in Belfast when the bus got in after 3 o clock ?

[@thomasburke2683]

He could get the next bus back.

[@shutup2751]

stayed in hotel i imagine, i hope he did anyway 🤣

[@caspianofnarnia]

That’s what I want to know too.

[@dmfub2348]

Probably the video of catching the bus and ferry to Scotland?

[@williamf4544]

You just get the bus outside like you would a normal bus stop

[@paulhoughton5266]

There must have been a pub close by to hang in whilst waiting

[@bk99911]

There are two lovely pubs right behind him, within spitting distance. The Brew Dock and Ryans Bar, not even 30 seconds away. Another half dozen pubs within 2 minutes walk.

[@bobbythomas200420032]

Hi a great video its always enjoyable watching you travel on buses, coaches and planes a very good mix of public transport.

[@flyingmyles]

You must enjoy not sleeping! haha... what I can't believe, if buses/coaches depart why they close the station that early... great video as always! Im very tempted to do this myself, the amount of times I go to Dublin in a year, its about time I land travelled around Ireland/NI!

[@patodwyer721]

Nice one

[@JohninRosc]

Two of my favourite cities in the world (sshh, Newcastle-on-Tyne is my favourite in spite of being Irish and in spite of having seen dozens of cities across all continents). The middle of the night is not the best of times to showcase these two lively spots though 😄. I'd love to see a video of what you do when you do arrive somewhere at some unGodly hour? Did you check into the Europa just after your last shot? Thanks again - I love your content.

[@sarkybugger5009]

Welcome to Dublin. Now feck off outside into the freezing cold. Shocking.

[@thebigpicture-elpanorama]

In the Republic we don't say "Coach" we say "Bus" , good video by the way.

[@markwaite5265]

Thanks for braving the elements so we could watch in comfort! What a crazy idea - have a bus leave after the Bus Station closes for the night, can you imagine an airport doing that? You looked like Rudolph as you boarded the bus with a bright red nose! Surely the only attractive element of this journey had to be the price - what was the cost compared to an earlier evening departure?

[@GLITCHDADA]

Most popular travel is Airbus from glengal st Belfast to Dublin airport onto O’Connell st Dublin and back again

[@ronniehaywood2725]

OK if the bus station has to close due squatters etc they could provide a small heated waiting room for the few passengers needing to travel at this hour, stood outside in those temperature's in this day and age is totally unacceptable. Top man for doing these vids so your average Joe knows the score.

[@williamf4544]

Could be done but you would need a ticket to prove your travel or the squatters would be squashed in the small heated waiting room with you no doubt

[@eugenedonaghy1]

I'm lucky to have only being in that place twice. Any other trips to Dublin have been on the train.

[@VickersV]

I'm from dublin and its a real shame and I apologise, terrible to be left in the cold, what is the world at.

[@timbounds7190]

So....the question is what do you do in Belfast at 3 o'clock on a very cold morning???

[@kazzicup]

Go to a hotel and sleep for a few hours. Then have lunch around noon, and see the town.

[@ttp436]

Nice relaxing video and great night shots of the cities. Disgraceful that the bus station isn’t 24hrs. Where did u go once u got to Belfast at that time of the morning?

[@johnmcevoy9206]

Brilliant production.

[@torpidoo1]

About to undertake some of this journey in the daylight

[@philgraham4642]

Hi Scott, love your videos. Just watched your video about your trip from Dublin to Belfast. It makes absolutely no sense that Dublin Bus Station shuts before the last buses. Surely Translink should re-time the bus to leave while the bus station is still open.

[@JoeBallance]

Unfortunately it’s a staffing issue.

[@williamf4544]

Up here in Glasgow and Edinburgh some buses run 24 hours so there is no "last bus" as such - i remember before they started closing they felt really unsafe with all the undesirables hanging about and dirty old men trying to pick you up in the toilet - its actually safer them closing and people picking up the bus outside - sounds a bit crazy but its true - if the trouble makers drunks and druggies know its closed they dont go there

[@ErinGoBraghGT7]

Translink is the Northern Irish bus company, although they run the bus service from Belfast to Dublin and vice versa they have no control over the bus stations in the Republic of Ireland. Bus Eireann is the Republic of Ireland’s bus company and they are the ones responsible for closing the stations.

[@williamjamieson1029]

Don't talk nonscence Ulsterbus has been doing this for years

[@ErinGoBraghGT7]

@@williamjamieson1029 listen to yourself dude lol. Ulsterbus didn’t even have stations in every county in Ulster. They changed name to Translink to better represent the area where they have stations which is Northern Ireland and not Ulster. So how are they responsible for the stations in Dublin which is not even in Ulster or Northern Ireland?

[@highbury1972]

I must be shadowing you Scott! Sunday was home at Aachen -Köln/Bonn Flughafen on The RRX Train flight to Dublin-100X bus - Dundalk, then return home flight Brussels-Aachen on SNCB train!

[@nonrevnosnibormetalbeerrev6251]

That's the bus we always get when we are down from the North for rock gigs

[@ciaramc29]

This is the norm around the country close up the bus stations about 6pm or 7pm when town services stop. Did you ever do this route on Bus Eireann?

[@Bills200]

Why have a bus station seating area that closes before the last coach leaves?! Great video 👍 coach looked comfy

[@dmfub2348]

And the overnight X1 service has only just started again after covid. During the summer season the early morning coaches would be busy enough especially heading from the north towards the airport.

[@skimmingstoness]

I got the Aircoach from Belfast to Dublin and back a few years ago and it took over 4 hours as the driver decided to give a talking tour to the American couple sitting in the front seats. Return journey was about 2 and a half but it was about £12 return then.

[@MariaCS09]

Is there a border/passport check when travelling from belfast to dublin via aircoach?

[@skimmingstoness]

@@MariaCS09 No, no border posts and you don't need a passport

[@stevenqueen9389]

I really like your videos, my only minor complaint is that they are not long enough.

[@katewolfspirit6722]

You could try playing them at half speed....;-))

[@erik_griswold]

@@katewolfspirit6722 As a bonus, when you run the video slow, Scott sounds hammered (“pissed” in UK-ese)

[@katewolfspirit6722]

@@erik_griswold Aww, bless him! I bet he would make an interesting travel companion 🤗

[@kevanhubbard9673]

Dublin and Belfast aren't far enough away to warrant a reasonable arrival on a night bus.I think that the only night bus in Ireland to give a reasonable 4 hours on the bus is Dublin Airport to Galway.I try not to arrive in places before 0400.Even 0400 is ungodly but a few of the early workers are on the move then.

[@deckym88]

I get this bus all the time for nights out in Dublin heading back to Newry. There's a later one too at around 02:30.

[@siginsamuel4452]

Heya Do we need to carry the passport while travelling on translink to belfast from Dublin?

[@seannolan8615]

Looks like you had a bawl.

[@garrycrystal6244]

23.15 kicked out bus station. Looked freezing. Would have been pub for me if any were open nearby.

[@lightoftheworld417]

there is a McDonalds like 5 mins away

[@ymond747]

Would it be possible to install an exit only rotary door for passengers waiting on these services

[@JM19649]

At least it was In a particularly nice part of Dublin 😬

[@noelpucarua2843]

Yes. The North Side.

[@frankiewilde7791]

Visit it during the day. It's not a nice area around the bus station. Lots of drug addicts hanging around.

[@ANTHONYBOOTH]

....such lunacy never happened back in my travelling days........ ........now, we have unjust, unfriendly security guards ...fresh off the dinghies!

[@robertofraser101]

Shame out in cold scott nevertheless enjoyed thank you

[@seankerr7838]

So strange to actually see my home town of Newry in a KZbin video 😮

[@raygreen5926]

I hoped you enjoyed your brief sojourn in Dublin 🇮🇪☘🇮🇪...but that was awful being left out in the cold...you could have walked across to the police station and sat there. But verily hindsight is a fine thing

[@ColinOBear]

3.5hrs is a long time for the journey to Belfast from Dublin (of course it's longer than other buses because of the route). Living in Belfast with neither airport really flying anywhere I fancy I regularly get the bus down to Dublin, but I get the aircoach - much quicker at around 2 hours. Nice informational vlog though - rather you than me braving those icy cold streets!

[@briantreanor3165]

He was wrong there...got on at 00.45 and due in at 3.20, 2 hours 35 minutes, then he said it arrived in 20 minutes early, so 2.15 in total

[@MarkRailton]

Did that route many many times in 2006/2007 before I moved down to Dublin.

[@MariaCS09]

Is there any passport check/control in the bus from belfast to Dublin?

[@MarkRailton]

@@MariaCS09 no idea about now, but when I did it there was no official check, but Gardai (Irish police) would often board a bus around Dundalk heading south and check ID etc.

[@ANTHONYBOOTH]

I went on the National Express to London from Manchester one time.... all full of discomfort and bad attitudes from staff...

[@CJAuditsAuditingNI]

👍❤️🍀

[@chnet968]

Oh, they do close the bus station while passengers waiting? I thought they'll just keep it open just without any staff serving (like Victoria Coach Station in London).

[@user-si5ng5on9n]

Cannot understand why is stops at Sprucefield at that time in the morning.

[@frglee]

Disgraceful shambles. That coach station is there for the benefit of passengers. They should not be throwing intending passengers with tickets out in the cold at night in Mid-Winter to wait outdoors for over an hour for a timetabled coach service. What if they were frail or had health issues?

[@williamf4544]

I dont see the big deal - if you were getting a bus that didnt call near the station what would you do - get the bus at the bus stop

[@kazzicup]

Dublin at night is magical. 💜🖤 🌃 I hope to visit in the fall.

[@shutup2751]

magical ? you must never have been here

[@barryryan5187]

@@shutup2751 🤣

[@kazzicup]

@@shutup2751 I was there 17 years ago and I liked it.

[@shutup2751]

@@kazzicup dublin is a great city, unfortunately anti-social behaviour is quite a problem

[@kazzicup]

@@shutup2751 Can you give a few examples of bad behavior in Dublin.

[@shanebuchanan915]

Maybe the Dublin bus station should consider installing a covered area for passengers waiting to travel out with opening times 🤔

[@trinity1181]

Shame Scott, they would have let you catch the earlier one .

[@symy92]

Great video, thank you for suffering for us. Why didn't you take a tram 20 minutes out and then 20 minutes back to stay warm?

[@thetwoboyos8366]

Is that service scheduled from busarus depot.? Can you purchase tickets for that service in the depot ?..

[@rickynicholl7853]

All that time... where did you go to the toilet? I did it once and hated it as no toilet on board the bus I had to get off a couple of times at stations but was very uncomfortable for me and my ibs

[@mariebarry1353]

If I'm not mistaken Translink is a private company. Bus Eireann run and operate the bus station which is the national transport service for ROI. Translink is a private entity so no right of access after final bus leaves from bus eireann cause they close.

[@thomasburke2683]

Marie, Translink is the national public transport company in Northern Ireland. It has three operating subsidiaries; Ulsterbus, Metrobus and Northern Ireland railways. Ulsterbus and Bus Eireann jointly operate the Dublin - Belfast bus service. Aircoach also operates a competing service but it is more expensive and serves fewer intermediate towns. They all go via the airport, which is the most important destination (or starting point) at the Dublin end. If the airport did not generate so much business, these late night buses would not run. Even during the day, I have departed busaras, with only a handful of other passengers, but the buses can fill up at Dublin airport.

[@HSTHoward]

Hour to wait? Into the pub it is!

[@kayculbertson9893]

Hi, may I ask a favour? Please may I use a still from this vid, showing the bus at the stance, showing the blue-lit roof strip? It's for a memory book I'm putting together for an elderly gent, who loves to see these buses. I've tried to snap one myself, but I think they are being replaced by newer models, with no strip. Thanks

[@chrisclark1761]

@2:44 That's outrageous. Did you make a complaint ?

[@gilldanier4129]

To have a bus leave at a certain time, and not allow the shelter to coincide with that time is barbarrick. We think we have come so far with technology but we are still in the middle ages with human growth.

[@bk99911]

Rookie mistake, if you are waiting that long at that time of the night, better to wait in one of the two nice warm pubs that are literally across the road from the bus station. The Brew Dock and Ryan’s Bar not even 20 seconds walk from Busaras. The Harbourmaster too is very nice about a minute away.

[@twentyrothmans7308]

Don't they close at 2330? I think that Scott's bus was at 0045. It is bad form to eject the bus passengers at 2315.

[@matej8470]

Insane

[@liamfoley9614]

Despite it's size and pretensions to be a tier 1 city Dublin has a lack of locations that are open 24 hours.

[@scottblack9213]

If you're visiting Dublin during October to May, I'd advise getting out of the city each evening by 6:00pm. It turns into one of the darkest, unforgiving, hostile and soulless places in Europe. Everyone's either drunk or on the hustle looking for opportunities to take your money, by scams or by force. A truly disgusting city by night.

[@leeallen1407]

Three and half hours with no toilet or recining seats.........no thanks

[@oldmacisback]

Why they don't have an outside but (safe) inside waiting area at Busaras in Dublin for late night services I'll never understand.

[@coltonconner782]

Homeless and junkies

[@lesterbangs3417]

How much is a single/return ticket?