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Trains depart from Belfast train station

Trains depart from Belfast train station

BBC A train pulls into a station. It is yellow and gray. People stand around and watch and take photos.BBC

The first departure was the 08:05 BST train to Dublin Connolly station

Trains have started running from Belfast’s new £340 million Grand Central station.

The first departure was the Enterprise service at 08:05 BST to Dublin Connolly station.

With just over 100 passengers on board, we set off on time.

The driver was Derek Weir and the first passengers included Margaret McAllister from Bangor and Chris Playfair from south Belfast.

The railway line between Lisburn and Belfast has been closed for more than three months to allow train services to connect to the new station.

A train driver smiles into the camera. He is sitting in the driver's seat of a train. He is wearing a navy uniform.

Derek Weir sits on the first train to leave the new station

Bus services began at the new station five weeks ago, but it took longer for security authorities to give the green light to the new rail system.

Belfast’s main public transport services are now under one roof.

A woman smiles into the camera. She wears glasses and has short gray hair. She is wearing a dark blue coat and has a red backpack over her back. There are a lot of people behind her.

One of the first passengers was Margaret McAllister from Bangor

It is described by Translink as the “largest integrated travel hub on the island of Ireland” and offers up to 20 million passenger journeys annually.

The first train to leave Grand Central on Sunday morning was the Enterprise train at 08:05 BST to Dublin Connolly station.

The first arrival will be a train from Portadown departing at 09:15 BST.

There are eight train platforms and 26 bus stops at the new transport hub.

A man with an auburn beard and mustache. He wears a gray coat and has a camera strap around his neck. He is standing on a train platform.

Chris Playfair, from south Belfast, was among the first passengers to travel on the train from Belfast to Dublin

The area surrounding the station is currently being redeveloped and there are plans to demolish the nearby Boyne Bridge as part of the project.

Preservationists who tried to preserve the bridge failed in one way Last minute legal attempt to stop the work.

The bridge was built in 1936, but has its origins in the 17th century during the time of William of Orange.

Legend has it that he rode across the bridge on his way to the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.

The street on which the bridge is located, Durham Street, will be closed for the next year to facilitate rehabilitation.

Translink says the bridge will be “carefully dismantled” with “key elements” remaining.

The opening of Grand Central Station last month was blamed Increase in traffic congestion in Belfast city center.

The closure of Durham Street may add to the difficulties, but the addition of train service means more people can choose public transport.

“Expect some delays”

Dismantling the pacemaker at Boyne Bridge. A work van is parked next to the fence. Bricks were dug out of the ground. Grand Central Station can be seen in the background. The ground is wet.Pacemaker

Conservationists failed at the last minute in a legal attempt to stop work on the Boyne Bridge

Translink has thanked the public for their patience during the recent transition period when the Belfast to Lisburn rail line was closed and bus replacement services were introduced.

A Translink spokesman said it “encourages people” to use public transport to Belfast as the next phase of work could cause “some delays” for road users.

“Translink would like to take this opportunity to thank the public for their patience during this important work.”

The transport hub was built behind the previous bus and train stations that served central Belfast, the Europa Bus Center and Great Victoria Street station, which have now closed.

The new hub is equipped with more modern facilities and services, including more frequent cross-border trains to Dublin starting later this month.

The junction lies between the Sandy Row area of ​​Belfast and Grosvenor Road.

Plans for the new integrated station go back more than a decade.