NEWS

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company’s Ben-my-Chree vessel The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company has announced a significantly enhanced ferry timetable for 2026/27, strengthening maritime connections between Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man and opening up new opportunities for passengers, freight operators and businesses on both sides of the Irish Sea. The new three-vessel schedule, which is now on sale, marks the first time in more than 15 years that the Isle of Man has o

The Met Office has issued successive yellow weather warnings for strong winds across Northern Ireland, warning of potential disruption from Sunday through into Monday. The first warning is in force from 00:00 until 21:00 on Sunday, 11 January 2026 , and covers County Antrim, County Down, County Londonderry and County Tyrone. A second warning follows immediately afterwards, running from 21:00 on Sunday, 11 January, until 12:00 on Monday, 12 January 2026 , and applies to County

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for rain affecting Northern Ireland, with the potential for localised flooding as heavy rainfall combines with milder temperatures and melting snow. The warning is in effect from 9.00pm on Saturday 10 January until 9.00pm on Sunday 11 January , covering the entire region. According to the Met Office, bands of rain will move across Northern Ireland during Saturday evening and throughout Sunday, bringing the risk of flooding in

A yellow weather warning for snow and ice has been issued for Northern Ireland, with icy conditions expected to develop overnight on Friday and into Saturday morning. The warning is in force from 5pm on Friday 9 January until 11am on Saturday 10 January , covering much of the region during a period when temperatures are forecast to drop sharply below freezing. Forecasters say clear spells on Friday evening and overnight will allow temperatures to fall quickly, leading to the

Image: Anne Kelly Ferry passengers travelling to Rathlin Island and across Strangford Lough will face increased fares from 1 February 2026, following confirmation from the Department for Infrastructure. The Department has announced that the revised charges will apply to both the Ballycastle–Rathlin Island ferry service and the Strangford–Portaferry ferry service, with the increases aligned to Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation. According to the Department for Infrastructur

Severe winter weather has placed intense pressure on road services across North Antrim, with local MLAs raising concerns over grit shortages, untreated roads and the Department for Infrastructure’s preparedness following heavy snowfall. Large parts of rural North Antrim have been affected by snowfall of between six and eight inches over the past two days, leaving some roads difficult to access and heightening safety concerns for residents, commuters and emergency services. TU

A yellow weather warning for ice has been issued for Northern Ireland, with hazardous conditions expected to develop overnight as temperatures fall and wintry showers move across the region. The warning is in force between 6:00pm on Tuesday 6 January 2026 and 11:00am on Wednesday 7 January 2026, with icy patches likely to form on untreated surfaces, increasing the risk of travel disruption. Forecasters say that after a day that has been less cold than recent days, conditions

Icicles in the Glens of Antrim. (Image Liz Weir) A yellow weather warning for ice has been issued for Northern Ireland, with hazardous conditions expected to develop from Monday evening through to Tuesday morning, raising concerns for commuters, motorists and pedestrians. The warning is effective from 5pm on Monday 5 January 2026 until 10am on Tuesday 6 January 2026, according to the Met Office. Forecasters say ice formation on untreated surfaces is likely to cause impacts in

The Met Office has issued two consecutive yellow weather warnings for snow and ice across Northern Ireland, warning that prolonged wintry conditions could lead to travel disruption from Friday afternoon through the weekend and into Monday morning. The first warning is in effect from 3:00pm on Friday 2 January 2026 until 12:00pm on Saturday 3 January 2026 , with a second warning following immediately from 12:00pm on Saturday 3 January until 12:00pm on Monday 5 January 2026. Fo

Translink has today (17 December 2025) published a landmark report detailing feasibility studies for four transformative rail projects, offering fresh hope for improved connectivity across Northern Ireland. The document, Shaping the Future: A Rail Network for Northern Ireland , builds on the All-Island Strategic Rail Review and highlights schemes that could reconnect long-isolated communities, slash journey times, and support the shift to sustainable travel. For many resident

(L-R): Mick Campbell, Wrightbus Head of Sales (Key Accounts); NCT representatives Andy Thompson; Rob Sutcliffe; Anthony Carver-Smith; and David Conway; and John McLeister, Wrightbus MD of Sales for UK and Ireland. Ballymena-based manufacturer Wrightbus has completed six new ultra-low emission StreetDeck Ultroliner buses destined for the Midlands, following a partnership with Nottingham City Transport (NCT). The vehicles were recently inspected by NCT representatives during a

With Christmas fast approaching, the Consumer Council has published a series of practical travel tips designed to help passengers prepare for smooth and stress-free journeys over the festive season. The organisation is urging travellers across Northern Ireland to plan ahead—whether flying from local airports, sailing, or using public transport—to avoid unnecessary delays at one of the busiest times of the year. Michelle Kelly, Head of Transport Policy at the Consumer Council,

Translink has urged passengers to plan ahead for festive travel as a series of adjusted Christmas and New Year timetables come into effect across Northern Ireland’s bus and rail services. The operator confirmed early finishes on key dates, full service cancellations on Christmas Day, and a range of special holiday timetables affecting NI Railways, Enterprise, Metro/Glider, Ulsterbus, Goldliner and airport express routes. A Translink spokesperson encouraged passengers to prepa

Translink is encouraging Christmas shoppers across Northern Ireland to take the stress out of festive travel this year by taking full advantage of its extensive Park and Ride network. As thousands head into towns and city centres for shopping, dining and seasonal events, the transport operator says its Park and Ride sites provide a simple, affordable and congestion-free alternative to battling heavy traffic in the run-up to Christmas. Many sites will operate extended timetabl

Robin Swann MP at Antrim Train Station Over 1,200 residents and supporters have backed an open letter from Robin Swann MP urging Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins MLA to set out a clear, definitive timeline for reopening the Knockmore Railway Line between Lisburn and Antrim. The South Antrim MP has formally written to the Minister to present the letter, which calls for transparency, certainty and a firm commitment to move the long-awaited rail project forward. Mr Swann said

Ryanair has announced it will add more than 4,900 extra seats to and from Belfast for Christmas week 2025, as the carrier prepares for a surge in festive travel demand. The airline – Europe’s largest by passenger numbers – confirmed on Tuesday (25 November) that it expects to carry over 26,000 passengers through Belfast Airport during the busy holiday period, helping people return home in time to celebrate with their families. The additional seats have been introduced in resp

Pictured at the naming ceremony for Stena Line’s newest ship – Stena Futura – in Belfast Harbour were (L-R): Captain Colin Fleming; Paul Grant (Trade Director, Stena Line); Deputy First Minister NI Emma Little-Pengelly; Stena FuturaGodmother, Dr Madeleine Olsson Ericksson; Bert Ake Eriksson;  Dan Sten Olsson (Owner, Stena Line), Jane Thorburn Olsson (Olsson family), Niclas Martensson (CEO, Stena Line) and Dr Philip McGarry (Deputy Lieutenant of the Borough of Belfast). Belfas

South Antrim MP Robin Swann South Antrim MP Robin Swann has urged Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins MLA to confirm when the long-awaited feasibility study on reopening the Antrim–Lisburn railway line — widely known as the Knockmore Line — will finally be released to the public. Mr Swann, who has championed the restoration of the line since first being elected to Westminster, said the continued lack of clarity around publication was causing frustration among residents and st

The Met Office has issued a further tellow weather warning for snow and ice across all six counties of Northern Ireland as wintry showers are expected to intensify from Wednesday evening into Thursday morning. The alert will be in place from 17:00 on Wednesday 19 November 2025 until 12:00 on Thursday 20 November 2025, covering County Antrim, County Armagh, County Down, County Fermanagh, County Londonderry, and County Tyrone. Forecasters warn that the combination of falling te

Jonny Spiers, Customer Service Agent and Airport Autism Champion alongside Christine Kearney, Director of Development at Autism NI and Niall McElkearney, Terminal Operations Manager. Belfast International Airport has been recognised for its commitment to improving accessibility for neurodiverse passengers, after receiving the prestigious Autism NI Impact Award. The accolade highlights the airport’s efforts to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for autistic and