NEWS

Motorists and town centre visitors are being advised to expect traffic disruption in Ballymena this Saturday as Mid and East Antrim Pride returns to the town, with road closures, a parade through the town centre and a heightened police presence planned throughout the afternoon. The event is due to take place on Saturday, June 20, with participants assembling in the Waveney Road area from approximately 1pm before the parade begins at 2pm. Police have confirmed that a number of

Jet2 has unveiled an exclusive new Norway and Fjords programme from Belfast International Airport for Summer 2027, giving travellers in Northern Ireland direct access to one of Europe’s most spectacular destinations for the first time through the airline. The new programme means Jet2 will be the only airline operating flights from Belfast International Airport to the Norwegian city of Bergen during Summer 2027, opening up opportunities for holidaymakers seeking culture, scene

Translink’s Ballymena Rail and Bus Centre Northern Ireland’s bus and rail network is preparing for a summer-long showcase of community pride, environmental action and workplace excellence, with several facilities across the Ballymena and East Antrim area among 37 locations entering the 2026 SPIRIT of Translink Facility Awards. Among the local facilities taking part are Ballymena Bus and Rail Centre, Whitehead Station, Larne Buscentre, Larne Town railway station, Greenisland S

Ryanair is being investigated by the Competition and Markets Authority over charges that parents must pay to sit beside their children on flights, including in cases involving disability-related obligations. The budget airline’s terms and conditions require at least one adult travelling with children aged two to 11 to reserve a seat, through what Ryanair calls a “mandatory family seat”. That reservation typically costs around £8 per flight, meaning the charge can apply on bot

Commuters across Northern Ireland are facing major disruption tonight after Translink announced the suspension of all evening bus and rail services amid fears of unrest linked to expected protests. The unprecedented move means no bus departures will operate after 5pm on Wednesday evening, while all train services will stop departing after 6pm as transport operators brace for potential disorder. The decision is expected to impact thousands of passengers travelling home from wo

Pupils due to sit public exams across Northern Ireland this afternoon have been urged to travel to their examination centres as early as possible amid growing concerns over potential disruption linked to recent protests and street disorder. The warning comes as education officials monitor the fallout from ongoing unrest and unverified social media claims about further planned demonstrations later today, raising fears that some students and school communities could face travel

Level Crossing at Castlerock on the Belfast to Derry~Londonderry line. Two men have been hit with fines totalling £15,000 after the High Court took action over dangerous misuse of a railway crossing in Co Londonderry — in what Translink says is one of the largest penalties ever imposed for level crossing offences in the UK. The case, linked to a User Worked Crossing in the Limavady area, comes as the rail industry marks International Level Crossing Awareness Day (ILCAD) on Tu

Sea defences at 17 locations along the Belfast to Larne railway line are set to be reinforced under new Translink proposals aimed at protecting the vital transport corridor from coastal erosion and increasingly severe weather conditions. Plans for the East Antrim Sea Defences Project were unveiled during a series of public consultation drop-in sessions, the last of which was held at Glynn Village Hall outside Larne on Wednesday. The consultation events were organised to provi

Ballymena Rail and Bus Centre Motorists and public transport passengers in Ballymena are being warned to expect disruption for much of the summer as major roadworks linked to the expansion of the town’s Park & Ride facility get underway from Monday, 1 June. The works, centred around the busy Galgorm Road and Waveney Road junction near Ballymena Train Station, are expected to continue until the end of August 2026 as part of a significant upgrade project aimed at dramatically i

Another major order for electric buses has been placed with Ballymena manufacturer Wrightbus, strengthening the company’s growing role at the centre of the UK’s transition to cleaner public transport and securing further work for Northern Ireland’s manufacturing sector. Transport for Greater Manchester has confirmed an additional order for 125 electric buses for the Bee Network, with the fleet to be built by Wrightbus as the region pushes towards a fully electric bus network

Northern Ireland has moved a step closer to introducing major new bus safety laws after more than 600 responses were submitted to a consultation aimed at protecting children travelling to and from school. The Safer Journeys to School consultation — which explored new restrictions on overtaking and passing buses — closed yesterday after receiving 601 responses from the public and stakeholders. The proposals, brought forward by Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins, could eventua

Passengers travelling between Belfast and Dublin on Enterprise rail services are being warned to expect delays and bus transfers for three days after engineering works forced the closure of part of the line south of the border. The rail line between Dundalk and Dublin will close from Saturday 30 May until Monday 1 June inclusive, with replacement buses operating for affected sections of the journey. The disruption is expected to affect passengers travelling between Northern I

Ballymena Park & Ride facility Motorists and public transport passengers in Ballymena are being warned to expect disruption throughout the summer as major works linked to the expansion of the town’s Park & Ride facility get underway. Translink has confirmed that essential road and junction improvements at Galgorm Road and Waveney Road will begin on Monday 1 June and continue until the end of August 2026 as part of the Ballymena Park & Ride expansion project. While roads will

Chief Superintendent Kelly Moore and Rhonda Geary, Royal Ulster Agricultural Society. Thousands of visitors are expected to descend on the Eikon Exhibition Centre this week as the Balmoral Show returns for four days of farming, food, business and family entertainment — with the PSNI warning motorists to expect delays and plan ahead. Running from Wednesday 13 May to Saturday 16 May 2026, the annual event is one of the biggest fixtures in Northern Ireland’s rural calendar, draw

Passengers due to fly from UK airports this summer have been told there is currently “no need” to change travel plans despite growing international concern over jet fuel supplies linked to disruption in the Middle East. The UK Government said airlines operating across the UK are not currently experiencing a jet fuel shortage, while airports continue to maintain fuel reserves to help keep flights operating normally. The reassurance comes amid ongoing uncertainty following the

Entrance to visitor car park at Antrim Area Hospital Patients and families across Northern Ireland will continue paying hospital parking charges for at least the next three years after new legislation formally passed into law. Health Minister Mike Nesbitt confirmed the Hospital Parking Charges Bill has now received Royal Assent, delaying plans to abolish charges that had originally been due to end under legislation passed in 2022. The move means hospital parking fees will rem

Donnelly Group has expanded its electric vehicle and hybrid offering with the opening of two new dedicated BYD showrooms in Ballymena and Dungannon. (L-R: Malcolm Kerr, Dave Sheeran, Paul Compton, Emma Donnelly and Terence Donnelly) Northern Ireland’s largest independently owned vehicle retailer, Donnelly Group, has expanded its electric and hybrid vehicle offering with the opening of two new dedicated BYD showrooms in Ballymena and Dungannon. The move marks a significant inv

Brothers and keen farmers, Adam and Matthew, join Royal Ulster Agricultural Society (RUAS) operations director, Rhonda Geary as they count down to this year's show and encourage visitors to travel by bus or train, with convenient, reliable and hassle-free services available throughout the event. Northern Ireland’s biggest celebration of farming, food and rural life is set to return next week, with thousands expected to descend on the Eikon Exhibition Centre for the 2026 Balm

Superfast VII - Belfast to Cairnryan route Stena Line is investing approximately £14 million to upgrade and modernise its Irish Sea fleet, with passengers and freight customers set to benefit from improved onboard comfort, expanded facilities and enhanced travel experiences across key routes. The major investment programme will see extensive refits carried out across vessels operating between Northern Ireland, Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland, reinforcing the ferry o

Rail Cool Rules! Translink has joined forces with Rail Safe Friendly, an accredited UK-wide programme, to spread the vital message of rail safety in Northern Ireland. Pictured at the partnership launch are (L-R) Abigail, Luke and Izabel from Oakwood Integrated Primary School with Chris Conway, Translink Group Chief Executive and Kathryn Ogdin, Director of Operations, Rail Safe Friendly. A new rail safety campaign aimed at Primary 7 pupils has been launched across Northern Ire