£2.05m boost for Ballymena Park and Ride expansion to more than 600 spaces
Aerial view of Ballymena Park & Ride, located adjacent to Translink’s Bus & Rail Centre
Friday 18 September 2026
Ballymena is to receive more than £2 million in new funding towards the major expansion of its Park and Ride facility, increasing capacity from 222 spaces to more than 600.
The £2.05 million allocation has been confirmed by Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins as part of £3.25 million in Local Growth Fund Capital being directed towards transport and connectivity projects across Northern Ireland in 2026/27.
More than 600 spaces planned
The funding will support Phase 2 of the Ballymena Park and Ride project, which is intended to meet growing demand, reduce pressure from on-street parking and encourage more people to use public transport.
The expansion represents a substantial increase in capacity, with the number of spaces at the facility set to almost triple from the existing 222.
Work on the wider enhancement project is already under way, with Translink carrying out road and infrastructure upgrades at Galgorm Road and Waveney Road. The overall project is currently due to be completed in autumn 2026.
Investment in public transport
F.P. McCann continues construction at the expanding Ballymena Park & Ride facility, located adjacent to Translink’s Bus & Rail Centre
Announcing the wider Local Growth Fund allocations, Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins said:
“I have allocated this funding to proposals that focus on transport and connectivity improvements that will support economic development and sustainable travel in these towns and cities.
“The projects are designed to improve accessibility, encourage greater use of public and active travel, reduce congestion and support safer, more efficient transport networks in Belfast, Newry, Ballymena and Strabane.”
North Antrim MLA Philip McGuigan welcomed the £2.05 million allocation for Ballymena.
Mr McGuigan said:
“Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has today announced £2,050,000 to support the expansion of Ballymena park and ride.
“The increase to more than 600 spaces will help meet the demand of the park and ride and work to reduce on street parking issues, while also encouraging more people to use public transport.
“This is a great investment in public transport infrastructure in Ballymena and will have a positive impact on the local area.”
Growing demand on North West rail line
The expansion comes against a backdrop of increasing passenger numbers on the North West rail corridor. Earlier this year, the Department for Infrastructure said passenger numbers on the line had grown by more than 11% year-to-date and were on course to exceed the previous record levels recorded in 2018/19.
The Department said additional Park and Ride provision could both ease existing on-street parking pressures and support further passenger growth, with the rail corridor continuing to have spare capacity during significant parts of the operational day.
£3.25m shared across four areas
Ballymena accounts for the largest share of the £3.25 million Local Growth Fund allocation announced by the Minister. Belfast will receive £100,000 for improvements to the cycling network at Durham Street, while £99,000 has been allocated for 40 to 45 additional Park and Ride spaces at Newry Station.
A further £1 million has been allocated towards the potential acquisition of a privately-owned car park beside Strabane Bus Station, which could provide approximately 150 to 170 Park and Ride spaces.
For Ballymena, the latest funding supports a project already moving through delivery, with the expanded facility intended to provide substantially more parking and improved access to bus and rail services.
