Translink announces Christmas timetables across bus and rail network

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 prepare in advance, saying:

“We advise passengers to check their timetable in advance of travelling on Translink’s Journey Planner or website: www.translink.co.uk.”

NI Railways Christmas schedule

NI Railways will run normal services on Christmas Eve, though all routes will finish earlier than usual. No trains will operate on Christmas Day or Boxing Day.

A Saturday timetable applies on Saturday 27 December, while Sunday services run on Sunday 28 December.

From Monday 29 December to Wednesday 31 December, NI Railways will again operate Saturday schedules, with early finishes on New Year’s Eve.

A Sunday timetable will be in place on New Year’s Day, followed by a Saturday timetable on Friday 2 January.

Enterprise

Enterprise passengers are advised that there will be no cross-border trains on Christmas Day or Boxing Day.

Services will finish earlier than normal on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, while a Sunday timetable with some adjustments will operate on New Year’s Day.

Metro and Glider

Metro and Glider routes will operate school holiday timetables from Monday 22 December to Friday 2 January, with exceptions:

• Christmas Eve: early finish

• Christmas Day: no services

• Boxing Day and New Year’s Day: special holiday timetables

Ulsterbus and Goldliner

Ulsterbus and Goldliner will run early finishes on Christmas Eve, with school holiday timetables from 27 December.

Normal timetables resume on Friday 2 January.

There will be no Ulsterbus services on Christmas Day, while holiday timetables operate on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

Airport services

Belfast International Airport – Airport Xpress 300

• Normal service on Christmas Eve, with early finish

• No service on Christmas Day

• Holiday timetable on Boxing Day

• Normal timetable from 5.00am on Saturday 27 December

• Regular services from 28–31 December

• Holiday timetable on New Year’s Day

Belfast City Airport – Airport Xpress 600

• Normal timetable with early finish on Christmas Eve

• No services on Christmas Day or Boxing Day

• Enhanced frequency on New Year’s Day, with buses every 45 minutes

Seasonal travel deals

Translink has reminded customers of several value-for-money ticket options available throughout the festive period. These include:

• 25% off all Ulsterbus, Goldliner and rail day returns

• Bus Rambler tickets for £10

• ‘Family and Friends’ day tickets with unlimited travel across Northern Ireland for up to two adults and four children for £24

• ‘Family and Friends’ Metro/Glider ticket for £10 (Belfast only)

• 50% off fares for 16–23-year-olds with a free yLink card

Passengers are encouraged to check all schedules in advance using the Translink Journey Planner.