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Investment Strategy Northern Ireland
image of a new articulated glider bus pulling up to a stop
Project:

Belfast Rapid Transport Network 2

Status
Current
Department
Department for Infrastructure
Public Body
Translink NI
Primary Constituency
Belfast North

Cleaner, faster transport for our capital city

Phase one of The Belfast Rapid Transport Network opened under the “Glider” brand name in September 2018. Phase one provided a rapid transit service between East and West Belfast through the City Centre, with a link to Titanic Quarter.

The Glider is operated by Translink using 18-metre articulated ultra-low emission vehicles.

Phase two of the project (BRT2) seeks to create the same connectivity between North and South Belfast along suitable arterial routes, as well as connecting the existing G2 Glider service (which currently links Belfast City Centre to Titanic Quarter) to Queen’s University and Belfast City Hospital.

Public consultation on the routes for phase two closed in October 2021. The responses to the consultation are now being considered and further investigation of proposed routes will continue. When the operational aspects of these routes have been fully considered, a final round of public consultation will open.

The investment in BRT2 will include:

  • Substantial roadworks to the proposed routes and related enhancements to the surrounding road network
  • Delivery of a new rapid ticketing system along the routes
  • Creation of new state of the art Glider halts 
  • Delivery of a fleet of modern, high capacity Glider vehicles 
  • Targeted marketing and public education surrounding the new service

Phase One of this project increased the use of public transport along its routes by up to 25% within six months of its launch, with a substantial reduction in car usage. It is hoped that communities in North and South Belfast will see similar improvements in transit times, ease of use and accessibility.

The Executive’s investment in this major infrastructure project will promote community cohesion across Northern Ireland’s capital city and make the city more accessible to those living with mobility issues. The use of ultra-low emission vehicles, the reduction in car use and the increase in public transport usage will all have positive impacts on our ambitions to decarbonise Northern Ireland.