Transport in Belfast

Transportation in Belfast, a big city in Northern Ireland, has many ways to move around, like roads, trains, buses, planes, and ships. Many people use cars, but there are also many trains and buses to help people get to different places. In the past, Belfast had special electric cars called trams that people rode until 1954. The city has two big airports for planes, and the Port of Belfast is the busiest place for ships coming and going from the island of Ireland.

History

See also: Belfast Corporation Tramways and Trolleybuses in Belfast

In old Belfast, people used horse-drawn carts on cobbled streets to get around. As the city grew quickly during the Industrial Revolution, new ways to carry people were needed. Horse-drawn trams were introduced, and a steam tramway connected villages like Glengormley to the city. Later, the city’s trams were electrified. Over time, trams were replaced first by trolleybuses and then by buses in 1954.

Recently, plans were made to improve Belfast’s transport, aiming to fix years of not enough investment.

City layout

See also: Districts of Belfast

Belfast is a city where some neighborhoods are separated. There are walls called "peace lines" that were built by the British Army after August 1969 during a difficult time known as the Troubles. These walls were made to help calm disturbances and keep people safe.

Over the years, fewer people have lived in the city center, while more live in the areas around Belfast. The city center today has many older people, students, and young single people, while families often live farther out. Some parts of Belfast are wealthier, especially toward the south, while other areas have faced more challenges.

Routes

Some important roads leading into Belfast include:

• York Street/York Road/Shore Road
• Antrim Road
• Oldpark Road
• Crumlin Road
• Shankill Road/Woodvale Road/Ballygomartin Road
• Divis Street/Falls Road/Glen Road
• Grosvenor Road/Springfield Road
• Andersonstown Road/Stewartstown Road
• Donegall Road
• Lisburn Road
• University Road/Malone Road
• Ormeau Road
• Ravenhill Road
• Woodstock Link/Woodstock Road/Cregagh Road
• Castlereagh Street/Castlereagh Road
• Albertbridge Road
• Newtownards Road/Upper Newtownards Road
• Holywood Road

Westlink

A major road project in Belfast started in 2006. It upgraded parts of the Westlink road to help traffic flow better. The Westlink road goes around the west side of the city center and connects three big roads called motorways. This project was finished in 2009.

Cycling

The Lagan and Lough Cycle Way is a cycling path that goes through Belfast city center. It is part of Route 9 of the National Cycle Network and connects north to Jordanstown and south-west to Lisburn.

Cars and buses

Belfast is a city where many people use cars to travel. Compared to other places in Europe, Belfast has many roads for cars, including a big road called the M2 motorway. Most trips in Belfast are made by car, with fewer people using buses or walking.

There are many bus services in Belfast. A company called Translink runs most of the buses. Some buses go from homes to the city center, while other buses serve areas farther away. There are also special buses called black taxis that are popular in some parts of the city.

Airports

Belfast has two airports. Belfast International Airport is north of the city near Lough Neagh. It offers flights within the UK, to Europe, and across the Atlantic. George Best Belfast City Airport is closer to the city center and sits beside Belfast Lough.

Railways

Bus and rail public transport in Northern Ireland is run by companies linked to Translink. In Belfast, buses travel along main roads to connect homes with the city center. Farther areas are served by Ulsterbus.

Northern Ireland Railways runs train services from Belfast to places like Carrickfergus, Larne, Bangor, Lisburn, and Portadown. Important train stations in Belfast include Lanyon Place and the new Belfast Grand central station, which will open soon. There is also a train service called the Enterprise that goes between Dublin and Belfast.

From the Port of Belfast, ferries travel to Cairnryan.

In the past, there were plans to build a light rail system in Belfast. This led to the Belfast Rapid Transport System, which will use special Glider vehicles. The new service is expected to start soon and will connect different parts of Belfast.

Seaport

Main article: Port of Belfast

The Port of Belfast is the busiest ferry port on the island of Ireland. It is used for moving goods and for ferry trips. Stena Line runs regular ferries to Stranraer in Scotland, taking about 2 hours and 15 minutes. They also have trips to and from Liverpool, which take about eight hours. There are special trips to Douglas, Isle of Man during certain times of the year, run by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company.

Belfast Lough provides a natural place for the city’s port. As Belfast grew, the port became important for trading with Britain, then later with Europe and North America. In the 1600s, Belfast sent out beef, butter, and other goods, and brought in things like coal and cloth. By the 1700s, Belfast was a rich trading town, especially for linen cloth.

When the Industrial Revolution came, the port helped Belfast’s growing linen and shipbuilding industries. The famous Harland & Wolff shipbuilding company began in 1861. Today, the port is the main place for moving goods into and out of Northern Ireland, handling thousands of ships and lots of cargo each year. The Harbour Estate is a key center for organizing and sending goods across Northern Ireland.