Translink advises passengers to plan ahead as festive holiday timetables come into effect

Translink is reminding all customers planning to travel over the Christmas and New Year period that special holiday timetables will be in operation, and is strongly advising all passengers to plan their journeys in advance.

NI Railways services will operate as normal on Christmas Eve, with an early evening close. There will be no trains running on Christmas Day or Boxing Day. The usual Saturday timetable will operate on Saturday, December 27, with the regular Sunday timetable on Sunday, December 28. Saturday schedules will also operate between Monday, December 29 and Wednesday, December 31. Services will finish early on New Year’s Eve, a Sunday service will be in place on New Year’s Day and a Saturday service is in effect on Friday, January 2.

Enterprise passengers are advised that there is no service on Christmas Day or Boxing Day and services will finish earlier than usual on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. A Sunday timetable will operate on New Year’s Day, with some adjustments.

For Metro/Glider, school holiday timetables will be in effect from Monday, December 22 until Friday, January 2, except Christmas Eve, when services finish early, Christmas Day, when services will not operate and Boxing Day and New Years Day, which will operate special holiday timetables.

Ulsterbus/Goldliner services will finish early on Christmas Eve and a school holiday timetable will come into effect from December 27, with normal timetables resuming on Friday, January 2. There will be no Ulsterbus services on Christmas Day, and a holiday timetable will operate on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

Services to Belfast International Airport, air Xpress 300 operate as normal on Christmas Eve, with an early close. There is no service Christmas Day and a holiday timetable is in effect for Boxing Day. On Saturday 27th, services will run as normal from 5.00am, with regular services operating from Sunday 28th to Wednesday 31st December. A holiday timetable will be in place on New Year’s Day.

For Belfast City Airport, the air Xpress 600 service will operate a normal timetable until early finish Christmas Eve. There are no services Christmas Day or Boxing Day. New Year’s Day will have enhanced frequency, with services every 45 minutes.

Customers are reminded there are a range of good value tickets available including 25% off all Ulsterbus, Goldliner and rail day return tickets; Bus Rambler* tickets for £10; and ‘Family and Friends’ day tickets with unlimited travel on bus and rail across Northern Ireland for up to two adults and four children for just £24.

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A ‘Family and Friends’ day ticket for Metro/Glider in Belfast costs just £10 for two adults and up to four children. In addition, young people aged 16-23 with a free Translink yLink card receive 50% off fares.

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