Translink re-instate late night Belfast-Derry bus service

Lobbying has finally paid off for Carntogher Councillor Martin Kearney as public transport company Translink have not only agreed to re-instate a late night 212 service from Derry but have also agreed to extend the services both ways at peak times.

New time tabling arrangements to be announced shortly will mean that both South Derry and South West Antrim residents can once again avail of a later evening bus service leaving Derry city.

As from Friday, December 2, the last 212 service from Derry on Friday and Saturday Nights will be at 11pm with the return bus leaving Belfast at 1.15am.

Also, from Monday, November 28, on Mondays to Fridays, the frequency of buses leaving Derry at the peak times between 6am and 8am will be at 20 minute intervals with similar timings from 4pm to 6.20pm leaving Belfast later that same day. Translink will officially launch these revisions later this month.

Welcoming these revisions, Councillor Kearney said: “This is a good news story for both South Derry and South West Antrim residents.

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Sinéad McLaughlin MLA has been engaging with Translink.

"On the back of the very successful Derry City Year of Culture some years ago I lobbied Translink to extend the late night service to 11pm and this service was established at that time.

"It was very successful at that time but probably became a victim of the Covid cutbacks of 2020. The present 212 service from Derry at present leaving at 10pm severely limits the opportunity for people to socialise in the city for example dining out, attending a show etc.

“The improvement of facilities in recent years at the ‘Park and Rides’ at Maghera, Castledawson and Toome have also helped to make this form of travel more attractive.

I am pleased with these outcomes, especially when we hear so much about cutbacks in services.”