Late-night bus and train services confirmed for Derry festive season

With the festive season approaching, Translink has announced an enhanced schedule of late-night bus and train services for the North-West region. This initiative offers residents and visitors convenient and sustainable travel options to enjoy seasonal events, shopping, and local hospitality.

Additional services will operate from Friday, November 28 to Saturday, December 20, including:

• 11:10pm rail service from Belfast to Derry on Friday and Saturday nights.
• 11:30pm rail service from the North-West Transport Hub to Coleraine on Friday and Saturday nights.
• Ulsterbus 98 service departing Foyle Street, Derry to Strabane at 11:00pm.

For those travelling further afield, late 212 Goldliner services currently run from Foyle Street for Belfast departing at 11:00pm on Friday and Saturday nights. The 212 service also offers late-night departures from Belfast Grand Central Station to Derry with departures at 12:15am and 1:15am, Friday and Saturday

In addition, a range of later Foyle Metro services also operate throughout the week, providing cleaner, greener, and more convenient travel options to enjoy the city’s festive atmosphere.

Commenting on the late services for Derry, Translink’s Northern Area Manager, Sarah Simpson, said: “We’re pleased to support Derry’s festive celebrations by offering great value travel options that help residents and visitors stay connected to all the action.

"Passengers can easily plan their journey using our journey planner app and enjoy public transport as a safe, accessible, and sustainable way to celebrate the season.”

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Ruairí McHugh, said the provision of late-night bus and train services is fantastic news for the city and the wider North West region: “This is a fantastic way of making our city centre and local hospitality more accessible for both residents and visitors.

"These extended services will allow everyone to fully enjoy our Christmas events, do some late-night shopping, and celebrate safely, knowing they have a convenient and sustainable way to get home. I want to acknowledge the work done by Translink to provide these essential connectivity links, helping to support our local economy and ensure a safe, vibrant, and joyful festive season for all."

For full timetable information, visit www.translink.co.uk, download the Journey Planner app, or call into Foyle Street Bus Station.

SDLP Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin has welcomed Translink’s announcement of enhanced late-night bus and rail services for Derry over the Christmas period, but said the move highlights the urgent need for permanent improvements to rail connectivity in the North West.

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Ms McLaughlin said: “I welcome this positive news for Derry during the Christmas period. These additional services will make it easier for people to enjoy the city’s brilliant hospitality, events and nightlife, and they will support workers and businesses who rely on safe and sustainable travel options at this time of year. This is good for our local economy and good for passengers.

“But the truth is that these seasonal improvements only underline what the North West is missing for the rest of the year. Translink first submitted a business case for rail upgrades on the North West corridor back in June 2024. Because the Department for Infrastructure failed to act, Translink have now been forced to resubmit an updated business case more than a year later.”

“We do not need another cycle of delays or excuses. The recent Halloween weekend highlighted the consequences of the Minister’s inaction, when people were left stranded and unable to get home due to a lack of rail services. That is simply not good enough for a growing city that hosts major international events and contributes so much to our regional economy.

“These festive services show what is possible - but the North West deserves this level of connectivity all year round. It is long past time for the Minister to step up, approve the business case, and deliver the rail investment our region has waited for far too long.”