O’Dowd announces preferred route for North-South Glider extension

Infrastructure Minister, John O’Dowd, has today announced the preferred route for Phase 2 of Belfast Rapid Transit (BRT2), which will see the Glider service extended to north and south Belfast.

The initial phase of the Belfast Rapid Transit Glider service, which launched in 2018, has been a huge success and has helped transform and modernise public transport services in the east and west of the city. It has increased the numbers of people using sustainable public transport on these corridors by 70%.

Today’s announcement on the extension of the service to the north and south follows a public consultation to seek the views of the public and other stakeholders.  

Minister O’Dowd said:

“I know that people across north and south Belfast have been keen to see progress on extending this successful service so I am pleased today to announce my decision on the preferred route.

“My officials will now commence the detailed design of the proposed G3 route along the Antrim Road in the north, and along the Ormeau Road and Saintfield Road in the south.  It is important that we are ambitious in terms of our public transport provision and therefore I have decided that the north and south routes should extend to Glengormley and Carryduff, respectively; however, the feasibility of such will be further assessed as part of the detailed design.  The existing City Centre to Titanic Quarter Glider service will also be extended to connect with Queen’s University and the City Hospital.

“My Officials will continue to engage with residents, businesses and other stakeholders along the selected route as the detailed design is progressed.”

Notes to editors: 

1. A public consultation on Phase 2 to serve north and south Belfast commenced on 26 July 2021 and closed on 4 October 2021, with significant support expressed for the announced route. The consultation report is available at:  https://www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/publications/belfast-rapid-transit-phase-2-consultation-report
2. Subject to funding, it is currently estimated that the North-South Glider service could become operational in autumn 2027.
3. The following provides further detail on the preferred routes: 

• South Belfast – Running from the existing G1/G2 network at City Hall along Great Victoria Street, Bruce Street, Bankmore Link (proposed new public transport and cycling link Road) to Ormeau Road then continuing from Ormeau Road to Ravenhill Road intersection and along the Saintfield Road to Carryduff.
• G2 Extension - This route forms an extension to the existing G2 service which currently serves the Titanic Quarter via the city centre network. Running from the existing G1/G2 network at City Hall along Great Victoria Street, Bruce Street, Dublin Road, University Road, Elmwood Avenue and returning to the city centre via Lisburn Road and Great Victoria Street.
• North Belfast – Running from the existing G1/G2 network at Belfast City Hall along Donegall Place, Royal Avenue, Donegall Street and Clifton Street to Carlisle Circus then continuing along Antrim Road to Glengormley. Routing through the city centre is subject to further consideration in light of the aspirations of “A Bolder Vision for Belfast” during the detailed design stage.

4. All media queries should be directed to the Department for Infrastructure Press Office at: press.office@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk
5. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.
6. Follow the Department on Twitter @deptinfra  and on Facebook @DepartmentforInfrastructure

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