Translink Issue Travel Advice For The Open

Translink has issued travel advice for passengers as the 148th Open golfing tournament gets underway this week.

Services are expected to be in high demand as over 200,000 visitors descend on the North Coast for the prestigious championship held at Royal Portrush.

As a result, passengers are urged to book their journey online to secure their place. Click here for full details and to book your spot online.

While a major transport plan is in place with a wide range of bus, coach and train services, the following advice has been issued:

• Between Wednesday 17 and Sunday 21 July, Translink customers planning to travel before 10am by train to Portrush for the golf or any other purposes should book their journey online now.

• Customers travelling to Portrush are advised to arrive at the station 30 minutes before their departure time.

• If possible, anyone not attending the golf should travel by train to Portrush after 10am from July 17th – 21st.

• Customers are reminded that there will be limited space on board services for any bulky items e.g. prams (which must be folded). 

From Wednesday 17 until Sunday 21 July 2019, there will be enhanced capacity on normal train services plus additional early morning trains from Belfast and additional evening services from Portrush and Coleraine. An hourly train service with enhanced capacity will run from L'Derry to Coleraine plus additional early morning services and a convenient Portrush bus connection. 

Special day return coaches will operate between Europa Buscentre in Belfast to Portrush. Spectators can also choose the Goldline 218 coach service from Belfast or 234 service from L'Derry to Coleraine with onward Portrush bus connection.

Local Ulsterbus 140 services travelling between Coleraine, Portrush and Portstewart will also be enhanced and stop at major caravan/camping sites along the route. An additional morning and evening service will operate on both the Ulsterbus 402 between Coleraine and Ballycastle and Ulsterbus 134 between Coleraine and Limavady.

Ian Campbell, Translink Director of Service Operations, said: "There's been a big response to our special services and there's still some availability left so we would strongly encourage anyone travelling to Portrush to book their tickets online now and secure their preferred journey.

"The golf course is just a short walk from the new Portrush Train Station and the event's main bus/coach hub so public transport is a convenient travel option for spectators.

"Our services will be very busy and we will be working hard to accommodate both golf spectators and our regular customers. We will also have additional staff in Portrush to assist our customers. 

"Excitement is really mounting as we look forward to welcoming thousands of additional visitors from all over the world on board our services to enjoy the golf and the fantastic attractions on the Causeway Coast."



(JG/CM)