£48m Investment To Extend Belfast Glider Service

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has announced the next steps for Phase 2 of the Belfast Rapid Transit (BRT2) project, which will extend the Glider service to north and south Belfast. Construction is set to begin later this year.

"The Belfast Rapid Transit Glider service has been a huge success and has helped transform and modernise public transport services in the east and west of the city," said Minister Kimmins. "BRT2 will provide this innovative service to the north and south of the city, bringing the benefits of the Glider service to communities living along this route."

Phase 2 will include:

• Full G2 extension connecting with Queen’s University and the City Hospital, including halts.

• Pilot scheme trialling four EV Gliders on the existing G1 route, freeing up vehicles for the G2 extension.

• Bus priority measures on the Antrim Road (Clifton Street to Innisfayle Park) and Ormeau Road (Ormeau Road to Park Road).

• A park and ride site on the O’Neill Road.

• Bus priority measures in the city centre.

• Design and construction of Bankmore Link for the Belfast Cycle Network, connecting to the new Lagan Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge and Grand Central Station. "This scheme is a £48 million investment in our public transport infrastructure," Kimmins stated. "It is one of the projects being taken forward by my department as part of the Belfast Region City Deal. Funding of £35m has been allocated from our Deal partners, with an additional £13 million from my Department to deliver a park and ride on the O’Neill Road. Park and Ride is a key enabler to encouraging behavioural shift and helping to drive down congestion and emissions. This phase will allow us to put in place key infrastructure which will complement the wider scheme."

The BRT2 route, along the Antrim Road in the north and the Ormeau and Saintfield Roads in the south, was announced in October 2022.

Speaking on behalf of Belfast Region City Deal Partners, Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Micky Murray, said: “The Belfast Region City Deal…is now well into delivery phase and the announcement today from the Infrastructure Minister, Liz Kimmins is another important step forward. We have already seen the impact of the Glider service…The Belfast Rapid Transit Phase 2 project is the further development of this hugely successful scheme…I am delighted that with funding of £35million from the Belfast Region City Deal, along with an additional £13m announced by the Minister, the Department for Infrastructure can make significant early progress in anticipation of delivery of the entire scheme in the coming years."

The BRT2 scheme's advancement is subject to approval of the Outline Business Case, which is in its final stages.