Trains 'Packed Out' For Tall Ships

There will be as many as half a million people in Belfast over the coming days for a glimpse of 40 majestic wooden ships during the four-day Tall Ships Maritime Festival.

However, by noon on the first day, there were already reports that jam-packed trains on the Londonderry line were being forced to pass through stations without stopping.

Ciaran Rogan from Translink said they had "every available bus and train in service", and said "thousands and thousands" of people had been brought to the event very successfully.

"There has been congestion on some services, but this is a huge event and literally every bus and train that we have available is out on our network.

"We're just asking for a bit of patience," he told the BBC today.

Once they do get there, Belfast will reap the benefits of the tens of thousands of visitors expected to flood the city to see the ships.

The historic vessels have also come a long way. They left Halifax, Nova Scotia, last month as part of a route which began in Vigo in Spain and took in Tenerife, Bermuda, Charleston and Boston in the US.

Recalling the huge welcome given to the last full-scale Tall Ships event to hit Belfast, in the troubled times of 1991, the Chair of Belfast's Tall Ships Board Dr Gerard O'Hare said it would again be a fantastic event.

"What people can look forward to is the biggest show in the country, the biggest event ever to be held in Ireland in maritime terms," he said.

"The boats have steadily been appearing on the horizon around the country for the last week, acting as a beacon calling the people to come to Belfast and enjoy the festival and party."

Meanwhile, according to Lord Mayor Naomi Long, this week's arrival of the international Tall Ships event will boost the local economy by around £10 million.

The extra income could even support around 550 jobs in the tourism sector on the basis that economists calculate that every £1 million of tourism expenditure supports 55 jobs.

Belfast City Council is the biggest single funder of the event, contributing £1.1 million towards the total cost of £2.4 million.

Other funding has been provided by Belfast Harbour Commissioners, Northern Ireland Tourist Board, the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and the Department of Social Development.

The Lord Mayor said: "It has been a long held ambition of Belfast City Council to bring the Tall Ships back to the city since the last highly successful visit in 1991.

"This will be the biggest event that Belfast has ever hosted and the single biggest event on this island this year.

"We will have visitors from all over the world and they will enjoy the warmth and hospitality for which Belfast people are renowned.

"No-one could have foreseen the dramatic improvements in our city in the intervening years since 1991 and I am delighted that we have managed to retain what was best about our city and marry it with the new, to make Belfast an exciting happening place," she commented.

"The council has taken the decision to invest heavily in the event because we are aware of the benefits the Tall Ships can bring in terms of revenue.

"I confidently believe that the city's economy could be boosted to the tune of £10 million," she continued, noting that hundreds of thousands of people will visit the city during the four days.

Many will be staying over in hotels and guest houses, eating in the restaurants and will also take the opportunity to shop in the city.

The Tall Ships festival run from today to Sunday 16th August and consists of a range of free activities and entertainment, including fireworks, continental markets, funfairs and concerts, all based around the docks area of the city.

Full details are on the councils website: www.belfastcity.gov.uk/tallships or www.gotobelfast.com

(BMcC/KMcA)