To mark the last day of passenger services at Great Victoria Street Train Station, Translink has planned a day of activities with something for everyone to enjoy starting from 8am on Friday, 10th May.
Anyone travelling from Great Victoria Street Station that day will receive a free commemorative ticket (subject to availability) and Translink has published a limited-edition special booklet outlining the history of the station.
Trains run as normal on May 10th with the last train to ever leave the station scheduled for just after half eleven (11.32pm) to Bangor likely to be popular with rail enthusiasts and historians so Translink is advising passengers to allow a little extra time to purchase tickets.
Hilton Parr, Head of Rail Customer Services, Translink, who started at the company the year the current Great Victoria Street Train Station opened in 1995 said:
“We have a packed programme of activity to mark the end of this era in the station’s history. Throughout the day there will be schools’ workshops for local pupils, musical interludes from the Translink Choir and City of Belfast Youth Orchestra, a Cool FM Roadshow and presentations showing the history of the station in images.
“With lots of changes coming including a new rail timetable from Saturday 11th May, we are encouraging passengers to come along and be part of history as we mark the closing of this facility that has been serving the community for almost 30 years but also, to come and learn more about the exciting world class integrated station due to open this autumn.
“Great Victoria Street has been a key rail station for the region for some 185 years since first opening in 1839. It played a significant role in several key moments in history including both World Wars, facilitating ambulance trains in the first and American troops in training for D-Day during the second.
“Since1995 when it reopened, thousands of passengers have travelled through every day for work, education, leisure, nights out, getting to health appointments and much more. During this special day we want to surprise and delight our passengers, recognise our staff, many of whom started their careers at the station and engage the community capturing all the nostalgia of the occasion and making this a memorable day for all.”
Great Victoria Street station is closing to make way for Belfast Grand Central Station which is set to open this autumn. As the largest integrated transport hub on the island of Ireland, it will significantly increase both rail and bus capacity and the ability to have more services for passengers travelling to destinations across Northern Ireland and beyond.
The Europa Buscentre currently remains open.
