Belfast Rapid Transport

The Belfast Rapid Transit (BRT)^[1] is a bus rapid transit system in Belfast, Northern Ireland, designed to improve the efficiency of mass transit in the city by connecting East and West Belfast and the Titanic Quarter via the city centre. The service is operated by Translink under the name Glider^[2]

There are two routes, G1 and G2. The busways total 15.2 miles (24.5 km) in length and consist of both dedicated bus lanes and mixed traffic lanes. Constructed at a cost of approximately £100m of public funds.^[3] It operates a fleet of 18m-long Van Hool ExquiCity articulated buses. The first services of the day commence at 5:21am, and the final services commence at 11:06pm. Services operate on a 10 minute interval, reducing to 5-8 minutes at peak times.^[4][5]

BRT Vehicles

The vehicles are Van Hool ExquiCity 18 articulated buses of a light tram design with three doors and approximately 18 metres in length. The interior is a mixture of seating and standing, free WI-FI, real-time visual and audible information and CCTV to ensure safety. The diesel hybrid electrical engines emit a low level of pollution and noise complying with environmental concerns. In October, 2017, the specific vehicle, called the Glider, was unveiled at the Busworld Europe exhibition in Belgium.^[6]

Runways, Halts and interchanges

The road width on the bus routes, which incorporate bus lanes and mixed traffic lanes, is designed with a minimum width of 12 metres, with each individual runway a minimum 3 metres wide. BRT vehicles share these runways with Ulsterbus and Metro buses along with Black Taxis and cyclists.

Halts^[7] along each route are approximately 400 metres apart compared to previous bus stops which were 150-250 metres apart. Halts are 18 metres as standard but may be extended to 30 metres to allow simultaneous docking of BRT, Metro and Ulsterbus vehicles. Each halt has Kessel kerbs that allow BRT vehicles to dock correctly and align with the footpath to ensure quick and safe boarding and alighting. BRT vehicles on the G1, previously EWAY, route operate between Dundonald interchange ^[8] on Dunlady road which operates as a park & ride and can facilitate up to 520 vehicles. G1 route runs through the city centre and continues to terminate at Mc Kinistry Roundabout on the Stewartstown Road, previously known as the WWAY route.^[9] This however may be a temporary measure as there has been a proposal to construct a terminal point at the Dairyfarm shopping centre. The G2 route operates from Titanic Quarter to the city centre.^[10] in the plans to regenerate the surrounding area in the town land named Colin.^[11]

Bus Lanes

Bus lanes along Glider routes operate from 7:00 to 19:00 on Monday to Saturday. The Department for Infrastructure introduced the lanes in advance of Glider services commencing. 12 hour bus lanes were introduced on 23 July 2018 in west Belfast, 30 July in East Belfast and on 6 August in the Titanic Quarter on 6 August. City bound bus lanes were suspended in Titanic Quarter on 21 August following severe congestion. ^[12][13]

Routes

The routes were rebranded for launch on 3 September 2018. The G1 service combining the planned EWAY and WWAY routes with vehicles running between McKinstry roundabout and Dundonald via the city centre. The G2 service covers the CITI route between Titanic Quarter and city centre^[14]

History

Belfast public transit began with the introduction of Trams in 1905, which were superseded by trolley buses in 1938; both were operated by the Belfast Corporation Tramways. The 1967 Transport Act created a public corporation, the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company, to oversee public transport. A Regional Development Strategy document was created, leading to the more specific Regional Transport Strategy and the Belfast Metropolitan Transport Plan. To further this plan, the BRT project was undertaken, overseen by the Department for Regional Development, as an extension of the public transport system in Northern Ireland, which in 2016 operates under the name Translink, a collaboration of three companies Citybus (Metro), Ulsterbus and Northern Ireland Railways.

In 2014 the first construction began on the transit system,^[24] and by 2015 several sections were partially built.^[25]

In December 2015, the Northern Ireland Executive confirmed that the project would go ahead as planned.^[26] In 2016, the government continued to give progress updates and detailed information about routes and vehicles.^[27]

The Upper Newtownards road bus lane was under construction in 2015 and was expected to be in operation by August, with fines given out to motorists who drove in the lane.^[28] However, in June 2016 announcements were still being made of the impending opening of this section.^[29]

Several more sections were completed in 2016, and work was begun in 2017 on the west Belfast transit hub which will be part of the system.^[30]

Because of budget restrictions, the opening of the system was delayed until 2018.^[31] Government officials attributed the delay to budget restrictions.^[32]

Trial services carrying paying passengers commenced on 28 August 2018 prior to full service commencing 3 September 2018.^[33]

References

External links

• "Belfast Rapid Transit".
• Translink
• "Home Page - Department for Regional Development".
• Translink. "NI Railways - Translink".