UK Information
Joined: 21 Oct 2006
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 Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 7:10 am Post subject: GETTING AROUND IN UK (NORTHERN IRELAND) |
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GETTING AROUND IN UK (NORTHERN IRELAND)
AIR
Main airports: Belfast International Airport (BFS) (tel: (028) 9448 4848; website: www.belfastairport.com) is located 29km (18 miles) northwest of Belfast city centre. Facilities: Bureau de change, ATMs, shops and restaurants. There is also an executive lounge at the airport, which costs £9.50-12 to use, depending on your carrier.
To/from the airport:
Train: There is at present no direct rail link to Belfast International Airport, but trains run from Londonderry (Derry), Lisburn and Belfast to Antrim (10km/6 miles away) from where a taxi may be hired, or a shuttle bus can be taken to the airport. Trains to and from Dublin are via Belfast Central Station, which has its own Airbus stop. A rail timetable is on display at the main exit from the terminal.
Bus: Airbus runs to the city centre Mon to Fri every 20 to 30 minutes, Sat every 30 minutes and Sun every 30 to 60 minutes (tel: (028) 9066 6630). The Airporter coaches (tel: (028) 7126 9996) travel to the airport from Londonderry (Derry).
Taxi: Travel time to city centre – 30 minutes. Taxis are available for hire outside the main airport building.
Car hire: Major car hire companies are represented at the airport.
Private car: The M1 provides the main link with Fermanagh and the west of the Province whilst forming part of the journey to and from Dublin and the east coast of Ireland. The M2 is the airport’s main link with the centre of Belfast and to Londonderry (Derry), 116km (72 miles) to the northwest. There is nearby car parking for short and long stays. Access is from the M1 and M2 (parking is available) or by train to Antrim and then taxi.
Belfast City Airport (BHD) (tel: (028) 9093 9093; website: www.belfastcityairport.com) at Belfast Harbour is handy for flights to most regional airports. Regular train and bus services run to the city centre.
SEA
Main ports: Belfast. When traveling via Great Britain to Northern Ireland there is a choice of several services across the Irish Sea: P&O Irish Sea (tel: (0870) 242 4777; website: www.poirishsea.com) offers frequent daily services between Cairnryan (southern Scotland) to Larne (travel time – one hour 45 minutes), and a summer service between Troon and Larne (travel time – one hour 49 minutes); Stena Line (tel: (08705) 707 070; website: www.stenaline.co.uk) operates frequent daily services between Stranraer (southern Scotland) and Belfast (travel time – one hour 45 minutes) and services between Fleetwood and Larne (travel time – eight hours). An overnight service and daily services are offered on the Liverpool to Belfast route and Liverpool to Dublin route by Norse Merchant Ferries (travel time – eight hours; tel: (0870) 600 4321; website: www.norsemerchant.com). The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company (tel: (08705) 523 523 or (01624) 645 620; website: www.steam-packet.com) runs a seacat crossing from Douglas (Isle of Man) to Belfast (travel time – two hours and 45 minutes). Irish Ferries operates services from Great Britain to the Republic of Ireland, including a service between Rosslare and Pembroke (travel time – three hours 45 minutes) and a service between Dublin and Holyhead (travel time – one hour 49 minutes). Irish Ferries (tel: (08705) 171 717; website: www.irishferries.com) also operates between Cherbourg, Roscoff and Rosslare (approximate travel time – 19 hours). Brittany Ferries operates the Roscoff–Cork route with one departure per week in each direction from March to early November only (travel time – 14 hours). For more information, contact Brittany Ferries in Cork (tel: (00353) 2142 77801; website: www.brittanyferries.com). Northern Ireland’s only inhabited island is Rathlin, a few kilometers off the north coast. Caledonian MacBrayne (tel: (08705) 650 000; website: www.calmac.co.uk) operates regular services between Ballycastle and Rathlin.
RAIL
There are four main rail routes from Belfast Central Station: north to Londonderry via Ballymena and Coleraine; north east to the port of Larne; east to Bangor along the shores of Belfast Lough; south to Dublin, in the Irish Republic, via Newry. The Belfast–Dublin non-stop express takes approximately two hours. There are eight trains daily in both directions (only five on Sunday). The busiest times are holiday weekends and the first and last trains on Friday and Sunday, when it is best to reserve seats. Freedom of Northern Ireland passes are available for unlimited travel on trains and buses (costing £13 for one day; £32 for three days and £47 for seven days, to be used within eight days of purchase) and are available from main Northern Ireland railway stations. For information on timetables for all rail services, contact Translink (tel: (028) 9066 6630; website: www.translink.co.uk).
BUS
Northern Ireland has an excellent bus network and there are particularly good bus links between those towns which are not served by rail. Translink operates both Metro, which provides services in Belfast, and Ulsterbus, which is responsible for all other services in Northern Ireland. Belfast has three main bus stations: Europa Buscentre at Great Victoria Street, Laganside Buscentre and Newtonabbey. Centerlink provides a link between Belfast’s principal rail and bus stations, as well as main shopping centres and the Waterfront Hall. Metro operates over 12 high-frequency arterial routes, as well as branch routes in and around the capital, and eight nightlink services that depart from Donegal Square West, Sun 0100-0200. Ulsterbus operates a comprehensive network of services across the rest of the country, including some scenic routes such as the Antrim Coaster (Belfast–Antrim Coast–Portrush–Coleraine), the Lakeland Express (Enniskillen–Belfast) and the Orchard Express (Belfast–Portadown–Armagh). For more information on any of these services, timetables or prices, contact Translink (tel: (028) 9066 6630; website: www.translink.co.uk).
TAXI
Available at main stations, ports and Belfast Airport and are also bookable by telephone in larger towns and cities.
CAR RENTAL
The main firms operate in Northern Ireland and have desks at Belfast International Airport with cars available on the spot. There is also a host of smaller firms. |
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