We’re all starting to move around a lot more than we have done in the past year, with the opening of outdoor hospitality and non-essential retail meaning many of us are relying on public transport to get us in and out of the city centre.
This means buses, trains, and Gliders may start to become busier than they have been in recent months, making it more and more important to be prepared.
Described as a “tram on wheels”, Translink’s Glider service – which first launched in late 2018 – is a smooth and effortless way to travel around the city.
Routes currently run from East to West Belfast and to Titanic Quarter through the city centre, however, there are plans to extend the routes to the North and South of the city too.
Here’s the essentials you need to know before you Glide across Belfast:
Glider routes in Belfast
The Glider service currently operates from East to West Belfast, travelling through the city centre.
They’re currently divided into two routes: Glider G1 and Glider G2.
The G1 service runs between East and West Belfast, while the G2 connects Belfast City Centre to the Titanic Quarter.
City centre G1 services eastbound pick up at Wellington Place, Chichester Street, and Custom House Square.
G1 services pick up at May Street (St George’s Market), May Street (City Hall), and College Square East.
The full list of G1 westbound stops are:
- Royal Hospital
- Children’s Hospital
- Beechmount
- Beechview Park
- City Cemetery
- Falls Park
- Kennedy Centre
- Beech Hall
- Fruithill Park
- Casement Park
- Slievegallion Drive
- Shaws Road
- St Genevieve’s
- Lenadoon Avenue
- Woodbourne
- Glengoland
- Upper Dunmurry Lane
- Colin Connect
- Twinbrook Road
- Lagmore Avenue
- McKinstry Road
The full list of G1 eastbound stops are:
- Lanyon Place
- Short Strand
- Templemore Avenue
- Avoniel
- Connswater
- Holywood Arches
- Beersbridge Road
- Oakland Avenue
- North Road
- Ballyhackamore
- Astoria Gardens
- Greenwood Park
- Knock Road
- Cabin Hill
- Stormont
- Summerhill Avenue
- Rosepark
- Comber Road
- Ulster Hospital
- Cherryhill
- Dundonald Park & Ride
Translink Metro runs a bus service from the Colin and Dundonald Glider halts to nearby residential areas.
Route for the Glider G2 service
Glider G2 services connect Belfast city centre to the Titanic Quarter. This service picks up in town at May Street (St George’s Market), May Street (City Hall), Wellington Place, Chichester Street, and Custom House Square.
From these stops, the route to Titanic Quarter is:
- Odyssey
- Titanic
- Thompson Dry Dock
- Catalyst Inc
Belfast Glider timetables
A general rule of thumb is that the Glider arrives every 7 to 8 minutes at each halt.
How much are tickets for the Glider?
For services on Metro and Ulsterbus, you can pay for your ticket on the bus. However, if you’re travelling by Glider it’s important to be prepared and give yourself enough time as tickets must be purchased before boarding.
There are ticket machines at every Glider halt, and tickets can also be bought in advance on the mLink mobile app.
Smartcards can also be used on the Glider, by validating your card at one of the validators at every halt. The screen will change to green, display a tick, and make a sound to let you know your Smartcard has been validated and you’re good to go.
The mLink app allows you to buy tickets for Metro and Glider services. Using the app gives you a cheaper price for services than paying in cash.
An mLink adult day ticket for the Glider is £2.80, and this is valid for travel across the Metro and Glider network for a full day.
Without the mLink app, a day ticket can cost £3 at off-peak times (after 9.30am) and £3.50 at peak times.
Single tickets can now also be purchased on the mLink app – with prices ranging from £1.40 if you’re travelling within the City Zone, £1.60 for the Extended Zone, and £1 for the Inner Zone.
If you’re buying an adult single in cash, it will cost £2.10 in the City Zone, £2.50 for the Extended Zone, and £1.60 for the Inner Zone.
So, buying a Glider ticket on the mLink app gives you the best value for money, with savings of over £1 for both single and day tickets.
