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Northern Ireland - redstar - 10/04/2022 21:00

I spent a couple of days up north at the end of March. I visited Derry, Coleraine, Belfast, Newcastle and Newry before crossing the border back to Dundalk and on to Dublin Airport, and home!
Its a very differnt operation to down south and certainly differnt to the North West of England. Translink is state run and operated Ulsterbus throughout the province and Metro in Belfast. Generally buses/ coaches are in good condition and there are currently a lot of new vehicles appearing: Hydrogen and electric double deckers in Belfast, new coaches on Goldliner routes amongst the addtions. Most large towns are provided with high quality bus stations and are integrated with the train service, limited though it is. Sadly paper timetables are a thing of the past and this is particularly an issue in Belfast with its services as I can never remember where buses go..I will explain why again.

First up is the north west. The Foyle Metro fleet in Derry is due to be replaced with an all electric fleet, good, the Versas rattle like hell. I must mention that although there is a bus manufacturer based near Ballymena, Translink have regularly take Solos and Versas from Optare and Enviro 300s, as well as coaches from everyone!

[Image: DSC_0109%20%281280x718%29-L.jpg]
2283 & 2882 NW Transport Hub Derry 30 March 2022 - Foyle Metro buses are an orangey shade of red. Normall Ulsterbuses often appear on Foyle services, in this case on the shuttle to the train station.

[Image: DSC_0041%20%281280x702%29-L.jpg]
1248 & 1287 Derry Bus Station 30 March 2022

[Image: DSC_0020%20%281280x853%29-L.jpg]
1826 NW Transport Hub Derry 30 March 2022

[Image: DSC_0060%20%281280x950%29-L.jpg]
2050 Derry Bus Station 30 March 2022

[Image: DSC_0065%20%281280x974%29-L.jpg]
3180 Derry Bus Station 30 March 2022

[Image: DSC_0133%20%281280x913%29-L.jpg]
2501 Coleraine Station 30 March 2022

More here:
https://transportsceneireland.smugmug.com/BusSceneIreland/BSI-Northwest-March-2022/

RE: Northern Ireland - Metroline1511 - 24/04/2022 05:03

I have only once had a holiday there, in 2018. I plan to go back once these hydrogen and electric buses are in service.

I recognised the bridge in Derry where the Versa is crossing. I enjoyed my ride in the double-deck Caetano coach on route 212.

RE: Northern Ireland - redstar - 27/04/2022 21:06

(24/04/2022 05:03)Metroline1511 Wrote:  I have only once had a holiday there, in 2018. I plan to go back once these hydrogen and electric buses are in service.

I recognised the bridge in Derry where the Versa is crossing. I enjoyed my ride in the double-deck Caetano coach on route 212.

The coaches on the 212 are lovely to travel on. The electrics went into service in Belfast at the end of March, but only a handful are in service so far. Some hydrogen buses are in service on the U2 route - Jordanstown to Queens Uni.

RE: Northern Ireland - Metroline1511 - 30/04/2022 17:58

(27/04/2022 21:06)redstar Wrote:  The coaches on the 212 are lovely to travel on. The electrics went into service in Belfast at the end of March, but only a handful are in service so far. Some hydrogen buses are in service on the U2 route - Jordanstown to Queens Uni.

It could be nice to sample the new stock now. In practice, as I'd like plenty more to be in service by the time I go back, I shall leave it a few months, likely next year now.

RE: Northern Ireland - redstar - 18/05/2022 19:36

I am still trying to sort out my pictures, but here we go:
[Image: DSC_0161%20%281280x830%29-L.jpg]
2914 Donegall Square 30 March 2022

[Image: DSC_0167%20%281280x894%29-L.jpg]
3538 Donegall Square 30 March 2022 - one of the new electrics

[Image: DSC_0174%20%281280x853%29-L.jpg]
807 Donegall Square 30 March 2022

[Image: DSC_0250%20%281280x903%29-L.jpg]
3147 York St 31 March 2022

[Image: 5003%20York%20St%2031%20March%202022%20%...3%29-L.jpg]
5004 York St 31 March 2022 - Should be U2, problem with the destinations on these hydrogen powered buses at the time.

[Image: DSC_0269%20%281280x830%29-L.jpg]
491 York St 31 March 2022

[Image: DSC_0302%20%281280x839%29-L.jpg]
3198 Donegall St 31 March 2022

[Image: DSC_0414%20%281280x806%29-L.jpg]
3209 Donegall Square 31 March 2022

[Image: DSC_0478%20%281280x955%29-L.jpg]
2260 Europa Bus Centre 31 March 2022

Some more here:
https://transportsceneireland.smugmug.com/BusSceneIreland/BSI-Belfast-March-2022/

RE: Northern Ireland - redstar - 01/08/2022 20:26

Took a quick trip to Armagh today. Plenty of new buses in the local fleet.

[Image: DSC_0022%20%281280x825%29-L.jpg]
2534 Armagh Bus Station 1 August 2022

[Image: DSC_0016%20%281280x989%29-L.jpg]
3353 Armagh Bus Station 1 August 2022

https://transportsceneireland.smugmug.com/BusSceneIreland/BSI-August-2022/

RE: Northern Ireland - Metroline1511 - 16/10/2022 09:54

I have read that there are over 100 zero-emission buses now delivered to Northern Ireland.

I've lost track, but is that the current order completed? I'm considering a holiday there next year, but prefer this to be once all those buses are in service.

RE: Northern Ireland - redstar - 17/10/2022 20:53

From my limited knowledge, the Belfast Metro Fleet has received most if not all of its Electroliners and the Hydroliners from Wrights. The Derry/ Londonderry Foyle Metro fleet is due to be replaced with an all electric fleet, but there have been no moves on that yet. They were advertising it as the first UK city to go fully zero emission, time will tell.
Without getting political (never discuss politics and religion!), the lack of a devolved government for the last while has resulted in very few decisions been made. However, the major rebuild of Great Victoria street to provide a new Bus and Train interchange is underway and new intermediate cars for the C4K Train fleet are currenly under delivery.
There is generally constant change in the Translink fleet, so probably best to make a visit in 2023, enjoy the buses, the scenery and the rest!

RE: Northern Ireland - Metroline1511 - 22/10/2022 05:14

(17/10/2022 20:53)redstar Wrote:  From my limited knowledge, the Belfast Metro Fleet has received most if not all of its Electroliners and the Hydroliners from Wrights. The Derry/ Londonderry Foyle Metro fleet is due to be replaced with an all electric fleet, but there have been no moves on that yet. They were advertising it as the first UK city to go fully zero emission, time will tell.
Without getting political (never discuss politics and religion!), the lack of a devolved government for the last while has resulted in very few decisions been made. However, the major rebuild of Great Victoria street to provide a new Bus and Train interchange is underway and new intermediate cars for the C4K Train fleet are currenly under delivery.
There is generally constant change in the Translink fleet, so probably best to make a visit in 2023, enjoy the buses, the scenery and the rest!

So, Belfast seems more "settled" now than the Republic. Maybe I shall at least have a long weekend in Belfast next Spring or early Summer.

RE: Northern Ireland - redstar - 22/10/2022 20:00

(22/10/2022 05:14)Metroline1511 Wrote:  So, Belfast seems more "settled" now than the Republic. Maybe I shall at least have a long weekend in Belfast next Spring or early Summer.

It should be, certainly up to the spring! I know that Translink are getting GB Hawks (Wrights single deckers) but as far as I know they have gone to the Ulsterbus section. Plans are for more Glider routes but nothing definite yet.

Dublin won't settle down buswise until at least 2025, first of the Electroliners have appeared on test, single deckers are somewhere in County Meath in store and who knows what else!