The Belfast Glider is a cross-city Bus Rapid Transit system serving 2 dedicated corridors stretching from West to East Belfast, and a short service into the Titanic Quarter. The Glider delivers a higher standard of service than the existing Belfast Metro network.

Belfast Glider lines and network map

The Glider network consists of 2 lines, both branded in purple and numbered “G1” and “G2” respectively. Both lines interchange with each other at their shared stops in Belfast City Centre. Note that there are no direct connections from Belfast Grand Central to the Glider. The station is an approximately 11 minutes’ walk from the College Square East Glider stop.

Line G1 runs from McKinstry Road in West Belfast, through the city centre via Donegall Square North, pass the Waterfront, and continues on to East Belfast and terminates at the Dundonald Park and Ride.

Key locations served by the G1: Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast City Hall, Custom House Square (for Laganside Bus Centre), Belfast Lanyon Place station, Stormont (for the NI Assembly), and the Ulster Hospital.

Line G2 runs from Donegall Square North, pass the Waterfront, and onwards to the Titanic Quarter. This much shorter line is useful if you are visiting, working and/or living at the Titanic Quarter.

Key locations served by the G2: Belfast City Hall, Custom House Square (for Laganside Bus Centre), and the Titanic Belfast.

Belfast Glider stops

The Belfast Glider stops at specially built, distinctive dark-grey stands.

Every Glider stand is equipped with a ticket machine, a travel card validator, seating, and a screen showing next bus times. Transfers between Glider, Ulsterbus, and Metro services are available at Glider stops also served by the Ulsterbus and Metro.

Belfast Glider city centre stops

Both lines G1 and G2 converge at Belfast city centre via uni-directional loops around the City Hall area.

Eastwards bound travel: G1 & G2 at Wellington Place, Chichester Street, and Custom House Square stops; G1 only at Waterfront stop.

Westwards bound travel: G1 & G2 at May Street (St George’s Market) and May Street (City Hall) stops; G1 only at Glengall Street East.

How to buy Belfast Glider tickets?

The Glider uses an off-bus ticketing system, i.e you have to buy your tickets before you travel. Here’s how to buy tickets for the Glider:

• Paying cash at the ticket machines (for Single and Day tickets);
• Paying via contactless cards at the ticket machines (for Single and Day tickets);
• Buying a ticket via Translink’s mLink app (for Single and Day tickets); and
• Travel with a travel card (yLink, iLink, dayLink, Smartlink).

Discounted Tickets and Travel Cards on the Glider

If you’re using an mLink ticket on the app, remember to purchase and activate it before boarding, and to show it to ticket inspectors when requested.

If you’re using your yLink card for discounted travel, insert your yLink card in the ticket machine’s travel card slot before paying for the ticket with cash or contactless.

If you’re travelling with an iLink, dayLink, or a Smartlink card, tap on the reader to check its validity before boarding. These travel cards can also be topped up at the ticket machines, but cannot be purchased on the machines.

All Glider tickets must be valid at the time of travel. Travel card users can check their cards’ validity at dedicated readers located at each stop. Ticket inspectors are occasionally present onboard Glider buses to ensure you have a valid ticket.

Frequencies and schedules

The Glider runs on a scheduled frequency averaging between 9 to 10 minutes during most of the day, while waits are typically longer in the early mornings and at night. Line G2 in particular tends to have longer waiting times than G1 towards the end of the day.

All Glider timetables are available on the Translink website, and each Glider stop displays the timetable for the routes servicing the stop in question together with a screen showing the times for the next buses.

Translink journey planner and service updates

There are 2 ways to plan your journey when using Translink services:

• Using Google Maps (Translink shares live data for its buses and trains with Google); or
• Using Translink’s own journey planner app (App Store link), (Google Play link).

Service updates for Glider services are provided by Translink’s Twitter feed. There is also a dedicated Belfast Glider Twitter feed if you want updates for only the purple buses.

How are the Glider buses like?

Both Glider lines use specially designed Van Hool Exquicity 18 articulated low-floor buses. These buses are designed to look like trams / light rail, and even emit the bell sounds typically found on trams. There are 3 pairs of leaf doors on the left side of the bus, allowing for faster boarding and de-boarding than on the Metro and Ulsterbus.

The interior space is optimised for greater passenger loads and accessibility. There is high-backed seating (both forwards and backwards facing), longitudinal seating (like those on metro trains), grab handles for standing passengers, as well as space for wheelchair-bound passengers. Unfortunately you can sometimes find litter on the floors at the end of the day.

Glider buses are also equipped with an onboard information screen that display the next stops alongside an audio system that reads them out. A bit of an upgrade compared to existing Metro buses and the Ulsterbus.

External Links

• Translink website;
• Timetables page on Translink website (type in your stop name or route number).