Belfast’s Grand Central station will have eight drop-off spots and a five-space black taxi rank for all of the station’s 8 million passengers when the next phase of the project opens on Saturday, The Irish News can reveal.
The spaces are set to be part of the new Boyne Bridge Place, a section of Durham Street which is due to reopen in the coming days.
On Monday, the transport operator announced that Durham Street and Boyne Bridge Place will reopen from 8am on Saturday, November 29, in time for the “busy festive period”.
When the stretch re-opens it will mean that the station, which has been in operation since September last year, will have increased drop-off and pick-up points for the first time.
There will be eight general drop-off spots in total, five on the western side of the station and three on the eastern half of the new transport hub.
These eight spots will be used for the general public who wish to drop off passengers at the station and also for taxi companies setting passengers down.
The Irish News understands a 10 minute waiting restriction will be in place in the general drop-off areas for taxi companies.
Separately, there will be five spaces in total on a taxi rank for black taxis, similar to the system operated next to Belfast City Hall.
There will be three rank spots on the western side of the station, with a further two slots to the east of the building.
However, the taxi rank will not be available for use by private hire taxi firms such as Value Cabs and Fonacab.
The increased drop-off points will ease access to the station for passengers but some say there are too few spots given the passenger numbers using the facility each day.
The £340 million station is designed to handle 20 million passengers per year and more than 8 million passed through it in its first 12 months.
This equates to roughly 22,000 passengers per day.
West Belfast MLA Gerry Carroll told The Irish News: “Given that Grand Central is Ireland’s largest transport hub, adequate drop-off infrastructure shouldn’t be too much to ask.
“The current lack of any drop-off facilities is causing havoc on the Grosvenor Road, for both pedestrians and drivers. Failing to provide enough space for vehicles to safely drop passengers off at the station will do little to solve the problem.
“To encourage more people to use public transport, the Department must make train and bus stations modern, fit for purpose and easily accessible for all who use them.”
Fonacab’s Stephen Anton said he isn’t surprised by the number of spaces at the station.
“Translink, as a public transport provider, have a mandate to ensure they use sustainable ways of getting to and from the station,” he said.
“They have targets to reach on these things, and I’m sure they have met those obligations with what they have done, with a nod to directing people towards public transport.
“As long as there is an area which is safe and secure for passengers to enter or exit the taxi, we’ll be happy.”
