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| Northern
Ireland Travel - International |
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| AIR |
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There are frequent direct
flights to Belfast from London’s Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton
and Stansted airports as well as other major regional UK airports.
Airlines that serve Northern Ireland from the UK include BMI
British Midland, British Airways, EasyJet
and RyanAir.
From North America, Aer Lingus operates flights
from Boston and New York to Shannon
and Dublin. Other major airlines operate services
from the USA and Canada to Belfast via London, Glasgow and Manchester.
There are also direct charter flights from Toronto to
Belfast.
Belfast
International Airport (BFS): Located 29km (18 miles) northwest
of Belfast city centre. Airport information: tel: (028) 9448 4848.
Departure tax: None
Facilities
The facilities include bureau de change, ATMs, duty-free and general
shops, a variety of catering facilities including an international
food court, bar and coffee shop, nursing mothers’ room, facilities
for the disabled, children’s play area, and emergency medical
services.
There is also an executive lounge at the airport, which costs £6-12
to use, depending on your carrier.
Transport
Train
There is at present no direct rail link to Belfast International
Airport, but trains run from Londonderry (Derry), Coleraine, Portrush,
Ballymoney, Ballymena 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. There are eight services running daily from Monday
to Friday. 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 (Ulsterbus) runs to the city centre Mon-Sat every 40 minutes
and Sun every 30-60 minutes (tel: (028) 9066 6630). Airporter Derrydirect
coaches (tel: (028) 7126 9996) travel to the airport from Londonderry
(Derry). Taxi: Travel time to city centre – 25 minutes.
Taxis
Taxis are available for hire outside the main airport building.
Fares are displayed at the exit from the terminal or are available
from the information desk.
Car
hire
Avis, Budget, Cosmo Thrifty, Dan Dooley, Europcar, Hertz and National
Car Rental 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.
Car
Parking
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.
The small 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. |
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| SEA |
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In addition to conventional
ferry crossings, many ferry companies now offer high-speed services
as well as upgraded, state-of-the-art craft on many Irish Sea routes.
Fares will vary by season and promotional offers are available.
Routes from Britain and France include:
From England:
Liverpool - Belfast (Northern Ireland, travel time 7 hours and 30
minutes) Norse Merchant Ferries tel: (028) 9077 9090).
Fleetwood–Larne (Northern Ireland, travel time – 8 hours)
P&O Irish Sea
From the
Isle of Man:
Douglas–Belfast (Northern Ireland, travel time – 2 hours
45 minutes)
Heysham - Belfast (travel time – 4 hours) by the Isle of Man
Steam Packet Company’s Seacat.
From Scotland:
Cairnryan–Larne (Northern Ireland, travel time – 1 hour
on fast ferries and 1 hour 45 minutes on conventional ferries)
Troon–Belfast (Northern Ireland, travel time – 2 hours
35 minutes)
Troon and Larne (travel time – 4 hours)
Stranraer–Belfast (travel time – 1 hour 45 minutes on
fast ferries and 3 hours 15 minutes on conventional ferries)
From Wales:
Fishguard–Rosslare (travel time – 1 hour 39 minutes
on fast ferries and 3 hours 30 minutes on conventional ferries)
Pembroke–Rosslare (travel time – 3 hours 45 minutes).
From France:
Irish Ferries operate at least four direct ferry crossings a day
between France and Ireland. The routes are:
Cherbourg–Rosslare (travel time – 19 hours)
Roscoff–Rosslare (travel time – 18 hours)
Other:
Northern Ireland’s only inhabited island is Rathlin, a few
kilometres off the north coast. There are frequent passenger boats
between Ballycastle and the island. At peak holiday times a sailing/regulation
ticket is required as well as a travel ticket. Check when booking.
It is always advisable to book a return journey before leaving home
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| RAIL |
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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 2
hours. There are eight trains daily in both directions (only five
Sunday). The busiest times are holiday weekends and the first and
last trains Friday and Sunday, when it is best to reserve seats.
Passes
Freedom of Northern Ireland passes are available for unlimited travel
on trains and buses (costing £12 for 1 day; £30 for
3 days and £45 for 7 days, to be used within 8 days of purchase)
and are available from main Northern Ireland railway stations. For
information on timetables for all rail services, contact Translink
for Northern Ireland Railways Information Centre, Central Station,
East Bridge Street, Belfast BT1 3PB (tel: (028) 9066 6630). |
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| ROAD |
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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 Citylink, which provides services in Belfast,
and Ulsterbus, which is responsible for all other services in Northern
Ireland.
Belfast has three main bus stations: Great Victoria Street,
Laganside and Newtonabbey. Centrelink
buses (service 100) provide links between Belfast’s principal
rail and bus stations as well as main shopping centres and the Waterfront
Hall. In total, Citybus operates over 60 different routes in and
around the capital, including two express services between Glengormley
and Newtonabbey and the centre, and eight nightlink services that
depart from Donegal Square West, Fri-Sat 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).
Traffic
regulations
Traffic drives on the left. The speed limit is
30mph (48kph) in towns and cities unless signs show 40mph (64kph)
or 50mph (80kph). On country roads the limit is 60mph (96kph); on
dual carriageways, trunk roads and motorways 70mph (112kph) unless
signs show otherwise.
Breakdowns
If the car is rented, contact the rental company. Members of the
continental equivalent of the Automobile Association (AA) (tel:
(0800) 887 766) can contact their 24-hour breakdown service. The
Royal Automobile Club (RAC) (tel: (0800) 828 282) provides a similar
service. They can be contacted from their roadside phones or from
any call box. Non-members should consult the Yellow Pages for breakdown
services.
Parking
Parking is permitted where there is a blue ‘P’ sign,
which indicates a car park in towns or a lay-by at the roadside
outside towns. Drivers can park elsewhere on the street except when
there is a single yellow line, when parking is permitted only at
the times shown on the yellow signs nearby; or when there is a double
yellow line which prohibits all parking. Control Zones, which are
usually in town centres, are indicated by yellow signs ‘Control
Zone. No Unattended Parking’. An unattended car in a Control
Zone is treated as a security risk. Never park on zigzag markings
near pedestrian crossings. In some towns the centre may be sealed
off at certain times, particularly overnight. Alternative routes
will be signposted.
Taxi
Available at main stations, ports and Belfast Airport and are also
bookable by telephone in larger towns and cities.
Car
hire
The main firms – Avis, Europcar and Hertz - all 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. |
| Useful travel links |
| AA
route planner |
directions
and maps within Northern Ireland |
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