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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Shauna Corr

Glider Belfast: Transport bosses working through 1,200 responses on North and South expansion

Transport chiefs are making their way through 1,200 responses to their Glider expansion plans for North and South Belfast.

And when that work is finished a full report on the detail of those responses will be published.

Plans to extend the service to the north and south of the city were revealed in a series of public meetings in September, with a public consultation on the plans closing on October 4.

Concerns raised at the time included the potential loss of public realm space and the fact it will not link into the new Belfast transport hub while it was also suggested the proposed routes should go all the way to Carryduff and Glengormley given it could be 2027 before the expansion is in place.

Many MLAs were also in agreement on phase two reaching Glengormley and Carryduff when it was debated at the Northern Ireland Assembly in December with Minister Mallon acknowledging "the case being made".

Final routes for the expansion have yet to be decided but the coming Public Consultation Report will contain details of the deliberations on the proposals as well as responses to the suggestions received. A publication date, however, has not yet been made available.

Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon told Belfast Live: "Phase 1 of the Belfast Rapid Transit Glider service has been a hugely transformative project for Belfast, providing a modern, improved public transport experience for people who live, work, socialise and, importantly, visit our city.

"It has also improved connectivity across the east-west corridor in the city and, most importantly, increased the numbers of people using public transport.

"Last year I launched a public consultation to seek views from the public, businesses and stakeholders on a number of potential routes to extend BRT to North and South Belfast," she added.

"I am pleased to say that the consultation attracted a significant response with approximately 1,200 responses being received.

"Departmental officials are currently carefully considering all feedback received and when that process is completed a Public Consultation Report will be published containing details of the deliberations and responses to the suggestions received.

"It is my hope that, when delivered, BRT2 will add to the opportunities and transport choices for people living on the north/south corridor and beyond."

A Translink spokesperson told us the use of zero-emissions Gliders will be considered as part of their work on the Belfast Rapid Transport System expansion to the north and south of the city.

They added: "The introduction of the new North to South routes for Glider Phase 2 (BRT2) will bring the same benefits as the East-West route to people living in the North and South of the City and further improve connectivity across the city and inspire even more people to make public transport their first choice for travel, today, for tomorrow.

"We will work with the Department for Infrastructure to deliver the service along the preferred route when it is announced.

"Use of zero emission vehicles for BRT2 will be considered through the business case process."

But they also said they hope to have transitioned to " a fully net zero fleet by 2040, with more zero emission vehicles, both battery electric and hydrogen, entering service".

"Creating attractive, sustainable public transport will be key to creating a cleaner and healthier city with more people using smarter active travel modes, reducing congestion, pollution and greenhouse gases, key to tackling the climate emergency," they added.

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