Rail services

Find out about available Translink services, your rights and what to do if your train is cancelled or delayed.

Train operators and onboard services

Translink Northern Ireland Railways operates scheduled rail services in Northern Ireland serving the following routes: Belfast – Bangor; Belfast – Larne Harbour; Belfast – Coleraine – Londonderry; Belfast – Portadown – Newry. All lines offer a combination of express services and trains that stop at each halt and station, with up to 7 trains operating per hour at peak times on key commuter lines. An overview of rail services follows:

• Translink NI Railways journey planner
• NI Railways timetables
• NI Railways fares

The flagship cross-border Enterprise Service links Belfast and Dublin by rail and is jointly operated between Translink NI Railways and Iarnród Éireann. It provides 8 services in each direction Monday to Saturday and 5 in each direction on Sundays.

• Translink NI Railways journey planner
• Enterprise timetables
• Enterprise fares

Buying tickets

There is a variety of ticket options available, depending on when and where you want to travel and how flexible you can be.

You can purchase your ticket at the rail station when boarding, there are some tickets that can be purchased online or you can use the mlink mobile phone app.

• Ticket types
• mlink app for moble phones
• iLink Smartcard
• Annual Commuter Travelcards
• Commuter tickets
• Visitors

Your rights

Translink is the brand name of the integrated public transport operation of Metro, NI Railways, and Ulsterbus. The three operating companies have retained their legal status.

The organisation is now one of Northern Ireland's largest employers with approximately 4,000 employees and a turnover in excess of £168m. Over 75 million passenger journeys are made on Translink services each year.

It aims to provide co-ordinated bus and rail services which people are satisfied with and have confidence in. Translink wants the service to be recognised for its high quality.

Find out more from Translink:

• Passenger’s Charter (Translink website)

Delays and cancellations

NI Railways now operate the Delay-Repay Scheme which represents a fairer way to compensate passengers across the local network when things go wrong.

• Delay-Repay - find out more

Luggage

You are responsible for your own luggage, and train companies are not normally liable for lost or damaged luggage unless caused by the neglect of the company or its staff.

• Lost property enquiries

Getting advice

Passenger Focus, formerly Rail Passenger Council, is an independent public body created to protect the interests of Britain's rail passengers.

It campaigns for improvements, provides practical advice and offers assistance in resolving complaints. It deals with three key areas:

• fares and tickets
• quality and level of services
• investment in the railway.