York Street: New train station opens in north Belfast

The new station, called York Street, has replaced the existing Yorkgate halt

A new train station has opened in north Belfast.

The existing Yorkgate halt has been replaced by a station built beside it called York Street.

The transfer of services began on Sunday and the new station, which cost more than £17m, is now fully operational.

Speaking at the opening ceremony on Monday, Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd said the station will "drive economic development in this area".

"It will assist in our challenge to get more and more people out of their car and into public transport," he said.

Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd officially opened the new station on Monday

The new site is marked by a large, colourful piece of public art. Based on the theme of journey lines, the multi-coloured sculpture tries to capture the spirit of connectivity.

The station is close to the Cityside retail park, and the new Ulster University campus in Belfast.

Translink say they hope the new station will help the regeneration of the area.

It has more modern facilities including a café, escalator, touch-screen ticket machines and a new passenger foot-bridge between platforms.

The station has a café, escalator and touch-screen ticket machines

The project has been funded by the Department for Infrastructure.

The old station catered for around half a million passenger journeys a year. Translink hope better facilities and improved accessibility will boost numbers.

Grand Central Station

Later this year, a new transport hub is due to open in the centre of Belfast.

Grand Central Station will have 26 bus stands and eight railway platforms as well as facilities for bicycles and taxis.

It has been built on land behind Great Victoria Street rail station, which will cease train services on 10 May.

The Belfast-Dublin train will operate out of the new city centre station, rather than its current base at Lanyon Station.

It emerged earlier this month that the cost of the new transport has risen to £340m.

Once complete, it will be the largest integrated transport hub on the island of Ireland.

If all goes according to plan, passengers should be able to use the new station by October or November this year.