Steer's Involvement in the Development of Grand Central Station, Belfast

Grand Central Station, Belfast’s new multi-modal transport hub, officially opened for bus services on 9 September 2024, with rail services following the next month. This £340m public transport interchange marks a significant transformation in Northern Ireland’s transportation infrastructure, designed to accommodate up to 20 million journeys annually.  

Located behind the older Europa Bus Centre and Great Victoria Street train station, Grand Central is poised to enhance connectivity across Ireland and modernize the passenger experience for both local and cross-border journeys. 

Steer’s Role 

Steer, in collaboration with Grant Thornton, supported the development of the business case for the new Grand Central Station. The project was a major undertaking due to its scale, the anticipated impact on Northern Ireland's public transport network, and the complexities of the proposal. 

Steer’s assessment of the old Europa bus and rail station was that, while well-maintained, it was hindered by several limitations. These included a cramped layout, space constraints for bus and rail operations, and congestion during peak times, which negatively affected both passenger experience and service reliability. The station’s four rail platforms were all on a curve, further complicating operations, and the concourse serving 16 bus stands often became overcrowded, making it difficult for passengers to navigate and for buses to operate efficiently. 

Challenges in Developing the Business Case 

Steer’s support in developing the business case faced several challenges. Public transport interchanges often present a dichotomy of easily identifiable drawbacks and harder-to-quantify benefits. While Grand Central’s new location is slightly further from the city centre than the previous station, it boasts significant improvements, including: 

• Increased Capacity: With eight rail platforms and 26 bus stands, the new station offers a considerable increase in capacity, accommodating future growth of Northern Ireland’s public transport demand. 
• Modern Facilities: The station provides a spacious concourse and facilities expected from a 21st-century transport hub, addressing passenger crowding and operational inefficiencies at the old site. 
• Futureproofing: Grand Central eliminates a critical bottleneck in Belfast’s public transport system, supporting the expansion of both bus and rail services across Northern Ireland, as well as creating a new terminus for the cross-border rail service to Dublin. 

These benefits—enhanced passenger experience, improved operational efficiency, and the station's role in unlocking further growth in the network—were more challenging to quantify but essential for the long-term success of the region’s public transport strategy. 

A Transformational Hub 

Translink, the public transport provider for Northern Ireland, views Grand Central as a transformational project. The project has been lauded for its role not just in improving public transport, particularly in increasing bus and rail service frequencies and improving connectivity between Belfast and Dublin, but also in regenerating a central part of Belfast. By enhancing the connectivity of towns and cities across Northern Ireland, Grand Central Station is a key enabler of regional economic growth and development. 

Conclusion 

Steer’s involvement in the Grand Central project, alongside Grant Thornton, was pivotal in realising the vision for a world-class transport hub in Belfast. The business case Steer helped develop overcame the challenge of quantifying long-term benefits, ultimately supporting a project that will revolutionise public transport in Northern Ireland for decades to come. Grand Central Station stands as a testament to Steer's ability to navigate complex infrastructure projects and deliver powerful solutions that drive measurable outcomes.