Warm welcome for new £1m bus station

The project has been funded by the Department for Regional Development and based at Kenlis Street will enhance local bus facilities and support the growing demand on transport infrastructure.

It will provide a more comfortable waiting environment for customers, featuring, four new bus bays, covered bus stands with seating, a ticket and information kiosk, a small passenger waiting facility and attractive landscaping.

The bus facility will provide Banbridge and wider local community with improved bus facilities and enhanced travel experience and will accommodate up to four buses off street helping to reduce congestion on the main Banbridge throughway at peak times.

Translink Service Delivery Manager for the area, Gary Mawhinney said: “We are delighted to have opened this new bus station on schedule for our local passengers.

“The new station offers enhanced, comfortable waiting facilities for passengers and visitors to the town and is major investment and addition to the town’s local infrastructure.

“We are getting some great feedback from our customers already and as we see more and more people using our Goldline coach services we hope this new station will make our services even more attractive to encourage more people to make the bus their first choice of travel.”

The current passenger facility at Newry Street will close and all ticket information and services will operate from the new station.

Ulster Unionist Assembly Candidate Jo-Anne Dobson welcomed the new Banbridge bus station.

Mrs Dobson, earlier this year joined the Transport Minister Michelle McIlveen MLA for an on-site visit ahead of the completion of the new facility, said: “I am absolutely delighted that our new facility is now in operation - this has been a long day coming for the people of Banbridge.

“I commend the previous Transport Minister Danny Kennedy for instigating the project and the current Minister Michelle McIlveen for hosting a hard-hat tour of the facility as the construction phase got underway.

“This facility will improve the transport infrastructure bringing benefits for residents, children, businesses and visitors.”