Department for Infrastructure scales back Glider expansion

The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) has reduced its ambition to connect north and south Belfast under Belfast Rapid Transit Phase 2 (BRT2).

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins MLA told the Assembly Chamber on 25 February 2025 that the plans will have to be scaled back because of insufficient funding.

Kimmins asserted that the extension to Carryduff “is not economically viable at this time”, indicating that “further development on this route is needed in order for this to become an option in the future”.

The Minister added that the proposed extension to Glengormley “is not feasible at this time”, claiming that this is because of insufficient funding and a pending public realm scheme planned for Glengormley. She told the Assembly that DfI would explore alternative options. In 2022, DfI outlined BRT2’s aim to connect north and south Belfast with a Glider route called G2 by September 2027. BRT2 is aimed at building on the city’s Glider network – which already includes the G1 route rolled out under BRT1 in 2018 to connect east and west Belfast.

At the time of the 2022 announcement, then-Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd MLA outlined DfI’s aim to connect the Antrim Road in the north of the city with the Ormeau and Saintfield roads in the south. O’Dowd said the route would extend from Glengormley to Carryduff, pending its approval during the design stage.

Next steps

Along with announcing reduced ambitions for the project, Minister Kimmins outlined the next steps for BRT2. Previous statements from DfI indicate that the project may be delivered by 2030. One of DfI’s aims is to extend G2 to connect with Queen’s University and the City Hospital.

DfI has ambitions to trial four EV gliders on the G1 route which would free up vehicles in operation on this route to enable the G2 extension. DfI also aims to introduce bus priority measures from Clifton Street to Innisfayle Park in the north, along with the Antrim Road to Ormeau Road and Park Road in the south.

Installation of a park and ride on the O’Neill Road has been outlined in the plans along with aims to improve connections for the Belfast Cycle Network through construction of the Bankmore Link. This would connect Grand Central Station and the new Lagan Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge once completed. DfI hopes to deliver it by 2026 at a cost of £24.5 million.

Funding

BRT2 is estimated to cost between £142 million and £148 million, but only £48 million has been secured. The project is being delivered under the Belfast Region City Deal, an investment programme delivered through collaboration between local councils, the Northern Ireland Executive, and the UK Government. Partners of the initiative provided £35 million for the project while DfI has provided £13 million. Minister Kimmins told the Assembly the O’Neill Road park and ride would be installed using these funds.
Minister Kimmins said her department has “developed options to maximise the benefits from the available funding”. Delivery of BRT2 remains subject to the approval of the Outline Business Case which DfI said is at “an advanced stage”.

Aims of the project

Ostensibly, BRT2 is being delivered to help Northern Ireland meet its 2050 targets of net zero carbon emissions. It aims to do this by reducing the number of people using private cars while improving air quality, reducing traffic congestion, and improving road safety by introducing more Glider buses.

DfI insists: “Glider has helped to support sustainable economic growth and regeneration, and has helped to integrate communities though linking people to jobs, shops, leisure, health, and educational services.”

SDLP MLA and leader of the opposition Matthew O’Toole criticised the plan: “The Minister’s announcement this morning is deeply disappointing for those living in Carryduff and right across south Belfast. Carryduff is a growing area of nearly 10,000 people, and anyone who travels along the Saintfield Road regularly already know it is struggling to cope and needs a fast, frequent, and reliable public transport alternative.

“The Minister’s admission that she does not expect the scheme, even in its truncated form, to be completed until 2030 is a damning indictment of the lack of urgency in the Executive to deliver. With an outline business case that has been ‘nearing completion’ since 2022 and no effort made to make up the funding shortfall of £110 million, Sinn Féin ministers continue to gaslight people in Belfast about delivery of this critical scheme.”

“It is shameful to see Ministers and other Executive party representatives trumpet this announcement as ‘progress’ when it is exactly the opposite.”