I have only started driving the last year so up until the ripe old age of 24 I was at the mercy of…read moreTranslink and Northern Ireland antiquated and completely awful and overpriced public transport system. The train services are ok, but just about. They are massively overpriced, with a return to Belfast costing over £7 and that is just ridiculous. I get a student pass and that comes to £6.80 for a day return. In the winter months there are nearly constant delays and there is never any information given to help you out or let you know what is going on. That and on a quick 30minute journey it is not uncommon to have your ticket checked 3 or 4 times, including at both ends of the station. Ridiculous and an embarassment compared to public transport anywhere else I have ever been in the world.

Back in 1999 Bangor Bus Station used to terrify me, yes that's right I was scared of a building. It…read moredo not know if this was because I was 13 or because it was a cold, dark and had many nooks and crannies for bigger boys to hide. But all that is in the past because in 2001 Bangor opened a brand new Bus and Rail Centre, it even sounds less intimidating. The station now resembles a water park with its ultra marine blue colour schemes and curvaceous roof. Every day I begin my journey to Belfast at Bangor bus station, or should I say rail centre. It boasts a coffee shop, newsagents and booking office which is handy as my 7am routine includes buying a coffee, newspaper and a single visa transaction. That visa transaction always helps to wake me up. A return to Great Victoria street is 7.20 which is outrageous considering the short distance. Despite the accessibility and personality of Bangor's bus stations it does little to console me when I tot up my monthly travel bill.

Helen's Bay railway station is the nicest and most traditional railway station on the Bangor to…read moreBelfast line. The station in the grand Scottish Baronial style, built in 1863, was the creation of Lord Dufferin, through whose land the line was laid. His family had their own private entrance and waiting room. The architect was Benjamin Ferrey. The station building is no longer owned by the station. In my lifetime it has been used as an upmarket restaurant. Currently the building lies vacant but from the outside it adds beauty to the area. This stop is used by many people visiting the seaside. It is in close proximity to Crawfordsburn Country Park and beach and is extremely popular in the summer months. The station like most other the smaller subsidiary stations on the line has no ticket facilities and tickets for onward journeys must be purchased on board the train from conductors. There is little shelter for waiting passengers but during the winter this station would only really serve local residents. Helens Bay does have a few facilities just meters from the platforms, it boasts an off licence and a café.

Ahhh, what fond memories I have of getting the bus to Newtownards' bus station in the mornings,…read moreonly to be met my a pile of scary teenagers waiting to go to school. It was always a bit of a struggle trying to find my way through the hoards of perilous school kids, their staring eyes fixated on me. Ah yes, fond indeed... Newtownards bus station serves the wider Ards Peninsula, such as Portaferry, Millisle, Ballyhalbert, Donaghadee and Portavogie, as well as Bangor and Comber, and Newtownards town service buses. Due to the fact that it always busy, the service to Belfast don't leave the bus station, they just arrive here. This aspect of the bus station is very confusing, and I remember the lady at the help desk trying to explain to two foreign men where Gibson's Lane was (where the buses to Belfast leave from), but to no avail. I ended up showing them where to go (in the nicest way possible), and explaining them how things worked. Apart from that, Newtownards' bus station is fairly simple. It has a service desk, a little shop, and an inside waiting area...and that's it. I guess it doesn't need to be any more complex. Just remember, if you're trying to get home to Belfast, do NOT go to the bus station...Gibson's Lane is across the road, and to the left. Easy enough?

just one star given based on the fact no smoking signs are ignored and no one enforces it.read more

Donaghadee Bus Station is hardly the epicentre of a hustling bustling town, it is however a handy…read moreinterchange between Newtownards and Belfast. Although it is a basic interchange with no ticket facilities and no shop within 100 yards you are going to have to make your own entertainment as you wait for a connecting bus. I think this place only employs one person so do not expect a chat either. Fear not, you will be sheltered and you can rest your legs with two metal benches under a tin roof. This is not the most comfortable wait and if your bus is more than ten minutes away I would recommend a walk round Donaghadee rather than getting a numb bum. The staff who drive this route are regulars to it and they always provide a helpful and friendly service. Don't be afraid to ask them where the bus stops, they will usually oblige. The Bus Station is not open on a Sunday so you will have wait at the town centre bus stop.

Whiteabbey Station is basically just a little halt on the Larne to Belfast line. I would never…read moreusually have had much dealings with it, apart from when I was a student at Newtownabbey Tech, a number of years ago. I have various 'happy' memories of trudging in the rain up the road to the college from this station, and even happier memories of the days when we 'forgot' to get off at Whiteabbey, and continued on up to Belfast for a day of procrastination. The platforms have decent sized shelters and benches on both sides, with flights of steps on either side leading up to the walkways to enter/access the platforms. There is also a good sized car park for commuters to use, should they not wish to drive all the way into the city centre. There is no ticket booths here, nor have I ever seen a conductor, so it's just a case of hopping on and purchasing your ticket on the train, should you not already have one.

Whiteabbey Train Station was opened in 1848 and has recently been renovated and now includes a…read moregreat new parking space. This means it's much handier for those who avail of the park and ride service. The parking facility here was minimal before this rebuild but it seems a lot more secure and safe now which will keep many drivers at east. The platform itself isn't up to much, it's pretty basic but that's all you need. It is great having the train station in the area as there's no other stop between Whiteabbey and Belfast. From Mondays to Saturdays on the Larne line there is a half-hourly service towards Carrick with one train an hour continuing to Larne and a half-hourly service to Belfast Central. One thing that baffles me is that the train doesn't stop here on the way to Derry. I used to get this train every week up to Coleraine university and had to travel to Mossley West (see review) even through the train passes through this station. Platform 1 takes you in to Belfast and Platform 2 takes you to CArrickfergus / Larne. Check translink website or call for train times and more info.

Trains come, trains go…read more Nice as town train stations go, airy and bright retaining a lot of the original look(I would guess as I wasn't around when it was built) It has a shop open limited hours and two different platforms, so make sure your on the right one.

If I am ever using our wonderful train service (and I use that term very loosely!) This would be…read morethe station I would normally get on at. It's not the closest station to me, but it's the most comfortable, where I get to sit indoors, instead of freezing at a halt. The view of the outside of the station has remained unchanged for over 100 years. There is an old photograph of the station taken in the 1800's, you can see people in the picture in Victorian type clothing, but the station looks exactly the same as it does today. The inside, thankfully, has changed! In the early 2000's, a lot of money was spent giving it a spruce up, and making the seating area enclosed from the platform, making it a lot more warm and comfortable. There are restroom facilities, and a little shop and bookstore, which is really a newsagents, but they do some hot food that you can heat up in the microwave provided. They also have a book case, so if you have a long wait, you can take one of the books free of charge to while away the time.

Irrelevant of what other reviewers think, in my opinion Europa Bus and Train Station is pretty…read moregood. Sure, it's not the prettiest building, but it has everything you're likely to need. There are a few cafes in both the Station and Great Northern Mall which lead to it. You'll also find a shop, seating, ticket counter, information desk, toilets and digital timetable board displaying bus and train times. I personally have always found it clean, tidy, pleasant in atmosphere and the staff helpful. There can be queues at the ticket counter but I know this and always arrive early to allow myself enough time to purchase my ticket. There's really nothing more I could ask for as far as a bus and train station is concerned.

Europa Bus Centre is fine. It's not super modern, but it was climate-controlled and clean. It was…read moreeasy to find the bus information and ticketing. There was also lots of information on visiting NI. Even though I bought my ticket online, I still needed a printed ticket. I appreciate the shops and restaurants, though not sure I noticed an ATM. Restrooms were fine. Not sure if Europa is run by Translink, but I will say that when I needed help with something before my trip, the staff at Translink was super friendly and responsive, and I can't say the same for other national travel companies. Europa is definitely A-OK.

It was opened on 1 June 1928 to accommodate Bangor's rising population. It started life as a smell…read morewooden structure and to be honest not much has changed. Back in those days there was a ticket office and Bangor West is one of the only suburban stations to still have this facility. This little station is always busy especially during the school terms with students. Having said this there is not really any facilities to note at Bangor west, there is a few benches and a small shelter about the size of a bus shelter. As with all the other minor stations on this line Bangor West has two platforms but one thing to note about this small station is that due to its popularity the Belfast to Bangor express service does stop at Bangor West.

It's got a shelter and a car park. Really not much else to say about it…read more It's beside a park and handy parking for Moseley mill theatre.

Mossley West railway station was reopened nine years ago and the train line could finally be used…read moreby the public after many years in disuse. Mossley platform is great for those travelling to Antrim, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Coleraine etc as this provides a quick, direct line for them to get to work or university etc. Because of this schedule it means the train can be very busy in the mornings and evenings, also on a Sunday when the hordes of students travel back up to university. The train that usually runs on this line is one of the newer trains which makes your journey that little bit more quick and comfortable. It's also one of the most scenic train journeys. The beautiful Northern Irish country side flys past you, especially in the Spring when all the lambs are being born and you can see them bounce about the fields. Not bad for a train line I must say.

First time on a train in years! Belfast to Bangor for Yelp secret supper, the journey was smooth,…read morequick and comfortable, the train was on time, not to busy and didn't add any stresses to the journey, so basically that's all u can ask for!