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• Belfast: A Profile of the City
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• Belfast: A Profile of the City 2009 - 10 (PDF - 1.4MB)
• Belfast: A Profile of the City 2008 - 09 (PDF - 1MB)
• Belfast: A Profile of the City 2007 - 08 (PDF - 8.71MB)
• Belfast: A Profile of the City 2006 - 07 (PDF - 872KB)

Transport

Transport is an integral part of modern city life. Effective transport systems are vital for the growth and competitiveness of successful cities.

Belfast lies at the heart of the regional transportation network in Northern Ireland. The predominant form of public transport within Belfast is bus-based.

Public transport

The main mode of public transport in Belfast is the Metro bus service, offering a regular, well connected service to the city centre, the suburbs and the outskirts of the city.

Translink is the brand name of the integrated public transport operation of Metro, NI Railways and Ulsterbus. Over 80 million passenger journeys are made on Translink services each year.

There are four main rail stations with five stops within Belfast and 37 stops throughout Northern Ireland.

Source: www.nisra.gov.uk and www.translink.co.uk

Air transport

Belfast has two modern airports within 20 minutes of the city centre: Belfast International Airport (20 miles, 32km from the city centre) and the George Best Belfast City Airport (2 miles, 3.2km from the city centre).

Collectively they account for 94.1% of air transport movement in Northern Ireland. In 2006 - 2007 Belfast International was the 11th busiest airport while George Best Belfast City was the 17th busiest airport in the UK.

Increase in visitors and flights

Belfast International Airport

In 2008 Belfast International Airport carried 5.2 million passengers. 59% of these passengers were on domestic flights and 41% on international flights. Business passengers account for 30% of the airport’s total passengers.

The airport is currently undergoing a £10 million development project that will give it a facelift and aims to improve facilities throughout the terminal. This is due to be completed in summer 2010. In 2008 Belfast International Airport was the twelfth busiest airport in the UK.

George Best Belfast City Airport

The George Best Belfast City Airport carried 2.6 million passengers in 2008. Its primary market is the short haul scheduled flight sector and it doesn’t offer long haul flights. Business passengers account for 65% of the airport’s total passengers.

In 2008 George Best Belfast City Airport was the seventeenth busiest in the UK. Source: www.belfastairport.com, www.belfastcityairport.com and www.airportwatch.org.uk

Port of Belfast

The Port is currently the second largest on the island of Ireland, handling almost 60% of Northern Ireland's seaborne trade and 20% of the entire island's sea traffic. It is a vital gateway for raw materials, exports and consumer goods for the entire island.

In 2008, the Port of Belfast:

• handled 16.5 million tonnes of goods
• handled 95% of Northern Ireland's Fuel Products and 90% of bulk tonnages
• facilitated 153,000 containers and 316,000 freight vehicles
• carried over 1.2 million passengers and 300,000 passenger cars
• accommodated over 6,000 sailings to Great Britain, Europe and beyond.

A key infrastructural improvement is taking place at the Port of Belfast. It is carrying out a £630 million 18 year expansion plan, with a projected doubling of the level of traffic handled by 2025.

More information can be found at the Department for Regional Development website: www.drdni.gov.uk