Thread by @CircleLineBT

Why is the Belfast "Circle Line" needed? A thread 🧵...
#belfast #belfasttraffic @translink_ni @TranslinkMetro @GliderBelfast @deptinfra @belfastcc @ANBorough @lisburnccc

https://twitter.com/CircleLineBT/status/1590374770490904576

1/To ease Belfasts well documented traffic. "Just 1 more road scheme will fix this" with a car dependency induced by past road schemes, is the thinking that will only exacerbate the problem further with byproduct of reduced air quality and a city centre that is not very walkable.

2/To help with a cost of living crisis, providing an alternative to car ownership, saving residents thousands of pounds each year - car ownership costs on average(UK) £3500 per year.

3/To support @belfastairport which attracted >6 million passengers in 2019, with 4000 staff. Airport is only served by road/AirBus. If you aren't going to Airport from CityCentre then a car may be your only option. And without a car a job @belfastairport may also be out of reach

3a/@belfastairport is recruiting to fill 300 jobs. The airport said the new roles reflected confidence post-pandemic as the airport was on course to exceed 2019 passenger levels.
belfasttelegraph.co.uk/business/north…

4/To make our airports(@belfastairport, @BELFASTCITY_AIR) as easy to reach as possible and more desirable to transit through for passengers versus the alternative of driving to Dublin Airport.

5/To serve reopened @UlsterUni Belfast Campus, with an estimated 15k students. A large proportion of these students will seek to travel to the city centre for classes rather than live in the city. This student population could/should be served by a new Cathedral Quarter station.

6/To reach @belfastcc target of increasing city centre population by 66k residents, by 2035. This will only be possible if there is adequate public transport to support such a population without some seeing the need for a car and its storage.

7/To attract city investment. A city well connected by public transport is an easier pitch to investors looking to set up an office in the city.

8/To connect rural communities. Crumlin, Glenavy and Ballinderry have seen population increases in the last decade, but are connected to the city by an irregular bus service. The success of Moira Train Station PnR shows that demand exists for rail within rural communities.

9/To serve @abbeycentre and Newtownabbey. @abbeycentre currently operates over 1000 free car parking spaces, a service that only incentivizes car use over public transport. The Circle Line would bring the Abbey Centre closer to thousands of retail customers.

10/To serve NorthBelfast and future expansion of Giants Park. Giants Park currently is only accessible by road. If this park is to become a "destination" without a thought for access then expect to see further traffic delays on the M2. A new station at Loughside Park is proposed.

11/To reduce cost of constructing apartment buildings. Homes can be made cheaper if they do NOT include a ground floor car park as a single unit of structured parking adds to the per-unit costs.

12/To increase passenger numbers. The Bangor Line has seen successful ridership numbers arguably because it has a frequent service. A "Circle Line" with regular services will attract more passengers with a wait no more than 15 minutes for the next train.

13/To support the night time economy. @Translink_NI have often run campaigns selling advantages of taking the train into the city centre for dinner/drinks and concerts. For many the last train is at 10.35pm, when often the better option is to just stay at home.

14/To allow existing services to run "Express". A Circle Line would remove "Local" stops from "Express" services. eg. the L/Derry train would no longer need to stop at Mossley West, the Lisburn Train would no longer stop at Balmoral.

15/To increase services feeding into the new £200m Grand Central Station and Weavers Cross Development.
weaverscross.co.uk

16/To increase services to an upgraded Yorkgate Train station, noting that this would also connect with future North Belfast cycling infrastructure and serve a growing residential community in Sailortown. @StJoesBelfast @The_AmericanBar @NBCycleCampaign belfastlive.co.uk/news/belfast-n…

17/To connect to sporting venues. Provide a (near) rail connection to @CasementPark, Windsor Park(upgraded Adelaide Station) and the SSE Arena, reducing city congestion on match days/concerts.

17a/Casement Park is roughly 1 mile from 2 "Circle Line" stations - Balmoral and Finaghy.

https://twitter.com/CircleLineBT/status/1541474715369410560

17b/@SSEBelfastArena could be served by
1) a new Cathedral Station and new bridge at City Quays;
OR
2) Yorkgate Train Station with new bridge at Sailortown;
OR
3) existing Titanic Quarter Station;

17c/Windsor Park is directly adjacent to Adelaide Station however, Adelaide Station does not give anyone the feeling that they have arrived at the National Stadium. @NorthernIreland

https://twitter.com/CircleLineBT/status/1509286243452207104

17d/Attending @OfficialNIFL games made easier.

https://twitter.com/NIFLGrounds/status/1586366673560522758

18/Equality. Recent soundings(+ costings) around A5+York Street Interchange would give many people without a car a belief that public transport is not a priority. NI has ~5500 miles of road but less than 200 miles of rail, with the rail network having shrunk in last 20 years

19/To reduce car use in the city centre, and connect rail with existing and future greenways: @combergreenway, @ConnsGreenway, Sydenham Greenway, @NBCycleCampaign, @BelfastChamber "Green Spine", Forth Meadow Greenway, Newtownabbey/Foreshore Greenway and BallyClare-Doagh Greenway.

20/To access education. @QUBelfast, @UlsterUni and @bfastmet are all on the Circle Line.

21/To support staff getting to and from work. The Circle Line would aim to have services up to Midnight Sunday-Thursday, with services up to 3am on Fridays and Saturdays, allowing hospitality staff and hospital staff a safe route home. @FreeTheNightNI @HospUlster

22/To access employment in Belfast and outside of Belfast, anywhere along the Circle Line.
belfasttelegraph.co.uk/business/north…

23/To support residential developments and growth, with improved public transport.

24/To take "Notions". Visit Antrim Castle Gardens, @TitanicBelfast, @hildenbrewery or @Lisburn_Museum, all on a whim. Just hop on the Circle Line and go for a saunter.

25/To help @belfastairport reach its "net-zero carbon target"

https://twitter.com/CircleLineBT/status/1620862196657037313

@belfastairport @threadreaderapp unroll