Overview

Belfast Grand Central Station is both grand and central. This massive building, serving as a combined bus and train station, was nearing completion during my visit—which meant a lot of construction work and a fair trek to reach it if passing through the old Europa Buscentre. At times, I thought I’d never get there! With a BrewDog Bar, Pret A Manger, Starbucks, M&S Food, a sensory nook, and a Changing Places toilet, there’s a lot on offer here. But how does it shape up?

Transport & Parking

Parking is available at the Go Park Great Northern Car Park, located 320 metres away. It is open 24 hours and has 530 spaces. A reduced parking rate is available for those who present their bus or train ticket. An additional 575 parking spaces are available at the nearby Value Car Parks on Grosvenor Road, just 160 metres from the entrance. Accessible parking spaces can be found on levels 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12. There is a taxi bay on Grosvenor Road, which also appears to be used as a drop-off point. As a bus terminal, the station is well-served by direct bus and train connections. An additional bus stop is located on Grosvenor Road across from the entrance, where the 10K, 10M, and 10X services operate.

Access

It's important to note that construction was taking place during my visit, which made this lovely station seem a little less lovely from the outside. There are two main entrances: Durham Street and Grosvenor Road. The Durham Street entrance felt like a corridor of temporary walls, with occasional turns and changes in terrain to keep things interesting. Grosvenor Road is very much the main entrance, with both stairs and a ramp. However, I had to travel on the road to get beyond the temporary fencing, bump up at the traffic lights, then double back. Hopefully, this won’t be an issue for much longer. There are automatic doors at both entrances and at each of the bus gates. Another common feature throughout Belfast Grand Central Station is the tactile metal strips leading to the main areas of interest. Though some had been clipped by suitcases and had come loose, I know there is a focus on finding a better solution. There are plenty of ticket machines, all accessible from a seated height, in addition to ticket desks at several points. The machines have touchscreens, with the option to bring the clickable buttons further down for wheelchair users or those who find the default height too high. The card reader is within easy reach for most people. The station is spacious, with M&S and Pret on the ground floor, while the mezzanine level features a Starbucks and BrewDog bar. The lifts to the mezzanine level offer enough space for a wheelchair user and another person. They also feature Braille buttons and an induction loop, which can also be found at the ticket desks, customer service areas, and train platforms. The train platforms have tactile studs leading to them and NaviLens QR codes for those with visual impairments. There is plenty of seating at the platforms, waiting areas, and bus gates. I really like that all of the platforms are accessible without needing to use a lift. For many disabled people, untrustworthy lifts can be a major barrier, so it’s great to have the freedom to just show up and go. The station also has a small sensory nook, but I couldn’t get clear pictures as an entire family was using it during my visit.

Toilets

I didn't visit the accessible toilet as it was in use during my visit, but I had the opportunity to check out the Changing Places toilet at the station. The door to the Changing Places toilet doesn’t require a RADAR key, but it does need a staff key, meaning you’ll need to find a member of staff to open it for you. There are no signs indicating this, so I had to speak with the security guard for assistance. The door opens outwards. I'm informed by the station manager, Gavin, that the area around the toilets is always staffed, which is great, but I'm not a fan of having to tell a stranger that I need to use the toilet. To their credit, however, I didn't even have to ask – the security guard came to me, key prepared, when they saw me close to the toilet. The toilet features a ceiling track hoist, an adjustable changing bed, a shower, wet-room-style flooring and is as spacious as you’d expect from a Changing Places toilet. There is both left-side and right-side transfer space, with contrasting grab rails on either side. The sink has a deep basin and a lever-style tap but is not adjustable. Grab rails are installed on either side. Although the room is equipped with an emergency cord at the adjustable changing bed, there isn't one at the toilet or the door. This room does not have a colostomy shelf, which is disappointing. My score reflects the lack of red cords in the room, which feels like quite an oversight.

Staff

The station manager was incredibly welcoming when I mentioned I was conducting a review. He was eager to hear feedback and happy to show me around.

Photos