Max HeyraudBelfast is set to roll out a late-night bus service this November, as the city council and Stormont approve a one-year pilot aimed at improving safe, reliable transport after dark.
The move has been welcomed by local councillors, nightlife operators, and cultural advocates who have long argued that the absence of late-night transport limits access to the city’s nighttime economy.
The pilot, still in planning stages, will cover select Metro routes and four key Ulsterbus corridors with no rail alternatives. While exact routes and fares are yet to be confirmed, the service is expected to launch over weekends initially, coinciding with the traditional pre-Christmas Night Mover service, but extended to run year-round for the first time.
Funding for the initiative will come from a mix of Belfast City Council and six Stormont departments, totalling just over £650,000. Councillors noted that while the proposal is welcome, the council is effectively topping up a service that falls under Stormont’s remit, sparking calls for greater devolution of transport powers to Belfast.
The pilot also aims to reduce public order issues, ease pressure on policing and health services, and improve access to cultural activities outside the city centre. While the council’s vote to lobby for devolved transport powers was unsuccessful, the launch of the pilot marks a significant step toward a more accessible and vibrant Belfast after dark.
