Hello everyone! This week it’s the conclusion of my recent jaunt over to Ireland, Northern Ireland and it finds me taking the Translink X212 bus service from Derry, Londonderry down to Belfast.
Now compared to the train, this certainly is the fastest way between the two cities. Join me at Foyle Street Bus Station right in the middle of Derry, Londonderry. I’ll show you the facilities before hopping onboard the 10:40 bus down to Belfast. We’ll look at the interior of the bus, some of the beautiful scenery along the way and of course I’ll tell how how much it cost me and how long it took. I think you’ll be surprised.
And right at the very end of the video sees me alighting at the new Grand Central Station in Belfast – which replaces the Europa Bus Station and Victoria Railway Station and is a most impressive building I can tell you!
Thanks for your support guys, it truly is appreciated. Hope you enjoy the content and as always, cheers for now!
Mark
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📖Chapters
00:00 – Introduction
00:36 – Foyle Street Bus Station
02:34 – Why bus not train?
06:34 – Up into the mountains
10:44 – The motorway to Belfast
12:40 – Arriving into Grand Central
14:53 – Summary
33 Comments
The train journey from Derry to Coleraine is one of the most beautiful in the world. Scenery is stunning
hi, Mark. loved the video , plus it was nice to meet you, when you were at the Grand Central Station on your way back home.
Another great and informative coach trip trip matey!!!!
The line from Londonderry/Derry to Coleraine is stunning running along the beach at Benone and through the tunnel is spectacular
As for the registration plates Translink have utilised a lot of old numbers so buses have carried older fleet numbers so a guess how old they are
Most of the goldline fleet is pretty fresh as it’s government owned and subsidised
I love Tayto crisps. Occasionally I have seen them in ASDA but sadly not that often
This is a very efficient, economical and comfortable service. But as always, this coach was lacking. in a number of ways with no tray tables and non functioning USB sockets.. Also, the lighting was faulty. These are just basic modern requirements when travelling.
Over the last few years the A6 from Derry has undergone quite a few upgrades so nearly all the main towns and villages have a bypass. The road can be closed due to snow around the Glenshane Pass during the winter months. Glad you enjoyed the journey and the scenery looked great.
X212 is a very high number!Usually they don't go beyond 3 digits .Another long one I can think of is the AD122 Hadrian's Wall bus in northern England which runs between Hexham and Haltwhistle perhaps beyond to Brampton?
Back in 2014 a cyclist beat the train from Derry to Belfast. It took him just over 2 and a half hours. We're a laughing stock!
It’s Londonderry pal & don’t forget IT 🆎😡🤬😡😡😡
Hi Mark hope your feeling better shame you missed your Canada trip enjoyed the video as usual
P.s There are 2 Tayto in Ireland the one you passed but that is only the Northern Ireland one there is also the Republic of Ireland one. Each one is only available on that side of the border. You will never see either available in the others patch. Two different companies too!!
Londonderry to Coleraine via train is stunning
❤❤❤❤❤❤
The newer road you mostly travelled on from Derry to Belfast was only completed less than a couple of years ago. Before that it was mostly single carriageway roads through various towns and villages and the journey would have been longer.
If you do make your way back to Derry, on the train, take a seat with a right window if travelling from Belfast (opposite if the journey is from Derry). You will see some spectacular sea views along the way! I'm more about efficiency, so I was always taking the bus!
The train hands down for this journey. Ok bit of a faff getting to the station and a tad longer but easily the more beautiful journey.
There's a few reasons people prefere the train! The line is described as one of the most scenic in the world on the section between Derry and Coleraine and Prices are very reasonable, £15 one way off peak!
No toilet on a bus is a pain when one is of advanced age and no open public toilet available before boarding or a free public toilet, pay ones often don't accept cards (Bus Éirean take note) and I rarely have cash in pocket let alone loose change of correct denominations nowadays. Nearest pub often the only option, asking first if not buying anything. Those close to bus stops/stations are used to it.
Another interesting informative video. I noticed that the local orange buses were all electric in Doire (Derry)? Thats what I saw when I was there earlier this year.
thank you memories of Tayto crisps and of course Guinness! Hope you are feeling better
Thank you! Very helpful – as usual. Cheers
Very good Mark Londonderry to Belfast very interesting re the Bus station and railway station..
Another great trip, Mark. Very scenic😊
We’ve taken the Goldliner a few times on different routes. Always a good experience for us. Good to know it’s quicker to Derry from Belfast than train. Might give that a go next year. Hope you’re feeling better!
Brilliant video and excellent scenery. Hope all is well, take care
Derry is a good place to wonder place to just take your time walking around the old fort wall and dropping back to street level when you spot something you want to see or visit. I was there a lot of years ago, I went back this year and the fencing down by the river around the bus station is still there, it makes it hard to get to anywhere around there. That being said, it is a wonderful place to visit, better than Belfast itself. Depends what you want out of your stay I suppose, but Derry was a hit with me both times I visited, with every visit it gets better. We stayed at Carrackfergus, what a place to stay, plenty to see with places to see and walk along the seafront in the evening. We drove everywhere, so we were able to take in all the smaller villages and very rarely used the motorways. Northern Ireland, a good place for a break.
Great video! The X212 is my favourite way to get to the Maiden City and the best time I've ever managed to get on it was a speedy 1hr20mins! Pretty much the same time as by car and much more attractive for passengers.
Derry is my favourite Irish city. Lovely walks and people. The Bogside is amazing history . The walls are fantastic.
Pubs 👍🏽. Martin McGuinness is buried up in the Cregan cemetery.
I don't believe an NI plate indicates the age. The letters are geographical codes as they are in Britain.
There are often delays on the train.
Great video, I went to and from Derry last time by train mainly because I wanted to give NI railways a try. I also had a connection onto the Enterprise. I do need to visit now again now Grand Central is open!
The XUI prefix for Number Plates in NI is based off registration year 2017-2018. Newer vehicles use a combination of NGZ, PGZ, TGZ and I believe new prefixes are out for the next registration year. It can be quite complicated to keep on top of it, but I like to think that the last letter always has a correlation to its age. (regs ending in A are very very old)