Straight answers to practical questions about driving, travelling, parking and getting around Northern Ireland.
Park and Ride is for continuing by public transport, while Park and Share sites are intended as meeting points for people sharing a car journey.
Yes. Northern Ireland has dedicated Park and Ride sites where you can leave the car and continue part of the journey by public transport.
No. nidirect warns that you will never be contacted asking for bank account details when applying for or renewing a SmartPass.
Application forms can be requested through Translink, including at manned bus or rail stations, by phone or by email for relevant SmartPass types.
Yes. SmartPass holders must show the card when buying a rail ticket to claim the concession.
Yes. SmartPass holders can use their card on Glider services, with the applicable concession for their SmartPass type.
A Half Fare SmartPass gives 50 per cent off the standard adult single fare on scheduled rail services within Northern Ireland.
Potentially yes. There is a Half Fare SmartPass category for people whose driving licence has been refused or revoked on medical grounds.
No. Receiving the care component of PIP by itself does not automatically make you eligible for a SmartPass.
The 60+ SmartPass expires at the end of the calendar month in which you turn 65.
Yes. Eligible Northern Ireland residents aged 65 or over can use the Senior SmartPass for the all-Ireland free travel scheme.
No. The 60+ SmartPass does not provide the all-Ireland free travel entitlement.
Northern Ireland residents can qualify for a Senior SmartPass from age 65, subject to the residence rules.
Northern Ireland residents aged 60 to 64 can qualify for a 60+ SmartPass.
No. Belfast City Airport does not have a rail station at the terminal. Titanic Quarter is the nearest rail halt, and Visit Belfast says a free shuttle bus to the halt can be requested at the Airport Parking Services desk.
Yes. Translink’s Airport Express 600 connects Belfast City Airport with the city centre.
Many Belfast services use accessible low-floor vehicles, but passengers with specific accessibility needs should check the service before travelling.
Yes. Metro, Glider and rail services cover Belfast, with walking suitable for many central journeys.
Yes. The Enterprise service connects Belfast and Dublin.
Both are Translink services in Belfast: Metro is the city bus network, while Glider operates high-frequency cross-city rapid-transit routes.
Yes. Translink operates the main bus and rail public transport networks in Northern Ireland.
Metro and Glider share a Belfast urban ticketing system for supported ticket products, but zone and ticket conditions still apply.
Yes. Translink says users can view available ticket prices in the app before entering payment details.
Yes. Translink says an email receipt is issued after an mLink purchase is completed.
Yes, Translink allows supported mLink tickets to be purchased as a gift, but the gifted ticket should be bought separately from your own tickets.
Yes. Translink states that Metro and Glider single tickets bought through mLink activate immediately after purchase.
Yes. mLink supports Metro and Glider mobile tickets as well as selected rail products.
Yes. Translink’s mLink app supports a range of NI Railways mobile tickets.
For a newly loaded travel period, validity follows Translink’s rules for the product and can start from first use or extend an existing validity period.
Translink says some day and week iLink top-ups can be available on board NI Railways services.
