Visitors to Tall Ships exceed 100,000

Published Friday, 14 August 2009

Translink provided extra buses and trains on Friday to bring passengers to and from the Tall Ships festival in Belfast after visitor numbers exceeded expectations.

On Thursday, Northern Ireland's transport system was put under severe strain as 100,000 people headed to Belfast for the festival.

Translink admitted that around 40,000 extra visitors turned up for the first day of the festival than was estimated.

Thousands more are expected to travel to the event on Friday and over the weekend.

Ciaran Rogan from Translink said extra carriages have been added to the Londonderry to Belfast line in response to increased demand on the service.

"The vast majority of people who travelled to the festival on Thursday did so on Translink buses and trains," he said.

"Yes there were delays in some services but that was to be expected due to the enormity of the event.

"On Friday extra carriages have been added to the Londonderry to Belfast service which caused some delays on Thursday."

On Thursday, passengers complained that at some stations trains passed by without stopping because the trains were full.

Others told UTV they had to make alternate arrangements to get to the festival.

'Precautions'

In a statement the police urged the public to do their part in preventing more traffic chaos.

"We are appealing to members of the public to help us achieve these aims by giving thought to traffic and parking arrangements prior to setting off and for their journey home and taking common-sense precautions to ensure their and their family's safety while at the event.

"Plan your route to the event and home again. Be patient when faced with inevitable traffic congestion when approaching or leaving the event.

"Allow extra time if you are travelling to Belfast City Airport or the ferries.

"By taking these simple precautions you can make this a more enjoyable event for yourself and help police minimise disruption and keep everybody safe."

Your Tall Ships:

To get all the information on the biggest event Belfast has ever hosted, visit our Tall Ships 2009 micro-site.
Don't forget to send in your pictures to our Tall Ships 2009 Gallery.

Comments

4 Comments

Dan in Belfast wrote (1,004 days ago):

Tall Ships = Rip off! Everything at the event costs twice what it should, the amusements are the worst offenders. The area outside the Odessey is awful and like a mudbath in places. It is meant to be a "family" event but I did not see much of that and it certainly is no place for two small children in buggies. All in all a nice idea but very badly organised and far too expensive especially in these financial times. Why where the ships not open to the public all day?

stevie in belfast wrote (1,006 days ago):

I agree Brian. Belfast City Council has answers to give people on the ridiculous prices that stall holders, traders and the continental market are charging. I might expect to pay those prices in London or the South of Ireland where people earn twice what we do but certainly not Belfast. I know it is a free event but that shouldn't mean they have licence to rip us off. I will go back tomorrow but with my own food and treats for the kids. I am certainly not mean but I do object to being taking advantage of and made a fool.

Anne Childs in Dundonald wrote (1,006 days ago):

As i am disabled and would find it difficult to transfer from a car to a bus or train is ther any facilities for disabilitiy travellers to see the tall ships

Brian in Belfast wrote (1,006 days ago):

The only good thing about the tall ships festival are the ships themselves. As for the stalls and food places, it is a complete rip off as their prices are so high. That's not the fault of the proprietors but the fault of the Belfast City Council. The trade charges are extortionate.