Translink Reviews 535

When you don’t feel like a criminal, the Glider works quite well. However, if you board a bus without tapping on the machine, God help you. You will be sent off the bus or fined and I found out tonight that if a machine doesn’t work, the inspectors can actually take the money from your (Oyster) card. It’s not my fault your machines don’t work properly. Not everyone is a criminal, so don’t treat us as one!

Somebody try and book a ticket from belfast to dublin airport because I found it impossible.They spent 380 million on their hub and 50p on their website it's a joke . Also why do I have to wait in Queen st for a bus to Crumlin in the rain and it's not in a good area . Why does the bus not leave from the hub as most others do.

I travel extensively throughout Europe for work, I purchase all my tickets online and the only platform that is utterly frustrating and inadequate is Translink. I can see journeys, timetables and prices but can't purchase a ticket properly.
I can travel from a remote area outside Helsinki to Belfast with all different modes of transport with no issues but can't get from Belfast to Castledawson with out jumping through hoops.
Shambles of a company with no interest in customer service or convenience.

I purchased a ticket online on 19/06/2025 to use the Enterprise service Belfast to Dublin 28/06/2025.

On arrival at the Grand Central station Belfast, the ticket office was unable to print my ticket, apparently because I did not have a QR code . All I was able to provide was a screen shot , taken at the time confirming purchase. I should have received a confirmation email from Translink with a QR code to retrieve my ticket. I did not receive this confirmation email from Translink. At Grand central station customer support, advised to search my email, spam email and trash email, all of which I did there and then. There was no confirmation email from Translink to be found anywhere in my Gmail. The station assistant advised I would be unable to travel but suggested I would receive a refund because my ticket would remain unprinted and therefore serve as evidence it had not been used.
Response from email to feedback at translink . co . uk said "We have investigated this and have found that the email was sent to your email address which was entered at time of booking" "In this instance your request was not made 80 minutes in advance of the outward journey from origin station of the train, therefore we cannot offer a refund on this occasion."
However, Translink Contact Centre can not provide me with evidence that a confirmation email was sent to my email account.
This is appauling. Translink took money for a ticket from my bank account. Translink did not provide a confirmation email. I was unable to retrieve my ticket to travel to my Dublin appointment. Translink will not issue refund.

Have tried to use glider service both last Friday evening (2 cancelled services at 5pm rush hour and 3rd one late) and now Saturday night this weekend (2 should have been by now but still waiting...). No one will notice when they go on strike because the service is already so abysmal.

Currently on the bus up to Belfast from Dublin airport. The ride is like sitting on a 20 year old washing machine with a brick inside

You made me cry
I feel like I could die
Cancelled my train
I might as well get a plane
Places to be
Just go and kill me

Train has been cancelled everyday this week causing me to miss my important meeting therefore losing my job. Now my child does not have a bed and we both have to sleep on the floor. I am currently working 3 jobs now to try and buy my daughter’s birthday present which is exhausting me. This is unacceptable.

Twice Ulsterbus let me down. I was at a stop early and when the bus came it went passed and didn't stop. I had left work early to specifically get this one and was left at stop for a full hour to wait for the City bus which was late. This was at gasworks in Belfast going to Cairnshill park and ride.

Then recently I was at the park and ride to catch a 3pm bus. That bus didn't turn up. I had paid for fare yet on complaining I was declined a refund. Excuse that there were other buses - yes, if I could wait a further 2 hrs and 15 minutes. There were no others from the park and ride in-between for travelling anywhere.

Absolutely disgusting bus service Newry to Warrenpoint always late and price are soo hight . Joke Some of driver are rude .

Follow the train schedule and they leave early. Great service and typical for this county. Need a United Ireland asap.

Terrible service. Bangor train line, when they cancel a train that stops at all the stops. That’s fine, issues happen but the annoying thing is that then the next train 10 mins later is an express. Common sense would mean turn the express into one that stops. Would still get everyone to work on time or collect people who have been waiting. But Translink doesn’t want the stats where one is cancelled and one is late so they just whizz past everyone waiting, this means they only post the stats of one train cancelled.

I'm a 13 year old boy who gets the bus every week to play a bit of football with some friends. On my way there, the bus was very stop start, but the driver reassured us that we would be up and running soon. 2 minutes later, we were moving again. On the way back, the app said that I needed to be at the bus stop for 17:26. At around 17:20, I saw a blue bus go past. I didn't think it was my bus, so I continued walking. I got to the shore road and noticed that the bus was still at my stop with the hazard lights on. I sprinted to the bus and somehow made it, only to find that I had the same bus driver as this morning, Kieran on the 568 route to Carrickfergus. Thanks to him, me and my friend were able to get home safely. He must've waited for about 5 minutes, knowing that I was getting on. Best bus driver I've ever had by far.

ABSOLUTELY AWFUL
I have had so many experiences of these busses being late or just not showing up at all especially in derry. I gave it many chances but it has happened again today and i’ve had enough. not good enough.

My friends and I travelled on the train to Portrush on Saturday from Mossley around 12:30. I would like to give a massive thank you to John the conductor who was absolutely fabulous. He really made our trip and give us 5 star service. It would be great if he could get some sort of recognition for his hard work ensuring all his customers are happy. Thank you John. 🌟

Have to agree with reviews about the website absolutely dreadful and has been for years,Translink have no regard for there customers

Insane prices for awful service - biggest rip off in the UK for similar services. Wasting public money building stupid monstrosities like the completely unnecessary Grand Central Disaster instead of investing in the actual railway service which is the problem. Small, cramped trains, poor WiFi, often late and a complete rip off.

Always cancelling or not showing up(2G service) which is really a pain when its the only bus to shore rd whiteabbey!!!

Railway track failure.
Return to previous station to wait for a bus that didn’t arrive.
Told the track was fixed and to get back on the train.
Got to the same point where it had failed and it failed again.
Translink are incompetent and untrustworthy. I’d recommend avoiding this company.

My parents who are retired, love going out for day time excursions to Belfast. They are normally very organised and know where they are going, however yesterday they were looking for a specific bus route, 6D. They were outside the City Hall in Belfast and my dad asked 3 bus drivers where he would find this bus. The first driver closed the door on his face, which was exceptionally rude, and the second driver shooed my dad away. The third driver tried to help him, but he told them it wasn't that far, and to walk. My mum has mobility issues, so that wasn't an option. My dad then went to the information booth, and there were 2 members of staff. My dad was disgusted as the younger lady seemed to be laughing at him when he was asking for assistance. My dad did not find this funny, and thought her behaviour was a disgrace. The older lady did take my parents a bit more serious. She told them what time the bus would be arriving. Needless to say, I understand that the translink staff often encounter rude behaviour, but they are providing a service, and should be helpful when approached by customers who are courteous and have manners. Overall, this experience has been nothing but downright disgrace. My dad told the young lady that he has used local public transport around the world and the only place where the drivers have been rude to him was in his own country. Manners cost nothing.