The 148th Open

The vast popularity of The 148th Open has forced the hand of transport providers to make more tickets available to spectators.  

Translink has announced that more train tickets to Royal Portrush will now be available to book online to meet customer demand.

Thousands of additional seats will be made available during Championship week including a wide range of bus, coach and train services and spectators are being urged to plan their journeys well in advance to avoid disappointment.

“Many spectators have already followed our travel advice and booked their tickets early,” said Translink director of services Ian Campbell.

“We have continued to monitor demand and are pleased to announce additional rail capacity to get people to all the action on the Causeway Coast.

“Every available train, coach and bus will be in operation to deliver our transport plan with thousands of additional seats available.

“With the event just around the corner, we’re strongly encouraging anyone planning to travel to Portrush during the Championship week to visit our website now and plan their journey.”

From Wednesday 17th to Sunday 21st July, customers travelling before 10am by train to Portrush for the golf or other purposes are strongly advised to book their journey online beforehand.

There will be enhanced capacity on normal train services plus additional early morning trains from Belfast and additional evening services from Portrush and Coleraine.

An hourly train service and enhanced capacity from Derry/Londonderry to Coleraine will also be running plus additional early morning services and a convenient Portrush bus connection.

Special day return coaches will operate between Europa Buscentre in Belfast to Portrush. Spectators can also choose the Goldline 218 coach service from Belfast or 234 service from Derry/Londonderry to Coleraine with onward Portrush bus connection.

Local Ulsterbus 140 services travelling between Coleraine, Portrush and Portstewart will also be enhanced and stop at major caravan/camping sites along the route.

An additional morning and evening service will also operate on both Ulsterbus 402 between Coleraine and Ballycastle and Ulsterbus 134 between Coleraine and Limavady.

For full details on all of Translink’s train, coach and bus services visit www.translink.co.uk/ and follow the latest travel updates @Translink_NI #OpenTravel.