Editing Belfast (section)

== Infrastructure ==
=== Hospitals ===

The [[Belfast Health and Social Care Trust|Belfast Health & Social Care Trust]] is one of five trusts that were created on 1 April 2007 by the [[Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety|Department of Health]]. Belfast contains most of Northern Ireland's regional specialist centres.<ref>{{cite web |title=Review of Public Administration: Consultation on Draft Legislation To Establish Five New Integrated Health And Social Services Trusts |url=http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/hpssreview-trust-consultation-document.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927114140/http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/hpssreview-trust-consultation-document.pdf |archive-date=27 September 2007 |access-date=17 September 2007 |publisher=DHSSPS }}</ref>

The Royal Hospitals site in west Belfast (junction of Grosvenor and Falls roads) contains two hospitals. The [[Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast|Royal Victoria Hospital]] (its origins in a number of successive institutions, beginning in 1797 with The Belfast Fever Hospital)<ref>{{cite web |last=Bridges |first=Barry |title=Belfast Medical Students |url=https://www.ums.ac.uk/bmsa/bmsa_med.pdf |access-date=3 April 2019 |publisher=Queen's University of Belfast |page=14 }}</ref> provides both local and regional services. Specialist services include cardiac surgery, critical care and the Regional Trauma Centre.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Belfast Health and Social Care Trust |title=Royal Victorian Hospital |url=https://belfasttrust.hscni.net/hospitals/rvh/ }}</ref> The Children's Hospital ([[Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children]]) provides general hospital care for children in Belfast and provides most of the paediatric regional specialities.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Belfast Health and Social Care Trust |title=Children's Hospital |url=https://belfasttrust.hscni.net/hospitals/childrens/ }}</ref>

The [[Belfast City Hospital]] (evolved from the 1841 [[Belfast Union Workhouse]] and infirmary)<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 March 2021 |title=Video: Documentary charts Belfast City Hospital evolution from 19th century workhouse 'fever hospital' to 2020 Nightingale unit |url=https://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2021/03/22/news/documentary-charts-belfast-city-hospital-evolution-from-19th-century-workhouse-fever-hospital-to-2020-nightingale-unit-2262563/ |access-date=16 February 2024 |website=The Irish News }}</ref> on the Lisburn Road is the regional specialist centre for haematology and is home to a major cancer centre.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Morrison |first1=PJ |year=2006 |title=Improving cancer statistics – a new cancer centre for Northern Ireland |journal=The Ulster Medical Journal |volume=75 |issue=2 |page=110 |pmc=1891734 |pmid=16755938 }}</ref> The Mary G McGeown Regional Nephrology Unit at the [[Belfast City Hospital|City Hospital]] is the kidney transplant centre and provides regional renal services for Northern Ireland.<ref>{{cite web |date=November 2006 |title=Belfast City Hospital: About the Unit |url=http://www.renal.org/bapn/bapn-information-and-resources/centres/lists/centres/belfast |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151231214226/http://www.renal.org/bapn/bapn-information-and-resources/centres/lists/centres/belfast |archive-date=31 December 2015 |access-date=24 May 2007 |publisher=The Renal Association }}</ref>
[[Musgrave Park Hospital]] (1920) in south Belfast specialises in [[Orthopedic surgery|orthopaedics]], [[rheumatology]], [[sports medicine]] and [[Rehabilitation psychology|rehabilitation]]. It is home to Northern Ireland's first Acquired Brain Injury Unit.<ref>{{cite news |date=15 May 2006 |title=TRH open Northern Ireland's first Regional Acquired Brain Injury Unit |url=http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/newsandgallery/news/trh_open_northern_ireland_s_first_regional_acquired_brain_in_778.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070307071451/http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/newsandgallery/news/trh_open_northern_ireland_s_first_regional_acquired_brain_in_778.html |archive-date=7 March 2007 |access-date=6 May 2007 |publisher=The Prince of Wales }}</ref>

The [[Mater Infirmorum Hospital|Mater Hospital]] (founded in 1883 by the [[Sisters of Mercy]])<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ulster Medical Society: Mater Infirmorum Hospital |url=https://www.ums.ac.uk/mih.html |access-date=16 February 2024 |website=ums.ac.uk }}</ref> on the Crumlin Road provides a wide range of services, including acute inpatient, emergency and maternity services, to north Belfast and the surrounding areas.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Belfast Health and Social Care Trust |title=Mater Hospital |url=https://belfasttrust.hscni.net/hospitals/mater/ }}</ref>

The [[Ulster Hospital]], Upper Newtownards Road, [[Dundonald, County Down|Dundonald]], on the eastern edge of the city, first founded as the Ulster Hospital for Women and Sick Children in 1872,<ref name="journal">{{cite journal |last1=Logan |first1=H |date=August 1987 |title=The Ulster Hospital &ndash; a short history. |journal=The Ulster Medical Journal |volume=56 Suppl |issue=Suppl |pages=S57-64 |pmc=2448186 |pmid=3328369 }}</ref> is the major acute hospital for the [[South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust]]. It delivers a full range of outpatient, inpatient and daycare medical and surgical services.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Ulster Hospital: New £115m acute services block is hailed as a game-changer |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/health/ulster-hospital-new-115m-acute-services-block-is-hailed-as-a-game-changer/41019352.html |access-date=3 May 2023 |work=BelfastTelegraph.co.uk |issn=0307-1235 }}</ref>

=== Transport ===
{{Main|Transport in Belfast}}

[[File:Gt Victoria Street station, Belfast (9) - geograph.org.uk - 2223181.jpg|thumb|left|The former station [[Great Victoria Street railway station|Great Victoria Street]] on [[Northern Ireland Railways]]]]
Belfast is a relatively [[car dependency|car-dependent]] city by European standards, with an extensive road network including the {{convert|22.5|mi|km|0}} [[M2 motorway (Northern Ireland)|M2]] and [[M22 motorway (Northern Ireland)|M22 motorway]] route.<ref>{{cite web |title=M2 / M22 Motorway |url=http://www.wesleyjohnston.com/roads/m2.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101204012656/http://wesleyjohnston.com/roads/m2.html |archive-date=4 December 2010 |access-date=12 August 2010 |publisher=Wesleyjohnston.com }}</ref>

[[Hackney carriage|Black taxis]] are common in the city, operating on a [[Share taxi|share]] basis in some areas.<ref>{{cite book |last=Nutley |first=Stephen D. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k5rrC4nYek8C&pg=PA318 |title=Unconventional and Community Transport in the United Kingdom |publisher=Gordon and Breach Science Publishers |year=1990 |isbn=9782881247644 |pages=318–322 |issn=0278-3819 |access-date=16 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151231214225/https://books.google.com/books?id=k5rrC4nYek8C&pg=PA318 |archive-date=31 December 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> These are outnumbered by [[Taxicabs of the United Kingdom#Private hire ('minicabs')|private hire taxis]]. Bus and rail public transport in Northern Ireland is operated by subsidiaries of [[Translink (Northern Ireland)|Translink]]. Bus services in the city proper and the nearer suburbs are operated by [[Metro (Belfast)|Translink Metro]], with services focusing on linking residential districts with the city centre on 12 [[quality bus corridor]]s running along main radial roads,<ref>{{cite web |date=27 August 2012 |title=Metro Corridor & Zone Guide |url=http://www.translink.co.uk/Services/Metro-Service-Page/Metro-Corridor-Zone-Guide |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140711034346/http://www.translink.co.uk/Services/Metro-Service-Page/Metro-Corridor-Zone-Guide/ |archive-date=11 July 2014 |access-date=2 June 2014 |publisher=[[Metro (Belfast)|Translink Metro]] }}</ref>

More distant suburbs are served by [[Ulsterbus]]. [[Northern Ireland Railways]] provides [[Belfast Suburban Rail|suburban services]] along three lines running through Belfast's northern suburbs to [[Carrickfergus]], [[Larne]] and [[Larne Harbour railway station|Larne Harbour]], eastwards towards [[Bangor, County Down|Bangor]] and south-westwards towards [[Lisburn]] and [[Portadown railway station|Portadown]]. This service is known as the [[Belfast Suburban Rail]] system. Belfast is linked [[Belfast-Derry railway line|directly]] to [[Coleraine railway station|Coleraine]], [[Portrush railway station|Portrush]] and [[Derry ~ Londonderry railway station|Derry]]. Belfast has a direct rail connection with [[Dublin]] called ''[[Enterprise (train)|Enterprise]]'' operated jointly by NIR and the Irish rail company [[Iarnród Éireann]].

In 2024, the city's Europa Bus Centre and Great Victoria Street rail station, was replaced by a new Belfast Central Station. It is "the largest integrated transport facility on the island of Ireland" with bus stands, railway platforms, and facilities for taxis and bicycles.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 September 2024 |title=First look inside the new Belfast Grand Central Station as it prepares to open on Sunday |url=https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern-ireland/first-look-inside-the-new-belfast-grand-central-station-as-it-prepares-to-open-on-sunday-7NTEIDD27NAQDDQLVGWUDYBI3Q/ |access-date=9 September 2024 |website=The Irish News }}</ref>

[[File:George Best Belfast City Airport - geograph.org.uk - 714574.jpg|thumb|[[George Best Belfast City Airport]]]]
The city has two airports: [[George Best Belfast City Airport]], close to the city centre on the eastern shore of Belfast Lough and [[Belfast International Airport]] 30–40 minutes to the west on the shore of [[Lough Neagh]]. Both operate UK domestic and European flights. The city is also served by [[Dublin Airport]], two hours to the south, with direct inter-continental connections.

In addition to its extensive freight business, the Belfast Port offers car-ferry sailings, operated by [[Stena Line]], to [[Cairnryan]] in Scotland (5 Sailings Daily. 2 hours 22 minutes) and to [[Liverpool]]-[[Birkenhead]] (14 sailings weekly. 8 hours). The [[Isle of Man Steam Packet]] Company provides a seasonal connection to [[Douglas, Isle of Man]].

The [[Glider (Belfast)|Glider]] bus service is a new form of transport in Belfast. Introduced in 2018, it is a [[bus rapid transit]] system linking East Belfast, West Belfast and the Titanic Quarter from the City Centre.<ref>{{cite web |title=Belfast Rapid Transit – Glider – introduction |url=https://www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/articles/belfast-rapid-transit-glider-introduction |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180515141539/https://www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/articles/belfast-rapid-transit-glider-introduction |archive-date=15 May 2018 |access-date=15 May 2018 |website=Infrastructure-ni.gov.uk }}</ref> Using [[articulated buses]], the £90&nbsp;million service saw a 17% increase in its first month in Belfast, with 30,000 more people using the Gliders every week. The service is being recognised as helping to modernise the city's public transport.<ref>{{cite web |title=Glider bus passengers increase 17% in first month |url=https://www.itv.com/news/utv/2018-10-03/glider-bus-passengers-increase-17-in-first-month/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181007160721/http://www.itv.com/news/utv/2018-10-03/glider-bus-passengers-increase-17-in-first-month/ |archive-date=7 October 2018 |access-date=15 May 2018 |website=itv.com }}</ref>

[[National Cycle Route 9]] to [[Newry]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Route 9 |url=https://www.sustrans.org.uk/find-a-route-on-the-national-cycle-network/route-9/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302172024/https://www.sustrans.org.uk/find-a-route-on-the-national-cycle-network/route-9/ |archive-date=2 March 2021 |access-date=8 April 2021 |publisher=[[Sustrans]] }}</ref> which will eventually connect with Dublin,<ref>{{cite web |date=November 2019 |title=Development Plan: Position Paper 5: Transportation |url=https://www.lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk/uploads/general/5_Transportation_Updated_Nov_19.docx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210918231100/https://www.lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk/uploads/general/5_Transportation_Updated_Nov_19.docx |archive-date=18 September 2021 |access-date=9 November 2021 |publisher=Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council |page=31 }}</ref> starts in Belfast.

=== Utilities ===
[[File:SilentValley.jpg|thumb|Silent Valley Reservoir, showing the brick-built overflow]]

Half of Belfast's water is supplied via the [[Mourne Conduit|Aquarius pipeline]] from the [[Silent Valley Reservoir]] in County Down, created to collect water from the [[Mourne Mountains]].<ref>{{cite web |year=2007 |title=The Silent Valley |url=http://www.niwater.com/silent-valley/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531123627/http://www.niwater.com/silent-valley/ |archive-date=31 May 2014 |access-date=30 May 2014 |publisher=Northern Ireland Water }}</ref> The other half is now supplied from [[Lough Neagh]] via Dunore Water Treatment Works in County Antrim.<ref name="BMA plan">{{cite web |title=Strategic Plan Framework: Public Services and Utilities |url=http://www.planningni.gov.uk/areaplans_policy/Plans/BMA/draft_plan/01Part1_3/03Strategic_Framework/publics_u.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927095510/http://www.planningni.gov.uk/areaplans_policy/Plans/BMA/draft_plan/01Part1_3/03Strategic_Framework/publics_u.htm |archive-date=27 September 2007 |access-date=26 May 2007 |website=Draft Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan 2015 |publisher=The Planning Service }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=4 October 2023 |title=Where does my water come from in Northern Ireland? |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-66968311 |access-date=16 February 2024 |work=BBC News }}</ref> The citizens of Belfast pay for their water in their [[Rates (tax)|rates]] bill. Plans to bring in additional water tariffs were deferred by [[Northern Ireland Assembly|devolution]] in May 2007.<ref>{{cite web |date=March 2007 |title=Water Reform Implemented: Secretary of State announces deferral of charges |url=http://www.waterreformni.gov.uk/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070609093844/http://www.waterreformni.gov.uk/ |archive-date=9 June 2007 |access-date=26 May 2007 |publisher=Water Reform NI }}</ref>

Power is provided from a number of [[List of power stations in Northern Ireland|power stations]] via [[Northern Ireland Electricity|NIE Networks Limited]] transmission lines. (Just under a half of electricity consumption in Northern Ireland is generated from [[Renewable resource|renewable sources]]).<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 May 2015 |title=Electricity Consumption and Renewable Generation Statistics {{!}} Department for the Economy |url=https://www.economy-ni.gov.uk/articles/electricity-consumption-and-renewable-generation-statistics |access-date=16 February 2024 |website=Economy }}</ref> [[Phoenix Natural Gas]] Ltd. started supplying customers in Larne and Greater Belfast with natural gas in 1996 via the newly constructed [[Scotland-Northern Ireland pipeline]].<ref name="BMA plan" /> [[Rates (tax)|Rates]] in Belfast (and the rest of Northern Ireland) were reformed in April 2007. The discrete [[Capital (economics)|capital]] value system means rates bills are determined by the capital value of each domestic property as assessed by the Valuation and Lands Agency.<ref>{{cite web |year=2005 |title=Summary of domestic rating reforms |url=http://www.ratingreviewni.gov.uk/index/domestic/domestic-summary.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070505011123/http://www.ratingreviewni.gov.uk/index/domestic/domestic-summary.htm |archive-date=5 May 2007 |access-date=26 May 2007 |publisher=Department of Finance and Personnel }}</ref>