In the spirit of civic responsibility, I’ve taken the Infrastructure Minister’s advice.
The low footfall on the platform at Ballymoney train station suggests not many others have. Still, it’s the 6.32am train; there are more at half-hourly intervals, two of which will still get passengers to Belfast before 9am.
Had I jumped in the car like most other days, I wouldn’t have had to leave for another hour.
The ticketing app – despite informing me I’m on an out-of-date version – is slick and allows me to download the required barcode quickly. At £19 for a day ticket, it costs slightly more than I would have spent on fuel for the journey by car.
In theory, taking the train allows time to get some work done, but the on-board WiFi appears to struggle as the train works its way through mid-Antrim, informing me it will take seven minutes to update my email inbox.
Watch: The first Enterprise train testing takes place at Belfast Grand Central Station
Despite all the fanfare over the opening of Grand Central Station, this is my first time inside. The building is huge, but there are not many people around; anyone coming off the train filters straight out through the exit onto Glengall Street.
Orange-coated staff are dotted all around the station, but in the middle of rush hour, there is no danger of them being overwhelmed by the modest waves of passengers disembarking in Belfast.
Mr O’Dowd’s rallying call has not yet resulted in boots on the ground, but among the converted who have made it a daily habit, there is nothing but praise for public transport.
James McDowell
Donaghadee man James McDowell is effusive as he describes his pivot away from Belfast traffic’s daily grind.
“For the past couple of years, I’ve had a season pass for the train, so I would use it quite regularly to come from Bangor,” he told the Belfast Telegraph.
“There is definitely more value in the season ticket, plus our employer sponsors us for it so we get a season loan through them and it’s taken off our gross salary so you benefit an awful lot from it.
“I’m in Donaghadee, so it’s only about five miles to Bangor; I use the park and ride. It’s getting noticeably more competitive for spaces, so it’s becoming more popular.
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“Traffic was my main driver for switching to the train; I just got fed up being stuck bumper-to-bumper on that Belfast to Bangor A2 road.
“It’s a lot easier to listen to a podcast, watch something on Netflix, read up notes for meetings ahead of the day. It’s a much calmer way to start your day than being sat in traffic.”
Over by the bus stands, friends Bláithín and Aoife have travelled from Newry and Randalstown respectively to meet at the station for their short walk to work.
Like James, they are long-term users of public transport, having shunned the drive to Belfast in favour of the bus.
Blaithín and Aoife
“Just with parking and traffic in the morning, I just don’t want to sit in it,” said Aoife.
“I’m only 10 minutes up the road, so it’s not too bad for getting to the station. I do drive but I’ve always just got the bus; it’s just handier.”
Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd opens Belfast Grand Central Station
Fresh off the 261 bus, Co Fermanagh students Roma and Hollie have a keen eye on the finances of travel.
“We’d be up about three times a week. I use a yLink card so it’s £7.30 each way, but you can’t get a return ticket,” said Roma.
“I’m in final year doing psychology and I’m just more settled at home, so I get the bus up and down.
“We wouldn’t really drive up, because there isn’t really anywhere to park. I also find I can do a bit of uni work on the bus. I live two minutes away from the bus stop; there is a park and ride there and it is usually full.”
They have had an early start to make their way to the city.
Roma and Holly
“We left at 6.18am, we were both up at 5 o’clock this morning,” said Hollie.
“On the way home though, it takes so long; it takes us two hours. There are awful queues.
“The motorway can be busy in the morning too, so at least the bus can go down the bus lane and get you here in good enough time.
“But if you were driving and you had to find a spot, I’d say you’d probably have to leave at about a quarter to six.”
Leaving that early is not a luxury some people have, with even the Minister admitting that public transport was “not an option for everyone”.
It is clear his message is resonating with those who do find it suitable, but the empty spaces on the station floor indicate there is still some way to go.