What is iLink?  / iLink New Zones / Benefits  /  Buying & Topping-Up iLink

iLink is available for adults and children and is ideal if you travel by both bus and train to your destination on a regular basis.

Find out about our new iLink Single Tickets >>

It is a smartcard which you can top-up again and again, so when you need more travel you simply bring the same iLink Card back to one of our sales outlets and top-up your card with travel for a day week or month. 

Buy Online >> 

Please download the following leaflets for your information:

iLink User Guide >> (Adobe PDF Document 802Kb)

iLink Promotional Leaflet >> (Adobe PDF Document 612Kb)

iLink Fares>>

iLink New Zones

iLink is now be available for travel within 5 ZONES in Northern Ireland, Zones 1, 2, 3, 4 and the North West Zone

Zone Changes

• There is no change to iLink Zones 1 and 2. If you already have an iLink Zone 1 or Zone 2 card you can continue to use your card within the same zone boundaries as before.
• The existing iLink Zone 3, which covered all Translink bus and rail services across Northern Ireland has been renamed iLink Zone 4, which covers the same area (all of NI).
• iLink Zone 4 is the old Zone 3, renamed.

 Already have an iLink Zone 3 card?

If you have an old iLink Zone 3 card, depending on where you travel - You wil need to:

• *Swap your card for a new iLink Zone 4 card which provides travel on all Translink services throughout Northern Ireland or
• *Swap your card for a new iLink North West Zone card which provides travel on Ulsterbus and NI Railways services in the North West Area or
• *Swap your card for a new iLink Zone 3 card which provides travel on Ulsterbus and NI Railways services within the new Zone 3 boundary.
• If you choose not to swap your current iLink Zone 3 card, it will remain valid for use within the new iLink Zone 4.

*You can swap you old iLink Zone 3 card at Translink Stations at the earliest opportunity and before 31 January 2012

Benefits of iLink

It saves you money.  If you travel by bus and train within specified zones, using iLink could be better value for money than buying separate bus and train tickets.  Check out the prices to see if iLink suits you.

• There are no restrictions on the number of bus or rail journeys you can make on your iLink Card within the Zone for which your card has been issued.
• It is a safer, cash free way to make your daily bus and rail journeys.
• iLink helps speed up boarding times on buses making overall journey times faster for everyone.
• If you lose your iLink Card it can be ‘hotlisted’ (electronically deactivated) to prevent anyone else from using it fraudulently.
• iLink cards can only be used be used by one person per journey, but you can pass your card to a friend or family member if they are travelling at a different time within the same zone.
  

Buying and Topping Up ILink

Buy Online >> 

You can buy your iLink card and your first top-up of day, weekly or monthly travel, within a specific zone, or at:

• Main Translink bus or train stations
• Metro Kiosk, Donegall Square West, Belfast
• Belfast Welcome Centre, Donegall Place, Belfast
• Belfast International Airport Welcome Centre
• George Best Belfast City Airport Welcome Centre
• Derry Visitor & Convention Bureau
• Queen's University Students' Union

You can top-up iLink with day, weekly and monthly travel only at:

• Main Translink bus or train stations
• PayPoint Agents across Northern Ireland
• With the driver or conductor on board Ulsterbus and NI Railways services (day and weekly top-ups only) 
• Smartlink Agents within Greater Belfast
• Metro Kiosk, Donegall Square West, Belfast
• Belfast Welcome Centre, Donegall Place, Belfast
• Belfast International Airport Welcome Centre
• George Best Belfast City Airport Welcome Centre
• Derry Visitor & Convention Bureau
• Queen's University Students' Union

You cannot top-up your iLink Card on board a Metro service.

You can top-up with one day, one week or one month or in varying periods of validity e.g. one week top-up followed by a one month top-up.Travel on your iLink Card is valid from the date you first use your card on a bus or train.

When you top-up iLink with any additional days the validity of the card is extended from the date you top-up e.g. if you have 3 days left on your card and you top-up with a further 7 days, your iLink Card immediately becomes valid for 10 days from the date you top-up, and not 3 days plus a further 7 days from the date you first use your newly purchased travel.