Bus from Ballymena to Coleraine
4 direct routes · 45–70 min · first bus 08:45, last bus 20:50 (weekdays).
Next buses to Coleraine as of 08:26
Scheduled times at the boarding stop in Ballymena, from the operators' timetables — they update automatically. Open the stop for live tracking.
Direct routes
| Route | Operator | Journey time | Weekday journeys | Days | First | Last | Board at | Get off at | Calls at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 218 | Goldliner | ~45 min | 11 | Sat 13 · Sun 8 | 08:50 | 20:50 | Ballymena Bus & Rail Centre | Coleraine Bus & Rail Centre | Cloughmills & Ballymoney |
3 occasional services — once or twice a day · 218a, 173, 173a
Often school, college or market-day journeys — check the route before relying on one.
| Route | Operator | Journey time | Weekday journeys | Days | First | Last | Board at | Get off at | Calls at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 218a | Goldliner | ~45 min | 2 | weekdays only | 17:40 | 18:40 | Ballymena Bus & Rail Centre | Coleraine Bus & Rail Centre | Cloughmills & Ballymoney |
| 173 | Ulsterbus | ~70 min | 1 | weekdays only | 15:50 | 15:50 | Ballymena Bus & Rail Centre | Coleraine Bus & Rail Centre | Teeshan, Springmount, Cloughmills, Drumabest, Kilraughts, Garryduff & 7 more |
| 173a | Ulsterbus | ~60 min | 1 | weekdays only | 08:45 | 08:45 | Ballymena Bus & Rail Centre | Coleraine Bus & Rail Centre | Teeshan, Springmount, Cloughmills, Drumabest, Kilraughts, Garryduff & 7 more |
Times are for the first boarding point in Ballymena on each route's weekday timetable — open the route for the full timetable, live map and every stop.
The same number runs elsewhere in the UK — see every 218 bus or 173 bus timetable.
Frequently asked questions
Which bus goes from Ballymena to Coleraine?
4 routes run directly from Ballymena to Coleraine: the 218 (Goldliner), the 218a (Goldliner), the 173 (Ulsterbus), the 173a (Ulsterbus). The most frequent is the 218, 11 times each weekday — board at Ballymena Bus & Rail Centre and get off at Coleraine Bus & Rail Centre, about 45 minutes.
How long does the bus take from Ballymena to Coleraine?
Between 45 minutes on the 218 and 70 on the 173, depending on which route you catch and on traffic. It calls at Cloughmills, Ballymoney on the way.
What time is the first and last bus from Ballymena to Coleraine?
On weekdays the first direct bus leaves around 08:45 and the last around 20:50. Check the route timetables for weekends.
How much is the bus from Ballymena to Coleraine?
Translink sets zonal fares on this journey. Smartlink/iLink cards and contactless are cheaper than cash, with daily and weekly caps on Metro and Glider.