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Friday, March 29, 2024

Translink rail fares to rise by 3%

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Translink has announced that fares on Metro, NI Railways and Ulsterbus will increase by an average of 3% at the end of the month.

However, the BBC has reported that there could be more ‘significant’ rises to come as Translink ‘is expected to head towards a multi-million pound loss in the coming years’.

The Department for Regional Development (DRD) has revealed the ‘full extent’ of the company’s financial position.

The BBC said Translink’s three-year plan shows the company moving into the red next year and ‘facing long-term funding problems’.

The report, seen by the BBC, claims says Translink ‘will make a profit of £2m this year but will then start to make significant losses with a deficit of £11.6m expected in 2013-2014, and £10.5m the following year (2014-15)’.

The report says further fare rises could be on the way: “To achieve a balanced position in 2013-14 could mean significant fare increases beyond inflation, re-examination of Translink services and potentially other departmental funded schemes.”

Translink’s Marketing Executive, Ciaran Rogan said:

“We have held all our fares for almost 2 years despite the rising fuel costs and we know our customers really appreciated this fares freeze in these tough economic times.

“Fares on average are rising by 3%. This is unfortunately necessary as many of our costs are rising sharply – but we have kept it as low as possible and below inflation.”

1 COMMENT

  1. Time to let the private operators in Translink.. Costing the tax payer a bomb.
    When is the Belfast Airport line going to be opened again???
    The major International airport and no rail transport, but wouldnt mind but the line is there and they are off buying fleets of new buses ?????

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