07/12/2001

Bus services restored in west and north Belfast

Bus services which were withdrawn from areas of north and west Belfast following attacks on drivers and buses have been restored.

Ciaran Rogan from Translink said the services have been restored following consultation with the communities concerned and discussion with the drivers unions.

The services will now revert to their previous timetables, enabling buses to run up until 9pm and 9.25pm.

Last month, services to Turf Lodge and Poleglass did not run after 6pm, services to Lagmore stopped at 6.10pm and the service to Glencairn was withdrawn after 7pm following an escalation in the number of attacks on drivers, particularly in the north Belfast region.

The decision to cut back on evening services in the affected areas was taken after Translink said the attacks were costing the company more than £1 million.

Welcoming the news SDLP assembly member Patricia Lewsley said: “This is good news for the people who have been seriously inconvenienced over the last number of weeks. Many elderly people and mothers with young children use the bus service and they have been greatly inconvenienced by the disruption to the service. While I acknowledge that the safety of Translink staff must be a priority, and I understand the concern caused by attacks which have been taken place on staff, it is also important that those living in West Belfast are not deprived of a bus service.” (AMcE)

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