Translink director appeals for end to attacks on buses

At a Northern Ireland Translink Holding Company meeting delegates heard Managing Director Ted Hesketh publicly appeal for an end to the increasing attacks on buses throughout the province.

Speaking on Wednesday October 17 Mr Hesketh said: “Just this year Translink have replaced 1742 double glazed bus windows at a cost of £297,000 and 1744 single glazed windows costing £58,000. This is money which could be better spent improving services across Northern Ireland”.

Statistics specific to the almost daily violence in north Belfast reveal that from October 1-17, 97 windows have been smashed on buses at a replacement cost of £90-300. There have been 11 injuries, nine of which were children. five services have been diverted and 14 withdrawn from operation.

A spokesperson for Translink said: “It is the members of the community who are innocently making their way to work that are ultimately affected by these disturbances. They are the ones who are suffering because we have to withdraw much needed transport services.”

At the meeting Mr Hesketh praised staff throughout the three operating companies for continuing to provide an essential public service to all sections of the community, in often difficult conditions.

At the meeting Mr Hesketh also highlighted disruption caused to the railway network across the province: "Security alerts have caused major disruption and inconvenience to our passengers. Since January 1st a total of 2607 rail services have been disrupted. Some 532 Enterprise services have been affected with 1973 local trains and 102 freight trains also suffering as a result".

Translink Chairman Dr Joan Smyth also updated the audience on the investment programme for Northern Ireland Railways confirming the procurement process for the purchase of 23 new trains was on schedule and that a supplier was expected to be named in January 2002.

Dr Smyth called for more innovative thinking in the delivery of pro-public transport measures such as the more rapid introduction of Quality Bus Corridors, which have already proved highly successful.

She highlighted the E-way and Superroute projects as examples of the sort of innovation, which would transform public transport in Northern Ireland. (AMcE)