Translink Price Hikes In Effect

Increases to prices across Translink's services have come into effect, following two years of being frozen.

Most Metro fares have increased by 10p, while Ulsterbus journeys have increased on average by 4% and NI Railways 4.5%.

The increase in prices is above the rate of inflation. Translink has recommended customers use multi-journey ticket deals to help save money.

The Consumer Council has called on Translink to inform passengers how to switch to the best value fares.

Aodhan O’Donnell, interim chief executive at the Consumer Council, said: "Translink announced broad average fare increases across each of its services but passengers need to be informed about the actual level of increase they will face for the service they use or ticket they buy. Put simply, if Translink are asking passengers to pay more they must be clear with their customers by how much, and for what services.

"The fact is that there are so many different ticketing options available on Translink's services that many people will not understand exactly what their new fare will be from 16 February. Many may also find themselves paying more than the average level of fare increases announced. Translink need to provide transparent and customer focused communications ahead of the fare increase so that passengers can make informed choices about what service is best value for them."

SDLP Spokesperson on Transport John Dallat said: "It appears that Translink has embarked on a campaign to cause the maximum irritation with those that they should be consulting with. The Assembly’s Regional Development Committee, which has a statutory responsibility to scrutinise those companies under the control of the Department of Regional Development, was not informed of the increases and given no opportunity to have any input in the alterations to the fare structure of buses and trains. The Consumer Council, which also has a statutory responsibility to represent the public on issues relating to public transport, was also left in the dark.

"All this comes against a background of falling fuel prices which obviously do not reflect in the fare increases now imposed by Translink on the hard-pressed commuters, many of whom who haven’t seen a pay increase for years.

"In recent years Translink obtained millions of pounds of public money to purchase new energy-efficient buses and trains but again this is not reflected in these fare increases. To add insult to injury Translink has made little effort to inform the public on how they can save money by purchasing multiple journey tickets.

"My greatest fear is that this is not the last traunch of fare increases to be imposed by Translink who are on a collision course with the DRD Committee and indeed, the travelling public."

(IT)