Is anyone else ripping our public transport fares are rising again? I understand the fact Translink are not getting enough money to deliver the services we so badly need - and I don’t totally blame the Department for Infrastructure for that.
Peter McClenaghan, Director of Infrastructure and Sustainability at the Consumer Council says the move will “disproportionately affect low-income passengers” and he’s right. Their wages there are higher and yet their daily costs are so much lower when it comes to the likes of public transport, plus they are much better served than we are.
The SDLP’s Mark H Durkan says this latest price blow in NI highlights sustained failings from the NI Executive to invest in our public transport systems and that it could threaten the future viability of the network. “It’s frustrating to see the Executive and the Department, serve as a case study of ‘what not to do’ in terms of public transport investment and management. If we’re serious about tackling the climate emergency, we need to take steps to make cleaner modes of transport more accessible. These continued price hikes are entirely the wrong direction of travel. It’s imperative public transport is prioritised to ensure it remains a viable and affordable option for everyone.
“This Translink increase could restrict growth in the number of people using public transport and conflicts with Government policy to increase the number of people using public transport. What people want from their transport services is buses and trains that operate on time and often enough to make them a viable option when they don’t have a car or want to reduce their carbon footprint.On Thursday I was in Dublin for work - and a delay to the Enterprise back to Belfast meant I missed my connecting service to Holywood by a few minutes.