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Transport blow as train and bus fares set to soar
Thursday, 23 April 2009
BUS and train fares in Northern Ireland are set to rise despite an indication from Translink that passengers would benefit from falling fuel prices.
The company said today that NI Railways fares would be increased from May 4 by an average of 3%, while Ulsterbus and Goldline fares were going up by 2%.
Cash fares on Metro are to go up by 10p per journey, but the price of Metro Smartlink multi-journey cards is being pegged.
The company said that Smartlink advance purchase tickets offered savings of 40p per journey.
Fares on cross-border services are subject to an even heftier hike — with Enterprise tickets costing 10% more and coach journeys set to go up by 13%.
On Ulsterbus, the minimum fare and the three lowest fares are all going up by 10p, but the maximum single fare remains at £10, while the maximum day return fare is fixed at £15.
Translink had no immediate comment to make on the reasons for the increase, but a statement was due to be released later today.
The fares announcement is a blow to consumers, coming as it does 24 hours after the Budget, in which fuel duty was increased.
Last August Translink raised its fares on the Metro service. It increased by 6.4%, while Ulsterbus and NIR fares were increased by 5% and 4.2% respectively.
In real terms that meant a 10p hike on the current cost of Metro and Smartlink Multi-Journey tickets, while Ulsterbus and NIR users were hit by a maximum rise of 50p on single fares.
At the time, the company blamed the increase on rising fuel costs, but failed to bring them down when fuel costs eased.
On foot of a freedom of information request, the company told the Belfast Telegraph that it should, in time, benefit from falling international fuel prices.
On the Londonderry railway line, the increase is being deferred until the completion of engineering works on June 30.
Day tickets on Ulsterbus town services are being increased from £1.70 to £2.40 but a new day return ticket of £2 is being introduced.
Fares on the Airport Express 600 bus service to George Best Belfast City Airport are being revised to £2 single and £3 return.
On the Sprucefield and Black’s Road park and ride routes, fares are remaining unchanged.
Last month Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy announced that Translink would be shedding 75 jobs.
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Comments
31 Comments
Heard Nolan interviewing Ciaran Rogan on the radio. As is usual with Translink Nolan might as well have been speaking to a lamp post.
How much longer do we have to put up with this joke of a service in this country. This is 2009 and on the Larne line we experience leaking trains in the winter and absolutely no heat whatsoever - yet Translink recently won a national award for their train services!!! Obviously their nomination was based on their service on Bangor and Portadown lines.
Posted by Fed up commuter | 25.04.09, 16:23 GMT
Translink have gone too far - they don't have the Troubles any more as a handy excuse (back when broken windows were considered acceptable enough in trains for travelling in - I remember it all too well! It's thanks to the Grace of God that nobody was seriously injured that day!) - time they woke up and gave a service that is value for money (. For those with short memories - remember the Panorama programme which exposed NI public transport as the second worst in the world (next to Albania no less). Time to get rid of some of the fat cats at the top and we might begin to get a better service. Someone should start up an independant company and steal away their passengers - they'd soon squeal then!
Posted by Donegore | 24.04.09, 15:07 GMT
Andy - Are you for real?
You must work from translink and therefore get free travel?
Translink are then simply facing the same problems as any other company having to balance its books. The difference of course being that passengers only have one option if they want to use public transport.
Did it ever occur to anyone is translink to REDUCE the fares some time? Especially for people who use it for work and therefore pay £1k or £2k each year.
This would abviously generate some good news stories for them and possibly attract more users?
Posted by John | 24.04.09, 14:38 GMT
In the areas where Translink has competition - Derry to Belfast; Newry to Belfast; Dublin to Belfast - their fares have all been reduced. Other routes on which they have a monopoly are too high. It's pretty self-explanatory!
Posted by Anne | 24.04.09, 14:03 GMT
i think that the reason for the price hike yet again is because translink know that less and less people are willing to use their service so they need to grab as mush money as possible now, a bit like kicking you when you are already beaten and broke
Posted by cieran | 24.04.09, 09:20 GMT
Well someone's got to pay for the Chief Executives whopping salary, Not to mention the layers of middle management. Translink must be one of the most overloaded with management transport company's known. I do wish some investigative journalist would delve deeper into the mamagement salaries and management levels of this public sector organisation.
Posted by Bergman | 24.04.09, 08:18 GMT
The problem in Northern Ireland is simple, Translink have a monopoly!
How this is legal I do not know, put simply if you want to use public transport you have to use Translink.
Solution? Declare Translink a monopoly and split the Rail and Bus sections of the company up. With competition comes better rates for the customer if its cheaper to Bus it to Dublin then the Rail faires will come down and vice versa.
Makes sense so sadly its the only option you can guarentee wont happen, our MLA's are far too busy deciding what 'Fleg' should be hanging from City Hall and writing letters in 3 languages (2 of which are dead)
Emigration is looking very tempting these days...
Posted by Disenfranchised Yoof | 24.04.09, 01:27 GMT
I was a regular traveller from Carrickfergus to Belfast until recently when I took a job in Larne. For the Belfast journey I paid £77.50 per month which given the traffic congestion on the road and the lack of available free parking in Belfast was just about acceptable. What was unacceotable and still is is the state of the trains used on the Larne line which are the dregs of their fleet. Despite this whilst not getting the standard of service other lines enjoy we are burdened with the same level of fare increases which is totally inacceptable. What is worse is that the monthly rail fare from Carrickfergus to Larne is £107.00 per month with no alternative available. Yet from Larne to Belfast the fare is £128.00 per month. Why is the fare only £20.00 per month cheaper for half the journey and a much less frequent service? take the car to Larne which costs me around £60 a month in fuel, gives greater comfort and convenience and there is ample free parking available and it is £50 less!!
Posted by Forgotten Outpost | 23.04.09, 22:39 GMT
What is not very well known is that DRD is expecting Translink to survive with a bare minimum of revenue subsidy - the PSO funding is all but gone, so Metro, Ulsterbus and NIR all have to pay for their services out of the fare box (plus the funding from the Concessionary Fares Scheme) and at least break even. DRD only appears to be funding capital works long-term, and while there may be some PSO this year, there'll be none at all very very soon.
In context, 2-3% on internal fares is a fraction of the annual rises we have suffered over the last 15 years. The 10%+ rise in cross-border fares I would suspect has an awful lot to do with the collapse in sterling against the euro and the fact that in real terms, it's far cheaper to pay in sterling than in euros.
The other thing is that Translink could have implemented a 9% rise in fares in one go last April, rather than staging it across April and September - I think we're lucky not to have got another 5% rise this spring.
Posted by Andy | 23.04.09, 22:00 GMT
I have travelled on many bus services in the UK and in the Republic and must say Translinks' buses are among the most poorly maintained I have experienced. . The buses I travel on often have broken seats, totally ineffective heating and ventilation systems and windows covered on the inside with grime and dirt. I wouldn't object to high fares if the buses were properly maintained. Translink have a duty to provide certain standards and they fall well short of this where maintenance seems to consist of new tyres and a lick of paint now and again.
Posted by Allan | 23.04.09, 19:41 GMT
The one think Translink needs is competition!!!! Look at the cost of the Dublin Airport run before and after Translink got competitors.
Time to break up a monopoly and have alternatives.
Posted by Mary | 23.04.09, 19:19 GMT
Somebody has to pay for the Chief Executive's whopping salary, allegedly over £200,000 per annum (more than the Prime Minister is paid), let alone the layers of middle management, junior management, etc. etc. Translink must be one of the most overloaded with management transport companies world wide. At one level there is a ton of management, all public sector employees on fat salaries, then there is the 'lower' scale, the drivers, guards, and other employees etc. When all is said and done we are a tiny country, just 1.7 millions person, roughly speakin, yet we have one of the most bloated with management transport companies in the world. And it is questionable whether they are efficient or not? What do you think?
Posted by Bergman | 23.04.09, 19:15 GMT
Translink have no chance in justifying this increase. I believe in public transport, but its rubbish here, and I feel sorry for anyone who simply has to use it.
I'd walk a long way before making myself confront one of their surly, unhelpful drivers; paying their high fares; or waiting half a day for their infrequent vehicles.
As for the Belfast/Dublin train. This is already a laughing stock, with its 43mph average speed, and constantly break downs.
Compared to the rest of Europe we have the slowest, most infrequent, most expensive bus and train services, and now we are expected to pay even more for yet more of Translink's mistakes!
Anyone who uses Translink when they don't have to must be mad, or a glutton for punishemnt. A consumer boycott would soon waken them up.
Posted by Plannisaurus Rex | 23.04.09, 18:16 GMT
I have now lost count of the number of price increases from Translink these past few years. That company is a joke. They have said that they want more people to use the public transport and yet they continue to up the fares! They keep going down that road they're on, they'll be driving people OFF the public transport, not on to it.
Posted by Gavin | 23.04.09, 17:28 GMT
Typical, once it goes up it NEVER comes down. They stock piled oil last year at the when the Oil price was at its peak (Stupid) and now we are made to suffer. Just another salp in the kisser for the consumer, looks like companies can do whatever they like!!
Posted by John | 23.04.09, 16:07 GMT
I left Belfast a year ago and the fares were £1.30. last time i was home they were up to £1.50, now they'll be £1.60??? the airport bus also went up a quid how can that be justified?
Posted by Catherine | 23.04.09, 15:38 GMT
Unbelieveble.
2 increases last year and now this.
I am a smartlink user on an express service.
Once again the faithful customer is being hit.
Can't take it much longer
Posted by John | 23.04.09, 15:33 GMT
It may be a good idea to examine Translinks real costs of doing business. A management change may be in order,or perhaps the workers might find more economical ways to do their jobs. It always strikes me that it is easier for management to increase prices rather than find better ways to conduct their businesses. This also applies to government at all levels.
Posted by RMS | 23.04.09, 15:31 GMT
Pauline, ive just posted but seen your comment when the page refreshed. What exactly are you getting at??
The train service I mentioned in previous comment is usually not far from empty for reasons I posted. If they charged people less so more use the service, then they could invest in a better service, ie more trains, buses, staff etc.
Part of the problem is like in similar situations before them. The government privatises a monopoly public service like BT or NIE for quick capital and less responsibility. The government nievely believes it can regulate these companies so they dont turn completely profit driven. But after the deal they do there own thing and government do not have little power to stop them. What they can do is give grants etc for other companies start up and compete or go through the litigation process on competition/monopoly laws etc. This would be too much hard work for politicians so while people are prepared to pay, they will sit back.
Posted by Commuter to Belfast | 23.04.09, 15:28 GMT
This isn't very surprising news. The price of fuel increased (to the motorist) by 3% last month alone; did anyone pass remark? The 'angry from Belfast' comments are flooding this board as usual. Get real!
Posted by Patrick D | 23.04.09, 15:27 GMT
31 Comments