Council writes to Translink over proposed service cuts and fare increases

Translink recently held a public consultation on proposed service reductions and fare increases through the removal of bus and rail services after 10pm on Monday to Wednesday, off-peak day return fares, and other promotional fairs.

During September’s council meeting, People Before Profit Councillor Shaun Harkin put forward a motion, which read:

“Council agrees the expansion of public transport, bus and rail, is an urgent priority to reduce congestion, pollution and accessibility.

“Council also agrees public transport should be reduced in cost in order to increase affordability.

“Therefore, Council is alarmed at Translink's consultation on the reduction of public transport services and the removal of discount fares.

“Council agrees cuts to public transport and increased fare costs goes in the wrong direction and must be opposed.

“Council supports the trade union and student union campaign opposing transport cuts and fare hikes.

“Council will write to Translink making clear our opposition to public transport cuts and increased fare costs.

“Council calls on and will write to the DfI Minister urging intervention to ensure cuts and fare hikes are not necessary, and to increase funding for public transport to expand it and reduce it in cost.

“Council will invite UNITE, GMB, SIPTU and NUS-USI for an urgent deputation to outline their concerns.”

Sinn Féin councillor Collette McAllister supported the motion and said the public transport sector was under ‘significant financial pressures’, due to years of underfunding.

“The main cause is the legacy of the underfunding in this part of Ireland by the British government over many decades, systematic underinvestment, and a willingness to just ignore the basic needs of our citizens,” Councillor McAllister said.

“I'd argue this is yet another example of the need for constitutional change as both necessary and inclusive.”

“Negative spending decisions in London, including their continued obsession with investing in unnecessary and unwanted militarisation, leaves us without the additional income, which would be much better invested within our health service, our education sector, our roads, public transport infrastructure and social support,” she added.

Councillor McAllister welcomed DfI’s recent £1 million investment for a new park and ride facility in Strabane, as, she said, public transport is needed to tackle isolation in rural areas.

“This is a community that has lived with the consequences of deprivation, underinvestment and regional imbalance for far too long.

“For a town like Strabane public transport is not simply about getting from A to B, it's about connecting people with jobs and educational opportunities, accessing health services, and giving our communities that have been left behind for far too long a chance to prosper,” she said.

The Translink public consultation closed on Wednesday, September 30.