Inquiry call amid public transport ‘crisis’ claims

Senior civil servants say funding for provider Translink - which has struggled for years with unprofitable routes - has been cut as part of wider savings and the shortfall is £29 million.

Asked what options there were for more cuts, John McGrath, from the Department for Infrastructure, told a Stormont committee this week: “It won’t be things at the margins, you’re talking about hacking at the bone.”

In recent years, it’s understood Translink has drawn on its financial reserves to maintain the rail and bus network.

Mr McGrath added: “Because of the scale of this, there isn’t a ‘tighten your belt and it’ll be alright’.

“The scale of it means, in our view, the continued viability of the public transport network is in jeopardy.”

Translink has previously warned that people living in rural communities could be left without local bus services because they are not profitable.

At one stage, it was losing about £13 million every year running rural buses.

The public transport operator is funded using fares and Government money. Its government subsidy has fallen by around a fifth since 2013/14.

Jim McBride, local transport lobbyist, says he has long been warning of a “looming crisis” in public transport.

“This is the worst funding crisis we have ever been in since Into the West [Derry-based public transport campaign group] was formed in 2001,” he said.

Mr McBride, who attended this week’s committee meeting at Stormont, said Into the West wanted the Northern Ireland Audit Office and the Public Accounts Committee to examine how the Department of Regional Development and Department of Infrastructure had managed funding for public transport since 2013.

“We are reaping a whirlwind of three years of penny-penching at a time when everywhere else is investing in public transport in the face of climate change,” he said.

Foyle MLA Martina Anderson believes the public transport crisis is a result of Tory austerity cuts.

“British Tory governments have cut the block grant to the North year on year for almost a decade now,” she said.

“These Tory cuts have devastated our public services, creating a crisis in health, mental health and education but it has also affected infrastructure and public transport. Translink, which provides much of our public transport services, and in particular those between rural and urban areas, is now under increased pressure as a result of the continued Tory cuts to public services. Public transport is a fundamental service that many people, both young and old, depend on.

“The British government must end its austerity cuts and fulfil its financial obligations made in the ‘New Decade, New Approach’ agreement to ensure proper investment in infrastructure and public services.”