Transport Fares Frozen for Second Year
Translink fares will remain unchanged for the second consecutive year, following a decision by Stormont's Infrastructure Minister, Liz Kimmins.
Kimmins recognized that this decision was made amid challenging financial conditions for the public transport provider.
Rising Costs and Fuel Prices
According to data from the Northern Ireland Consumer Council, diesel prices in Northern Ireland have increased by nearly 40% since the onset of the Iran war. This rise contributes to higher operational costs for Translink, although the company has mitigated some of the impact by pre-purchasing diesel at lower prices.
Additionally, a growing portion of Translink's bus fleet operates on electricity rather than diesel fuel.
Minister's Statement on Fare Freeze
Minister Kimmins emphasized her commitment to prioritizing consumers during the ongoing crisis.
"This is an extremely constrained budget environment and there are no easy choices. Freezing fares for a second year has required careful consideration.
I will keep working with Translink to manage pressures responsibly and to ensure the best possible services within the funding available.
I do not believe it would be right to increase public transport fares and place further pressure on workers and families."
Translink's Financial and Operational Context
Translink is a publicly owned entity operating independently from the Department of Infrastructure. The company required additional financial support to avoid collapse during the pandemic, when passenger numbers dropped significantly.
Since then, passenger numbers have mostly rebounded, especially on the Glider service in Belfast. Despite this recovery, budget constraints persist, forcing Translink to utilize its financial reserves to maintain service operations.
Translink's Commitment to Sustainable Transport
A Translink spokesperson stated:
"Translink will continue to work closely with the Department for Infrastructure to champion greater investment in public transport, recognising its vital role in enabling a greener, better connected and more sustainable future.
We currently have around 250 zero emissions (ZE) buses – the Foyle Metro fleet in Derry~Londonderry is a full ZE fleet while Metro fleet in Belfast currently is made up of approx 50% ZE vehicles."
