Services and discounts could face cuts under Translink savings plans

Some public transport services could be reduced and fare discounts removed under proposals by Northern Ireland's network operator Translink, to make £10m worth of savings.

Cuts to services across Metro, Ulsterbus and NI Railways are being explored under the proposals, Translink's chief executive told a Stormont committee.

Chris Conway acknowledged it would be "very disappointing and concerning" for passengers, but said the measures were to "protect Translink from a financially unsustainable position".

Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) assembly member John Stewart, deputy chair of the infrastructure committee, described the plans as "deeply worrying".

Speaking at the assembly's infrastructure committee, Conway said options were "going through an equality screening process" and a consultation would begin shortly.

Translink is publicly owned but operates at arm's length from Stormont's Department for Infrastructure (DfI).

A spokesperson for DfI said there is no agreed budget, and added that the department continues to work closely with Translink.

Conway said its public service agreement "has not been funded by DfI over the last couple of years" and subsidies per passenger were "well below other regions in the UK and Ireland".

"We have made a loss of £23m in the 25/26 year and we made a loss in the previous year as well," he said.

"The early indications from the draft budget are that the public service agreement will continue to be underfunded, and that's what gives us most concern.

"Therefore we are obliged to start the process of service reductions and the removal of fare discounts which are no longer affordable.

"These options are going through an equality screening process at the minute and we will launch an equality impact assessment consultation on this shortly."

Conway said the plans were "very targeted service reductions aimed at generating savings but minimising the impact on passengers".

He said they were considering a reduction in evening services that tend to be "lighter used" and a removal of fare discounts for young people and families.

"We're targeting an additional £10m of savings," he said.

Conway, who is soon to leave his role as chief executive, said: "I realise this is very disappointing and concerning news for many of our passengers and certainly in my last six weeks in Translink it's not something I wanted to bring to the committee.

"It really is with much regret that we have to take these measures but they are proactive measures to protect Translink from a financially unsustainable position."

Conway said that in the longer term, "wider network changes will be required to address the funding shortfall".

"And the future shape and size of the network will need further consultation," he added.

Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster's Evening Extra programme, the chair of the infrastructure committee said while they knew that Translink were in "some level of financial difficulty", they "didn't really see this one coming".

Peter Martin said it was a "very serious issue for people across Northern Ireland".

"I am very concerned regarding any loss of routes or concessionary fares, but ultimately it's for the minister to make these decisions."

Martin asked Conway in the committee about the impact of DfI fare freezes on Translink.

Last month Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins announced Translink fares would be frozen for the second year in a row.

Conway said that over the past nine years there had been five fare freezes.

"Conservatively, those five fare freezes have cost us over £20m of revenue," he told the committee.

"So if you look at the gap that we have at the minute you can see that the cumulative effect of not having fare increases has an impact.

"And that's something that needs to be considered in any funding."

A DfI spokesperson said their "priority is to support passengers and protect access to public transport.

"It is the minister's firm position that public transport must be affordable for people, and that is the only way to sustain a growth in passenger numbers."

Livai Naga is always commuting from Lisburn to Belfast as he has tech three days a week and relies heavily on the reduced fares for students.

"It would be a shame if they do take away some of the price drop for students because it comes in handy for us," he said.

"It would be very sad to see it go."

He added that it would have "quite a big impact" if services were cut.

Darren Holman commutes from Moira into Belfast.

He said if Translink "changes the amount of trains they have on, obviously you think about how you get into work, the times you want to travel".

"It would probably make you think that it might not be as cost effective to use public transport."

He said it would "probably drive people" to use their cars in the morning.

Dorothy Turnbull is visiting Northern Ireland from Newcastle in England.

She said she was "amazed" by the transport services on offer in Northern Ireland, particularly in rural towns.

She said it would be a concern if services were cut for older people.

"If they can't get out and about because they can't get that service that's going to impact their health, particularly their mental health."

Melvin Egan is originally from England but has been living in Northern Ireland for the past 18 months.

"He said a reduction in services would have a "great impact", as the public transport system is "vital" and particularly "crucial" for older people.

He said the public transport system in Northern Ireland was "much better" and "much cheaper".