Buses and trains
The Consumer Council works with government departments who fund public transport services and public transport operators such as Translink and Northern Ireland Railways, to ensure that passengers are represented in decisions on how public transport is funded and delivered in Northern Ireland. We carry out research into how the public view public transport and monitor standards of service. The Consumer Council can also investigate complaints from passengers who use public buses and trains.
Public Transport - On the right track?
Getting the best value for money
Public Transport - On the right track? A research report into attitudes of public transport in Northern Ireland
The Consumer Council commissioned research to find out how public transport is viewed by those who use it regularly and by those who rarely, if ever, travel by public transport. Understanding their views will help identify how much progress has been made in improving public transport over the last number of years. The views and feedback provided in this report will be used to help inform how public transport develops in the future.
The research report can be viewed at the link below, or to request a copy please contact the Consumer Council on 028 9067 2488.
http://www.consumercouncil.org.uk/publications/?id=407
Getting the best value for money
There are a range of discount offers available on public transport:
Multi journey tickets– Smartlink cards, weekly tickets or monthly tickets are cheaper than buying the equivalent single or return tickets. Smartlink cards can be used on Ulsterbus or Metro services and save around 25 per cent on the cash fare. Train passengers can save around 20 per cent if they buy a weekly ticket compared to five return tickets. Visit www.translink.co.uk for more information.
Discount Cards - If you’re aged 16–21 and travel regularly by train, a Rail Discount Card can save you 20 per cent on weekly and monthly season tickets. It costs £7 and is valid for a full calendar year. It is worth checking Translink’s current promotional fares, they may be cheaper than your student discount, for example a daily return ticket on the train to Dublin can be as little as £10 when booked online and some early bird bus service promotions are good value. Check offers with your local bus or train station.
Senior Smartpass – There are two types: The 60 Plus Smartpass for those aged 60 to 64 and the Senior Smartpass for over 65s. Both offer free travel throughout Northern Ireland on any Translink bus or rail service but the Senior Smartpass also offers free cross border travel. (You must have been a resident for a minimum of three months in Northern Ireland to be eligible for both).
Half–Fare SmartPass - gives 50 per cent off the standard adult single fare on scheduled bus and rail services in Northern Ireland. You are only entitled if you meet certain criteria, for example if you are refused a driving license on medical grounds. Pick up an application form from your local bus or rail Station, Social Security Office, Health and Social Services Trust or Driving and Vehicle Agency (DVA) or phone 0845 600 0049.
Concessionary passes can also be used on services operated by Airporter, B&C Coaches , Cavehill Coaches , Logan's Executive Travel, Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway Company and McAnulty's Coach Hire.
Rapid Transit
Rapid Transit will bring a reliable and modern public transport service to Belfast, linking people to jobs, hospitals, schools and colleges. It will reflect Belfast as a growing metropolitan area, going forward into the 21st century.
The service will be designed to be customer friendly with real-time information, off-board ticketing and level access to vehicle services. The Consumer Council is working with the Department for Regional Development to ensure that the system is designed to meet the needs of passengers. As part of this a focus group was held with a range of consumers in May 2008, a copy of the report from this group can be found at this link:
Consumer Council Rapid Transit Research - click here to download a presentation of the findings
Proposed Routes
There are three routes planned in the pilot project stage linking Belfast City Centre and the Titanic Quarter development, Dundonald in East Belfast and Glenmona in West Belfast. In time, the network may be extended beyond these pilot routes.
Titanic quarter: will be linked to Belfast City centre. The journey time is expected to be under 10 minutes. This route will link into the Odyssey as well as the Titanic Signature Project, the new Belfast Metropolitan College, the Public Record Office and the Northern Ireland Science Park.
West Belfast route: will connect Belfast City Centre with the Royal Victoria Hospital and West Belfast. It is expected to carry around 1 million passengers a year with 55% at rush hour coming from current car users. All the route options are currently being investigated to determine the best route for West Belfast.
East Belfast route: will link Belfast City Centre with Dundonald. It is expected to carry over 2 million passengers a year and it will attract over 20% of its rush hour passengers from current car users. All the route options are currently being investigated to determine the best route alignment for East Belfast.
Further information can be found on the Department for Regional Development website:
http://www.drdni.gov.uk/index/rapid-transit.htm
Accessible Transport
As well as improvements in the accessibility of mainstream public transport, other options are:
Translink Services
Translink have produced guides for people with disabilities on how they can access their services. They are called “More Services More Accessible” and the “NI Railways Disabled People’s Access Guide”. These guides can be requested from Translink’s Call Centre on 028 90 66 66 30, by emailing feedback@translink.co.uk or can be viewed online at the following links:
http://www.translink.co.uk/moreservicesmoreaccessible2.asp
http://www.translink.co.uk/nirdisabledpeoplesaccessguide.asp
Door-2-Door
Door-2-Door Transport provides a local urban transport service in 29 areas across Northern Ireland for people with disabilities, or for those who find it difficult using normal public transport.
Door-2-Door Transport will allow you to get about the town you live in but you will need to meet one of the following criteria;:
- you are in receipt of the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance;
- you are in receipt of the higher rate care component of Disability Living Allowance;
- you are in receipt of the higher rate care component of Attendance Allowance;
- you are registered blind;
- you are 80 years of age or older.
You will also need to live within one of the Membership Catchment Areas of the service. See the website below for more information.
If none of the above applies to you, you can apply for membership through your doctor (he/she will need to confirm that you find it difficult or impossible to use mainstream public transport).
Further details can be found on the Door-2-Door website - http://www.door2door-ni.info/ , by calling 0845 9 800 800, by fax on (028) 9054 0598 or you can apply through SMS by texting "D2D" with your name and address (including postcode) to 077 7614 2318.
Community Transport
Community Transport is a charity that provides accessible door-to-door and group travel services to community groups, older people and people with disabilities on a non-profit making basis throughout Northern Ireland. A community transport operator can be located in most parts of the country, in both urban and rural areas.
Community transport services are focused on individual needs - people with disabilities can travel on the minibuses as easily as anyone else; older people can make use of social cars – what’s this? for an important appointment.
Details are available by calling 0845 650 1190 or online at the following link:
http://www.communitytransport-ni.com/
Taxis
For many consumers, taxis are the only way to get from A to B. The Consumer Council has a guide to taking taxis which helps consumers understand their rights and responsibilities and explains how to get a legal, reliable taxi at a reasonable cost.
The guide can be downloaded from the link below, or to receive a free copy please contact the Consumer council on tele/textphone 028 9067 2488, or email info@consumercouncil.org.uk
Download your free taxi guide here.
Got a complaint?
The Consumer Council campaigns for better public transport for Northern Ireland passengers and handles complaints from passengers travelling to, from or within Northern Ireland by bus, train, air and sea. We can help individual passengers with their complaint and also work with companies at a policy level to improve systems and procedures that cause complaints in the first place. We have established relationships with all the main transport providers and Government Transport policy divisions in Northern Ireland.
