Increases 'Just Not Fare', Says Watchdog

The Consumer Council has criticised Translink for its latest fare increase, claiming that customers who pay cash will unfairly be the ones hardest hit.

Translink will increase prices on some journeys by almost 8%, prompting the watchdog to condemn the move.

From next Monday passengers who pay by cash will be faced with average increases of 2.5% on Metro and Ulsterbus services.

This is beacuse there will be no increase in the cost of Smartlink and iLink multi-journey tickets.

However, those who travel with Northern Ireland Railways will face a 4% price hike and, depending on the journey, some could pay fares which are between 5.2% and 7.7% higher.

Antoinette McKeown, the watchdog's Chief Executive, said increasing cash fares in the current economic climate was "the wrong move".

Translink said that it had been working hard to keep fares as low as possible but admitted that most cash bus fares will rise by 10p but also said there will be no increase in the cost of the Enterprise service between Belfast and Dublin.

Translink spokesperson Ciaran Rogan said that customers should use Smartlink cards, which would save customers up to 35% compared to cash fares.

Currently 20% of Metro users and 6% of Ulsterbus customers use a Smartlink card.

Mr Rogan added: "Our bus and train services are used by almost 80 million passengers each year and recent surveys tell us that customer satisfaction remains high.

"We are confident that bus and rail travel is the most attractive and cost effective travel choice, particularly with the sharply increasing prices at the petrol pump."

(BMcC/GK)