There will be no increase in rail and public bus fares in the North in the year ahead, Transport Minister Danny Kennedy has announced.
Fares would have been expected to rise by 3% during 2014, however with record levels of passenger growth, Mr Kennedy said it was possible to have an “absolute zero” increase.
Mr Kennedy said: “This announcement will have a positive impact on economic recovery.
“Bus and train users are being rightly rewarded for supporting Translink during 2013 and increasing passenger journeys to record levels.
“Transport for London recently boasted of their good news story of a 2014 fare freeze in real terms – we have gone one better, an absolute freeze and a decrease in real terms.
“Translink has performed better than predicted and has enabled the company to pass on the benefits to their thousands of customers. I want to congratulate them for this performance and all their efforts in delivering a high quality public transport system.
“When I became Minister I promised to focus on developing and improving public transport. It is clear that this policy is working and buses and trains are an increasingly attractive, affordable and accessible option for the public.”
Catherine Mason, Translink group chief executive, said she hoped more people would look at the cost savings and benefits of using the bus and train as the “better travel option.”
She added: “This is the second time we have frozen our fares in recent years and is down to good business management and increasing passengers on board.
“Many of our customers tell us that using the bus and train is already a very cost effective way for them to travel – this news today will no doubt be very welcome to them particularly when other households costs for fuel, food and energy are increasing.”
Ms Mason, who is set to leave Translink in the coming months, concludedL: “We would urge more people to look at the range of comments from our customers on the Translink website who have shared why they prefer the bus and train.”
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