GOOD news for Derry commuters: public bus and rail fares will be rise FOR another 12 months at least.
Stormont’s Transport Minister Michelle McIlveen said she took the decision to freeze fares because of the fall in fuel prices and to encourage more people to use public transport.
In January, a new fleet of single and double decker buses were introduced by Translink on the Derry to Belfast route.
Last year, Translink’s bus and train fares rose by more than three times the rate of inflation from February 2015
This year’s price freeze has been welcomed as “good news” by the Consumer Council and the charity Sustrans.
Ms McIlveen said public transport company Translink had experienced less than expected growth in passenger numbers during the last year.
“When this is combined with a difficult economic climate and relatively cheap fuel costs, a fare increase at this time would only deter people from using public transport,” the minister said.
Translink’s group chief executive, Chris Conway, said: “Freezing our fares at last year’s levels is not only good news for our customers but will also help to attract even more people to choose the bus, coach and train as a better way to travel.”
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