Tell Translink: Don't Make Passengers Pay for Political Failure

Northern Ireland's public transport system is being pushed backwards.

The proposed cuts to late-night buses and trains, higher family fares, and reduced discounts for young people are not inevitable. They are the consequence of years of political underfunding, leaving Translink under pressure to make savings at the expense of passengers.

The people who will suffer most are those who have the fewest alternatives: young people, disabled people, older people, shift workers, families, and anyone who cannot afford to or chooses not to drive a car.

These proposals will also hit rural communities particularly hard. Many rural areas already have limited or infrequent public transport, leaving people with few options to stay connected to their communities. Reducing services even further risks increasing isolation and making rural life even more dependent on car ownership.

Cutting services and increasing fares will make it harder for people to get to work, education, hospital appointments and home safely after a night out. It will push more people back into cars, increase congestion, damage our environment, and make it even harder for Northern Ireland to meet its climate commitments.

Public transport should not be treated as a business whose success is measured solely by balancing the books. It is a public service that supports our economy, connects communities, and gives people the freedom to travel safely and affordably.

We urge Translink to reject these proposals and to continue making the case for the long-term investment our public transport network desperately needs.

We also call on the Northern Ireland Executive to provide the sustainable funding required to protect and improve public transport, rather than forcing passengers to pay the price for years of underinvestment.

Public transport should connect communities, not leave them behind.

Add your name today and stand up for affordable, reliable public transport for everyone.