Cheaper bus fares for Backin Belfast

Published Tuesday, 29 January 2013

Translink has announced cheaper bus passes on Saturdays as part of its contribution to the Backin Belfast campaign.

DRD Minister Danny Kennedy has welcomed the announcement. (© Translink)

A special £2 day ticket will be offered during February, the company said.

Free Park and Ride bus services will also run on Saturdays next month from both Cairnshill and Black's Road.

It comes amid a major marketing initiative aimed at encouraging shoppers to return to city centre, after the recent protests over flags disrupted trade.

Catherine Mason from Translink said: "Our 'Love Metro Saturdays' day ticket means people can travel anywhere on the Metro network after 9.30am for just £2.

"We are pleased to be supporting local retailers by 'Backing Belfast' and hope more people will use Metro to sample all the city has to offer."

It has been estimated that £15m was lost in trade over Christmas when a series of protests took place on the streets, with some pubs reporting trade down as much as 50%.

At least 50 jobs have already been lost across 16 premises, with a further 300 at risk.

Finance Minister Sammy Wilson has said the Executive is to provide £600,000 towards the Backin Belfast promotion to help revitalise trade in the city.

Transport Minister Danny Kennedy welcomed Translink's announcement.

"This is a positive and tangible demonstration of commitment by the department and Translink to help increase trade in Belfast," said the UUP politician.

"I am delighted this initiative has been taken forward and I am confident that this excellent offer will bring benefits for traders and the public during these hard economic times.

"I would encourage everyone to consider how to make the best use of our public transport system, not just Saturdays, but everyday."

Comments

6 Comments

Jewel in Newtownabbey wrote (114 days ago):

One thing about this topic is annoying me. I appreciate the trouble the protests are causing but they are not whats stopping me from going into town, the thing that is stopping me do that is the lack of spending money, what with the 'triple dip'. And with this 4p fuel increase they were talking about, the metro might be the only option if i win a tenner on the lottery and go shopping. I wish i had some disposable income so I could support the back in belfast campaign. Good luck guys I'll see ya's on the flip side.

Colin in Glengormley wrote (114 days ago):

Ahmmm , Elephant in the room time. The Saturday day ticket has been £2 for the last 12 months. Except if you travel towards the city after 3:30pm where Translink put the arm in and charge you £3.50. This folks is not news. What would be news is if the shops stayed open to a respectible time on a Saturday as in most major cities around the world and that they opened office hours on a Sunday. NOW that would be news !!

Big Joe in Belfast wrote (114 days ago):

No point when they take the evening buses off

Jane in Newry wrote (114 days ago):

Dublin is a much better shopping destination and city overall. Fantastic shops and better value

col in USA wrote (114 days ago):

What a joke. The buses don't run on many routes as the protestors are blocking roads. a few pennies of a bus fare won't sway those fed up with this constant s-crap. Translink are a joke anyhow, on mist routes into the city in the morning the run 4-5 buses that gang up together so they dont have to stop so much. Why they even bother releasing timetables is beyond me. Sack the drivers and get in dutch/german and drivers form other european countries were buses aren't late due to lazy drivers.

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