Write a commentThe first private bus service to operate into and out of the Europa Bus Centre in Belfast, starts today.
As part of a Department for Regional Development pilot project Translink’s station will be open to the private operator, Rooney International Coach Hire Ltd. This pilot scheme will serve to test the arrangements of a shared transport facility.
Commenting on the pilot, the Department’s Director of Transport Projects, Ciarán de Búrca, said: “The Department is keen to facilitate and encourage innovation in the provision of public transport services across Northern Ireland. Consultation with users shows support for the idea that Translink bus stations and other facilities, including bus stops, should be made available for the use of other licensed operators. This pilot is designed to test what is needed to make this happen.
“To date, with a few exceptions, Translink stations are used exclusively for its own passengers. Introducing access to Translink stations will help to deliver greater convenience for passengers travelling with other licensed transport operators.”
A Translink spokesperson said: “We have been working jointly with the Department and Mr Rooney for the past number of months in order to establish the arrangements for this pilot exercise. We hope the new arrangements will be of benefit to users of public transport services and look forward to working with Mr Rooney over the course of the pilot.”
Overall, Rooney International will be operating nine services in and out of the Europa Buscentre. Most of these services, which run from Hilltown, Rostrevor, Warrenpoint and Newry, are pre-existing services which previously picked up and dropped off passengers outside Jury’s Hotel in the city centre. Mr Rooney said: “Being able to have access to the Europa Buscentre will enhance the service I provide to my customers. They will be able to wait in comfortable surroundings, make use of the shopping facilities and food outlets, and it will make it easier for them to connect with Translink’s bus and rail services, if they need to do so.”
The Department will conduct a formal review and evaluation of the pilot exercise in conjunction with Translink and Mr Rooney. It will then finalise the legislative arrangements which will need to be in place in order to enable those operators who provide public passengers transport services to make use of Translink-owned stations across Northern Ireland.
Expressions of interest for inclusion in the pilot were sought from all licensed public passenger transport operators in Northern Ireland in spring of 2012. Mr Rooney was the only operator who sought to be included.
