Cuts in Belfast city bus services highlight crisis in public transport

Translink's announcement that it will introduce further cuts to Belfast city bus services has again highlighted the severe problems in the North's public transport system, which is underfunded and in the case of the railways, rapidly deteriorating.

The North's public transport company has said it will cut its bus services by 3-4 per cent due to "financial pressures".

The Transport & General Workers' Union's regional industrial organiser, Mr Eddie Sheridan, was extremely concerned by the decision.

"At a time when the debate locally and nationally is to persuade car users and the public to make more use of public transport, this decision flies in the face of logic," he said. "Throughout Northern Ireland and especially in the greater Belfast area, the service provided to the public is nowhere near adequate."

Ms Maeve Bell of the General Consumer Council said the cutbacks would deepen Northern Ireland's public transport crisis.

"Translink is having to run on a shoestring with less than half the public funding available to private transport companies in Great Britain," she said. "Substantial investment in public transport is urgently needed to recover from years of underfunding."

Mr Ciaran Rogan, Trans link's head of marketing, said the cuts would affect rarely used routes. "We regret having to make these cutbacks," Mr Rogan said. "They are a direct result of the lack of government funding over the years."

There has been growing concern over the state of Northern Ireland's railways. A review conducted by safety experts Arthur D Little identified a total spending requirement of £183 million sterling (€294 million) to meet safety shortcomings, including capital spending of £72 million on rolling stock and £83 million on track and signals.

Mr Ted Hesketh, managing director of Translink's group operations, stressed the urgent requirement for new trains.

Northern Ireland Railways' operational fleet has 29 sets - 25 are needed to meet the current timetable.

"There is a clear gap between the money available and the needs of the railway business if it is to maintain and operate a safe railway," said Mr Mal McGreevy, Translink's mechanical engineer.

The government has already warned that some lines, notably between Belfast and Derry, might have to be closed.

Currently, only the Belfast-Dublin rail link is regarded as being of a consistently acceptable standard. Elsewhere, trains are generally in poor condition and many operate on limited timetables. It has been claimed that around 80 per cent of the existing track between Belfast and Derry requires renovation or renewal.