WITH Translink’s Bus and Train Week taking place this week, it is very timely to highlight the huge contribution that public transport makes not only to our retail sector, but to our wider economy.
Retail NI has always been a champion for public transport, urging shoppers to make it their first option, rather than their last. The bus service is a vital lifeline for many of members’ customers in rural towns and villages and needs to be protected. Consumers need choice as to how they travel to our high streets, whether that is by bus, train, car, cycle or walk.
It is also vital that our villages, towns and cities offer shoppers affordable and accessible car parking options and an end to the over zealous approach by the ‘Redcoats’ in issuing too many parking tickets.
As the CEO of Translink Chris Conway rightly says “investing in public transport is the right choice for Northern Ireland, as well as being central to tackling climate change and air pollution, it connects people, enables more active and healthy lifestyles, and supports a growing economy”.
Last year Translink carried over 3.4 million additional passenger journeys, with 30 million journeys on Metro and Gilder and 15.8 million by rail.
The Gilder has reconnected the east and west of Belfast and boasted an impressive 45,000 additional passenger journeys in the short time it has been in operation.
However, while all of this is good news, funding for public transport is still approximately 50 per cent less than in other parts of the UK. If we are to truly realise the full potential of our town and cities and create 21st century high streets then we need serious investment in our bus and rail services.
The next Infrastructure Minister needs a renewed focus on public transport and to rebalance funding priorities to ensure the objective of a long-term modal shift in people switching to public transport.
Retail NI has directly raised with the UK and Irish Governments of the need for a new high-speed rail service between Belfast and Dublin. This would be a game changer for our economy, ensuring that the two major cities on this island would have improved connectivity as we unfortunately approach Brexit. It was encouraging that the Irish Government is now supportive of this idea and in their Project Ireland 2040 document has committed to a feasibility study of such a project.
While undeniably this would be a very significant investment by both governments and wouldn’t come cheap, it has to be on agenda if we are truly serious about creating a high growth economy and boosting the Belfast –Dublin economic corridor.
Retail NI would encourage everyone to make a special effort for Bus and Train Week and celebrate the benefits of public transport. We want to see even more people to try the bus and train and build support for public transport and the vital role it plays in the economic success of our region and improving quality of life.
:: Glyn Roberts is the chief executive of Retail NI
