PUBLIC transport provider Translink has said it will continue to trade at a loss unless government subsidies are returned to previous levels.
And the company has warned of "further efficiency improvements" in the coming year as it posted a £10.5 million loss before tax for the 12 months to March 2016.
That figure - which Translink bosses described as planned - was roughly in line with the amount Translink previously received in a fuel duty rebate before it was pulled.
Revenues of £202.9m were better than anticipated but were £2.1m down on 2014/15's figure.
The greatest losses were incurred by the Ulsterbus division which accounted for £8.8m of the reverse mainly due to a large number of town services being discontinued last year.
Northern Ireland Railways meanwhile had losses of £2.8m with contributory factors including disruptions to the Enterprise service while the cross-border trains were off the tracks to be upgraded.
Translink said the loss was paid for by the group's still relatively healthy cash reserves which stood at £39.7m at year end.
When adjustments relating to pensions were taken into account, losses reached £18.3m.
Translink said a reduction in passenger journeys to 78.7m - from 80m the previous year - reflected "a strong performance in light of service adjustments".
It reported a 165,000 increase in the number of fare paid journeys on Metro and Northern Ireland Railway services, however.
