Northern Ireland

Some Translink fares to increase from Monday

A price rise on single train fares comes into effect on Monday
A price rise on single train fares comes into effect on Monday

An increase in some adult train fares is to come into effect on Monday.

It comes after public transport operator Translink announced the price rise on the single train fares last month.

Under its new plan, a new standardised pricing structure will be in place, altering journey prices.

Translink said that the new fares will be based on a cost-per-mile basis, making prices consistent across the rail network.

On average, an adult single fare would cost about 50p more, but some passengers face much bigger increases.

Among the highest price rises are Antrim to Belfast: £1.30 increase and Larne to Belfast: £1.40 increase.

Other fares increases include the Portadown to Belfast - 20p rise and Lurgan to Belfast - 50p increase.

The changes come after funding for public transport was cut in the Stormont budget.

Read more:

More needs done to encourage public transport use, MLA warns

Translink rakes in £172m in fares - but half have a free ticket to ride

Speaking at the time of the announcement of the price rise, Hilton Parr from Translink said funding pressures had left it with no other option.

"Fares will be changing across the network and that's simply because there will be a more equitable system based on a cost-per-mileage basis," he told BBC News NI.

"We do truly believe that those fares are still really good value for money and we'll encourage more people to use our public transport."

A 7% price rise across Metro, Glider, NI Railways, Enterprise, Goldliner and Ulsterbus services came into effect earlier this year, while a consultation is also underway on raising the eligibility age for the free travel SmartPass.

It comes after recent calls for public transport costs to be reduced in a bid to encourage more people in the north to use bus and train services.

Figures released by the Department for Infrastructure revealed that there were 73.5 million journeys in 2022/23, compared to 83.4m in 2019/20, with ticket sales down to £172m from £181m.

SDLP Foyle MLA Mark Durkan said the figures were "concerning but understandable" that journeys were down.

He said the "focus should be placed on incentivising and reducing costs for public transport".

"We need to do everything in our power to encourage more people to use it," he added.