Ulster Unionist Infrastructure spokesperson John Stewart MLA has said the Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins is failing to prioritise public transport, after Translink set out plans that could see bus and rail services cut and concessionary fares reduced.

Ulster Unionist Infrastructure spokesperson John Stewart MLA said:

“Yesterday’s evidence session with Translink Chief Executive Chris Conway was deeply concerning.

“Mr Conway set out plans that could see cuts to both bus and rail services across the network, alongside potential reductions to concessionary fares. These are not choices Translink wants to make. They are cuts being forced on the organisation by successive years of underfunding from the Infrastructure Minister, Liz Kimmins, and her Department.

“That is totally unacceptable.

“Translink has worked hard to reduce costs and improve efficiency, delivering savings of more than £20 million. That effort should be recognised, but efficiencies can only go so far, and we have now reached that point. The scale of the financial deterioration is stark: Translink’s cash reserves have collapsed from £60 million in 2022 to just £10 million this year. That has happened on the Minister’s watch and is a direct consequence of sustained underfunding.

“There is a glaring contradiction here. We have seen major investment in recent years, with flagship projects like Grand Central Station built to deliver more services, yet the network may now actually run fewer. You cannot champion modal shift and climate ambitions while forcing cuts to the essential services that deliver them.

“The Department has a contractual obligation to fund the public transport services people rely on every day. The Minister’s response has consistently been to blame underfunding from the British Government, but the Executive received its highest ever resource and capital budget last year.

“This is ultimately about priorities. Decisions are taken within the Department about where money goes, and it is increasingly clear that, for this Minister, public transport and Translink are not the priority they should be.

“The Minister must get a grip, work urgently with Translink to secure the funding needed to protect services, and ensure Northern Ireland has the fully funded public transport network communities deserve.“