25 October 2007

Dear Colleagues,

The draft budget for Northern Ireland 2008/09 – 2010/11, debated in the Assembly today provides for future investment to further enhance public transport.

This marks the culmination of many months of hard work with our DRD colleagues to put forward the case for further investment to continue improving and growing the bus and rail networks.

These proposals are good news for public transport and a vote of confidence in all of you who deliver bus and rail services for Northern Ireland. Everyone agrees public transport is central to sustainable development and enhanced quality of life and credit is due to the Minister and his officials for promoting the case for continued investment.

The draft budget includes provision for;

• Purchase of around 200 new buses


• The purchase of 20 new trains to replace existing rolling stock and provide additional capacity with the aim of facilitating further growth


• Londonderry Rail Line track life extension works north of Ballymena and the commencement of a major track relay project between Coleraine and Derry


• Significant improvement works on the railway line between Knockmore and Lurgan


• Extension of the Concessionary Fares Scheme to introduce Free travel on public transport to all those over 60 years and over from those over 65 years but this excludes all Ireland or cross border travel

Clearly the significant investments and improvements we have made over the past years, together with the commitment and hard work of all of you has paid off in terms of increasing passenger numbers, greater customer satisfaction and value for money. This draft budget, if approved, will allow us to build on these achievements in order to sustain Northern Ireland’s public transport success story.

However, the draft budget also rightly focuses on continued value for money – for both our passengers and the tax payer. There are significant pressures on our costs and to reduce the amount of the subsidy we receive for running socially necessary / uneconomic services. To manage these pressures we must deliver still greater efficiencies in operations, if the extra costs are not to be passed on to passengers through fares.

We are mindful that these are draft proposals and we must await the outcome of the public consultation before the Assembly can take it forward in December. I would like to thank you for all your on going support and being part of the success story.

Philip O'Neill,

Acting Chief Executive

Public transport is central to sustainable development and enhanced quality of life