Fancy a Ramble?
9 June 2003
Thousands of visitors flocking to Northern Ireland every year to experience spectacular landscapes and scenery, are set to benefit from the expansion of Translink’s award-winning portfolio of tourist services.
Building on the success of last year’s services, the ‘Lecale Rambler’ which begins on 5 July 2003, is just one new service that will continue to improve access to some of the most beautiful and remote parts of Northern Ireland.
The 16-stop ‘Lecale Rambler’ which tours Downpatrick, Saul, Strangford, Kilclief, Ballyhornan, Ardglass and Killough on Saturdays and Sundays, will be available for a special £4 ‘All Day Rambler’ hop on - hop off ticket.
“This new service is evidence of Translink’s commitment to our indigenous tourism industry,” explained Dr Irvine Lavery, Translink’s Transport Development Manager.
“Developed in conjunction with the Department for Regional Development (DRD) the ‘Lecale Rambler’ forms part of Translink’s Access by Bus to the Countryside scheme (ABC).
“Other popular ABC services including the Antrim Coaster, Sperrin Rambler, Mourne Rambler and the Causeway Rambler, provide regular and easy access to a number of NI’s most popular landmarks including the Giant’s Causeway, Sperrin Mountains and the breathtaking Antrim coastline. The ABC Scheme also helps Translink to meet its commitment to targeting social need, by improving access to public transport in rural areas.
“Last year’s services proved popular with tourists, including local people taking day trips to some well-known beauty spots. In particular, figures for the Causeway Rambler show that patronage increased in 2002 by 71% over the previous year.
“August passenger figures for the Mourne Rambler doubled those of its launch month of July. In addition to being used by hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts, it proved to be particularly popular with Senior Citizens who used the service to view the Mountains of Mourne, improving visitor access to the countryside for a section of the population more likely to be mobility impaired.” Dr Irvine concluded.
Adding his support to the Rambler services, Richard Aiken from DRD, said:
“We are pleased to have been able to support these Rambler services from the Rural Transport Fund. They improve accessibility to areas of outstanding natural beauty and are of benefit to both rural dwellers and to visitors who do not have access to cars. They make an important contribution to reducing the rural isolation experienced by many local residents but also enable more people to enjoy some of the most varied and interesting scenery in the country and by doing so assists the local tourist industry”.
“Tourism is an important growth industry in Northern Ireland and key to its development is a public transport system capable of meeting the unique needs – in terms of seasonality, destination and cost – of the tourist population. The Rural Transport Fund will ensure that as many people as possible have the opportunity to enjoy this beautiful area, just as the ‘Mourne Rambler’, ‘Causeway Rambler’, ‘Sperrin Rambler’ and ‘Antrim Coaster’ services have done in their respective areas.”
For information on any of the Rambler services or other ABC initiatives call 028 9066 6630 or log on to www.translink.co.uk. Translink also operates a Textphone service on 028 9038 7505 for those who are deaf or hard of hearing.
-Ends-
Issued by Sarah Stanczyk
Public Relations Officer
Telephone 028 9089 9455
Notes to Editors
Details of all the summer services are summarised below.
Sperrin Rambler (Service No 403)
The award winning Sperrin Rambler Ulsterbus service has been re-introduced from Monday 7th April 2003 and will operate all-year around, thanks to a successful funding bid to the Department for Regional Development. It offers access to many visitor attractions, natural heritage and archaeological sites and walking and cycling routes.
Mourne Rambler (Service No 405)
Introduced last summer, August figures on the Mourne Rambler doubled those of its launch month of July. In additional to being used by hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts, it proved to be particularly popular with Senior Citizens who used the service to view the "Mountains of Mourne" – improving visitor access to the countryside for a section of the population most likely to be mobility impaired.
Causeway Rambler (Service 402)
The popular Causeway Rambler passes such landmarks as the Bushmills Distillery, the Giant’s Causeway, Dunseverick Castle, Whitepark Bay and the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge and is used by many walkers in this scenic part of the world. The service has been primarily designed to enable people to park their cars at one of the stopping points and enjoy a day’s rambling taking in the scenery of this magnificent stretch of coastline - confident that the high frequency Causeway Rambler service will always be available to pick them up and return them to their parked car.
Lecale Rambler (Service No 406)
The Lecale Rambler Service travels through lush pasturelands past Saul, where St. Patrick is said to have built his first church in Ireland and passing the National Trust property Castle Ward. The route then follows the beautiful scenic Down coast, with stops at harbour villages, beaches and towns steeped in local history before turning inland and returning to Downpatrick.
Gortin Rambler (Service No 401)
The Gortin Rambler services an area of outstanding beauty steeped in natural history in County Tyrone. Access is provided to popular tourist attractions, to scenic walks and to several quaint villages.
The Antrim Coaster (Service No 252)
Northern Ireland’s first Rural Quality Bus Corridor, the Antrim Coaster is now an integral all-year service for the people of the coastal villages. It links coastal villages along the Antrim Coast with the Market Towns of Coleraine and Larne and also provides a link to the railway service and the wider public transport network. Winter patronage has increased five-fold since the inception of the winter service in 1999-2000. In summer, the Coaster service extends to Belfast.
A Passenger Profile Survey carried out in August 2002 indicated that older people and non-car users are regular passengers:
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