Transporting Visitors to the Airport – PARTNER Project!
5th December 2006
The international PARTNER Project which aims to make travel between cities on the Western Seaboard of Europe easier was launched today (5th December) in Belfast by Translink.
The innovative project deals with the development of high quality public transport links between airports and seaports in six cities within four countries and their local transport system, while also increasing the provision of accurate, quality travel information for tourists and visitors.
Dr. Irvine Lavery, Translink’s PARTNER Project Manager said:
“The goal of PARTNER is to make it easier for people to travel to, from and around the Atlantic region, and to this end will improve local public transport connections to airports, ferry ports and high speed train stations. It will also develop online journey planning tools and provide information aids to assist travellers whilst they are on their journey.
He continued:
One of the benefits of PARTNER for Northern Ireland is the development of an ‘Advanced Traveller Information’ website for the European Atlantic Region which will enable people, before leaving home, to access a “one stop website” for information on public transport, tourist sites and hotel information for their destination. In addition we have integrated our programme of service developments into this project which includes significant enhancements made to the dedicated Airport Express 300 and 600 services, serving Belfast International Airport and George Best City of Belfast Airport respectively. These now offer increased frequencies, new-low floor accessible buses, onboard audio and visual displays in four languages giving route and tourist information, improved passenger information and waiting facilities and advanced ‘Customer Care’ training for the bus drivers.
He concluded: PARTNER will provide visitors with first class information before they leave their destination to fly to Northern Ireland and then provide them with first class bus links to the city centre on arrival.”
Keith Moffatt, Translink’s Chief Executive said:
“Translink were delighted to be invited to join this project, it highlights a new experience for us, as this is the first EU project of this kind we have been directly involved with. We fully support the project and its aims and objectives and our committed to its success.”
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
-PARTNER stands for – ‘Promoting Accessibility between Regional and Transnational Transport Networks in Europe.
-PARTNER Project was started in 2004 and is funded by European Union.
-Project focuses on six cities in four countries: Liverpool (UK), Belfast (UK), Dublin (Ireland), La Rochelle and Rochefort (France), Santiago (Spain).
-The city of Oporto in Portugal is also involved.
-Airport Express 300 service to Belfast International Airport operates on a 10 minute frequency with hourly services operating through the night Monday to Friday and additional weekend services.
-Airport Express 600 service to George Best Belfast City Airport operates a twenty minute frequency Monday to Friday with additional weekend services.
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