Better bus services - Corporate Plan 2008 - About us - Translink

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5. Better Bus Services - 2008/09 Action Plan

While passenger numbers have grown significantly throughout Translink’s bus operations, outperforming many parts of Great Britain and reversing years of decline, Translink is committed to continued improvement to the bus networks to attract even more passengers. Priorities for 2008/09 are outlined below.

5.1 GOLDLINE

Continue to increase the accessibility on Goldline services through fleet renewal and allocation
Further enhance frequencies of services on a phased basis to match increasing demand.

5.2 METRO

Implement frequency enhancement on the Antrim Road, Shore Road and Upper Newtownards Road corridors
Programme to improve cleaning and presentation performance
Deliver a customer service training programme for all drivers
Metro fleet to be 100% accessible
In future years the network will also be extended to the University of Ulster at Jordanstown, Lisburn and Carryduff / Belvoir / Hydebank.

5.3 ULSTERBUS

Enhance town services and key rural services in / around Ballymena, Larne, Antrim & Ballyclare. Also enhance bus stop infrastructure
New Magherafelt town service with connections to Goldline 212 and Castledawson
Improve town service links with NI Railways services in Antrim, Ballymena and Larne
At Lisburn start services from the new Buscentre, introduce shuttle service connecting city centre locations / transport termini / Sprucefield (subject to private funding). Extend and enhance other city services with combined timetabling and maps
Enhanced frequencies for Crumlin-Belfast / Dromara-Belfast / Citystopper routes.

5.4 AIRPORTS

Significant service improvements and growth have been delivered on services to airports. These will continue to be enhanced and grown to match demand.

5.5 RURAL TRANSPORT FUND

Translink remains a key provider of public transport services and facilities under the DRD’s “Rural Transport Fund” (RTF). New services will be introduced in the Magherafelt and Larne districts.

5.6 SCHOOL SERVICES

The recent changes in regulations regarding the carriage of children to school will continue to be delivered;

the use of the ‘3 for 2’ rule was removed from September 2007
standing on school buses will be eliminated by April 2009
new buses principally used for school work have had high visibility signage and lights to alert other road users from September 2007
changes in the requirements regarding the availability and use of seatbelts have been in place from February 2007

The increased cost / less efficient operations arising from the changes above, the continued decline in the number of school children in NI, school closures and the lack of clarity surrounding the outworking of the Costello Report (future of post primary education) will mean uncertainty in future cost structures and the financial sustainability of school transport operations.

5.7 FLEET RENEWAL and INFRASTRUCTURE

The RTS has targets in relation to fleet average age and maximum age; approximately 35% of the fleet has been renewed in the last 3 years. This programme of renewal will continue under the Budget for NI 2008/09 – 2010/11.

A programme to replace station canopies to facilitate double deck vehicles and the upgrade of kerbs will commence to comply with Disability Discrimination Act requirements. In engineering workshops / garages pits will be altered to ease working on lower floor buses.

5.8 SAFETY

Actions from the current safety plan to be delivered during 2008/09 – 2010/11 are outlined in section 9. The Group’s approach to safety strategy and its priorities and action plans to deliver the Group safety objectives are outlined in a separate document ‘Translink Safety Strategy 2007/08 – 2010/11’ available on translink.co.uk.

5.9 KEY ISSUES

Route revenue funding in particular for Ulsterbus town services
New town services networks have been introduced by Ulsterbus and received Government support. Although the RTS indicated this funding would continue to be available, no route revenue support is included in the Budget for NI 2008/09 - 2010/11. This reduces the growth potential and viability of these networks and other commercially unsustainable routes. The cessation of routes is a last resort but cannot be ruled out.

Bus speed, bus priority and QBC’s in Belfast
Bus speeds in Belfast have fallen by 20.4% over the past 6 years (8.9% in the past year) against a BMTP target of a 15% improvement by 2015. Without action to redress this, punctuality will decline and additional fleet which is intended to improve frequency will be required simply to maintain the existing timetable, representing significant additional cost, reduced efficiency of operations and lost opportunity.

The mitigating action required is a comprehensive programme of bus priority / QBC’s. While a schedule has been agreed with Roads Service, it is acknowledged this is not being delivered sufficiently rapidly to maintain bus speeds, let alone deliver the BMTP target.

An additional significant mitigating action would be the removal of cash handling from buses to speed boarding and overall journey times. Plans to deliver this through increased use of smartcards and on street vending machines are outlined in section 7.

‘Public Realm’ in Belfast
The “public realm project” of Belfast City Council and Department of Social Development has the objective to provide more open public spaces around the city over the next three years. Translink supports this aim to make the city centre more attractive and has been working with these bodies to secure efficient and attractive bus transit through the city. Translink is also working to ensure that public transport provision is included in the planning and development of all major infrastructure developments in Belfast.

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