aLink Travel Card

• aLink is Translink’s annual smartcard, which entitles the card holder to annual travel on scheduled Translink services within Northern Ireland for the journeys and validity period printed on the card. Translink Day Tours and Special Services are excluded. aLink cards are available for adults. Child cards are not available.

• aLink cards also permit unlimited travel on the Translink Bus and Rail Network within Northern Ireland at weekends.

• If you attempt to make a different Monday to Friday journey outside of the journey details printed on your aLink card then our staff will charge full Adult Fare for that journey. The appropriate fare should be paid before commencement of any journey to be undertaken outside of the journeys printed on the card.

• aLink card holders need to apply for a new card annually. Once a card has been issued it will remain valid until the expiry date printed on the card, which is 12 months from the date of card issue. At the end of the 12 month period Translink will provide you with a quotation for a new aLink card for the following 12 months.

• aLink cards are photo-personalised, are therefore not transferable and are invalid if used by another person. Fraud or abuse of an aLink card may result in its withdrawal and / or prosecution of the offender.

• Failure to make aLink card payments may result in the card being electronically hotlisted, making it invalid for use and retained by Bus or Rail Staff.

• aLink cards must be validated on the bus or train for every leg of the journey made. If a valid aLink card is not presented to the ticket machine the customer will be required to pay the appropriate full fare.

• aLink cards are validated on a bus by placing the card on the ticket machine reader. Where Translink Platform Validators are located at a Train Station an aLink card must be validated on the machine on each leg of the journey. If a Platform Validator is not available your aLink card must instead be validated by a member of NI Railways staff using a handheld ticket machine.

• aLink cards and corresponding tickets must be retained by the passenger until the journey is complete and must be presented if requested by authorised Translink personnel.

• aLink card holders may apply for a refund if their aLink card is no longer required. Refund claims must be received before the expiry date of the card. Refund requests presented after the expiry date will be permitted only in exceptional circumstances and at the discretion of the company. The refund is calculated on the date the card is received for refund by reimbursing any unused travel at the discounted aLink price. A charge of 20% of the value remaining on the card will be deducted unless extenuating circumstances apply. To apply for a refund the card holder should post the aLink card along with accompanying letter and, if appropriate, supporting documentation to Refunds, Pass Office, Translink, 22 Great Victoria Street, Belfast, BT2 7LX.

• No refund is payable on Public Holidays when reduced or no Public Transport service is provided. Refunds due to Delays or Cancellations will be paid in line with policies outlined within Translink’s Passenger Charter and NI Railways Delay Repay Policy. No refund is payable as a result of Hybrid Working arrangements for days when the aLink card is not used to travel.

• aLink cards are subject to the Conditions of Carriage of Translink’s operating companies.

• aLink cards remain the property of Translink. If lost cards are found they should be returned to Translink at Pass Office, Translink, Floor 1, 22 Great Victoria Street, Belfast, BT2 7LX.

• If you change address or change your name you must inform Translink immediately so that a new aLink card can be issued with your change of details. You must advise Translink before the 15th day of the month so that a new aLink card can be issued to you which will be valid from the 1st day of the following month. Your original card must be returned to Translink at the address below. An administration fee will not be charged for your replacement card due to change of address or name.

• If your aLink card is damaged or lost, the appropriate adult full fare will be charged for any journey undertaken and is not refundable. You can apply for a replacement card at a main Translink bus or train station. A replacement card costs £6.

• If your aLink card is stolen, the appropriate adult full fare will be charged and is refundable providing you are able to supply Translink with the appropriate PSNI crime reference number given to you when you reported your aLink card stolen. You can apply for a replacement card at a main Translink bus or train station. A replacement card will be issued free of charge.

• If your aLink card is faulty and the ticket machine is unable to read the information stored on the card the appropriate full fare will be charged. Translink will test the aLink card and if it is found to be faulty Translink will replace the card free of charge and send a new card to you within 7-10 working days. You can apply for a replacement card at a main Translink bus or train station. Adult tickets purchased whilst the aLink card is faulty may be refunded for valid journeys within the validity of the aLink card. To apply for a refund, customers should retain and submit any valid adult tickets purchased.

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