NW to Dublin busfare hike

Yesterday (Tuesday, March 6) the price of a single fare to Dublin was set at £18.35 and a return fare was set at £25.

A spokesperson for the Translink said: “Translink is informing passengers using its cross border coach services that due to increased operational costs outside its control, for example Dublin airport access charges, that fares on the Belfast, L/Derry and Newry to Dublin Airport and Dublin City Centre routes will increase from March 6th 2012.

“These pressures mean there is no option but to increase fares in order to maintain the current cross border service quality.

“This will be the first fare increase on our cross border coach services since May 2009.

Meanwhile, as the cost of travelling to Dublin by bus increased Translink claimed people travelling from Londonderry to Belfast can save £12.93 a day, £86.65 a week or £363.60 a month by making the switch from private car journeys to Goldline services.

Translink’s ‘Goldline Fuel Saver’ lists details of daily, weekly and monthly savings available through travelling on Goldline services rather than travelling by private car and incurring higher than ever fuel costs.

Full details of journey savings available throughout Northern Ireland can be viewed at www.translink.co.uk/Goldline/Goldline-Fuel-Saver/

Alan Young, Translink Derry Service Delivery Manager said: “Goldline Fuel Saver is a user-friendly application which clearly indicates the savings that are available through Goldline services compared to private car journeys.

“As fuel costs continue to rise we are confident public transport represents the best value travel option, particularly following a report published by the Consumer Council which shows that motorists here paid the highest prices for petrol, diesel or both every month during 2011 compared to anywhere else in the UK and Ireland, an issue that has been raised at Westminster recently.”