Translink/Metro Strike 30th November

cooki2222

Awful excuse for a bus company anyway!!
Should really take note on how buses are run down south or in england! Much cheaper and much more effecient!!

saverbuyer

cooki2222 wrote: »

Awful excuse for a bus company anyway!!
Should really take note on how buses are run down south or in england! Much cheaper and much more effecient!!

Couldn't agree more. It is a GovCo after all. It’s run just like our public sector. Half arsed with very very poor value for money.

A.L.D.A

cooki2222 wrote: »

Awful excuse for a bus company anyway!!
Should really take note on how buses are run down south or in England! Much cheaper and much more efficient!!

Strikes me there are two problems, people don't use it because they see it as inflexible, unreliable and expensive, and because not enough use it, it is inflexible, and expensive. Also 50 years of Planning around the needs of motor cars hasn't helped.

There have been some noticeable improvements in the bus and rail services around Belfast in recent years. Certainly the number of people using trains is increasing, with increased investment.
I think the service is probably a lot better than many imagine, but could be better.

Anyone know why there is no rail station at Templepatrick? I would have thought a good location for commuters.

cooki2222

A.L.D.A wrote: »

Strikes me there are two problems, people don't use it because they see it as inflexible, unreliable and expensive, and because not enough use it, it is inflexible, and expensive. Also 50 years of Planning around the needs of motor cars hasn't helped.

There have been some noticeable improvements in the bus and rail services around Belfast in recent years. Certainly the number of people using trains is increasing, with increased investment.
I think the service is probably a lot better than many imagine, but could be better.

Anyone know why there is no rail station at Templepatrick? I would have thought a good location for commuters.

And lose any money they make on the airport bus!! dont be silly haha, sure there is a train track that goes near the airport that doesnt get used! stupid if you ask me

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisburn-Antrim_railway_line

Indo77

Translinks is crap and we only use it because there is no competition. Why hasn't NI ventured out to provide an opportunity for an alternative bus company? Buying a bus ticket feels like the same service you would receive when signing on. Surely translink could adopt a more upbeat tone to their customers, they simply take it for granted that customers are forced to use their services.

D.A.

A.L.D.A wrote: »

Anyone know why there is no rail station at Templepatrick? I would have thought a good location for commuters.

For once, this can't actually be blamed on Translink - they've been producing plans on this for years, but as usual it's been held up by dithering from civil servants within the DRD, who only seem to care about building more and more roads.

A.L.D.A

D.A. wrote: »

For once, this can't actually be blamed on Translink - they've been producing plans on this for years, but as usual it's been held up by dithering from civil servants within the DRD, who only seem to care about building more and more roads.

Thanks D. A.

Our myopic roads oriented vision of transport strikes yet again.

To me seems an easy decision especially given the amount they spent widening the M2. I am out on the Larne line and there have been marked improvements in the service and the numbers using it. Investment does produce produce results and a few more stations would improve accessibility and yet more passengers.

cooki2222 wrote: »

And lose any money they make on the airport bus!! dont be silly haha, sure there is a train track that goes near the airport that doesnt get used! stupid if you ask me

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisburn-Antrim_railway_line

I agree. I have long been a strong advocate for a commuter loop Belfast - Antrim - Lisburn - Belfast and encouraging development around it.

FurryPaws

almillar wrote: »

Furrypaws - yes I was being serious, and agreeing with you - I've got a monthly ticket too!

Cheers - sorry I thought you were being really sarcastic at first!

Someone mentioned good will by letting us use the ticket on 1st December instead - the thing is - the monthly passes aren't calander month specific. If I buy a ticket today it will be valid 22/11/2011 - 21/12/2011.

So most will lose this day. I'm currently setting up provisions for working from home as thinking about it and all the extra cars on the road it will be absolute bedlam!

almillar

People looking for privatisation and competition, be careful what you wish for. Going down that 'route' means that only the profitable services will run, and only often enough to be profitable. Opening the Lisburn-Antrim train line again is a great idea. No idea why they would have closed it at the same time as shoving drivers off the roads with bus lanes and sky-high running costs.

D.A.

A.L.D.A wrote: »

Thanks D. A.

Our myopic roads oriented vision of transport strikes yet again.

As far as I'm aware, the Park & Ride plan for Ballymartin (near Templepatrick and the M2) has been mothballed. And even if it had been given the go-ahead, the plan would have been to operate it using buses, at least initially.

The railways here have no hope at all, since the DRD is fixated on road building, and Translink is fixated on buses.