[Article] Belfast-Dublin rail fare hike a 'tax' - SDLP

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Belfast-Dublin rail fare hike a 'tax' - SDLP
From:ireland.com
Friday, 2nd July, 2004

An increase of the train fare on services between Belfast and Dublin has been criticised as a "tax" on rail passengers by the SDLP.

Assembly member Ms Margaret Ritchie was commenting as the North's rail company Translink announced plans to this month increase the cost of a return ticket by £4 (€6) to £25 (€37) on the service .

Noting that the price of a day return ticket on the Enterprise route had risen 19 per cent over the past year, the South Down MLA said: "I think it is a very unfair burden to tax users of the rail system in order to regenerate our rail system.

"There must be adequate central government investment into our railways. I do not think the direct rule minister can sit back in his ivory town in Castle Buildings and not intervene.

"Price increases could drive people increasingly to use their cars, that will choke up our road transport system, cause added pollution and cause further problems on an already overburdened road system."

Translink general manager of rail services, Mr Mal McGreevy said the price rise was due to increasing costs. "We normally review prices around July each year. Last year, it was deferrable until August, so in reality this is the second price rise but it's over a two-year period," he said.

"We have got to run a commercial business and make ends meet. We are facing increasing costs."

Mr McGreevy insisted that the return fare to Dublin was still one of the best value-for-money tickets in the rail system anywhere in Ireland or Britain.