A LETTER TO AGATHE BOUËDO FROM TRANSLINK

Our ref: CEN/62869/09

4^th August 2009

Dear Ms Bouedo,

<>Thank you for your e-mail regarding the fare structure of Translink NI Railways.

I am pleased to hear that you have been enjoying train travel since you moved here some months ago. May I explain that the Weekly ticket operates from a Monday to the following Sunday. It is based approximately on the price of four “Day Return” fares, and can be used by the holder an unlimited number of times during that week between the two stops for which it has been issued. For example a weekly ticket from Bangor to Belfast costs £30.00, the same price as four £7.50 Day Returns, and can be used as many times as the holder wishes.

A monthly ticket can be used on the similar principle between the start and finish dates. This is a “rolling monthly” and is valid from the date of issue for approximately 30 consecutive days. The fare is slightly less than the cost of buying four weekly tickets. Again the holder has unlimited travel between the dates on the ticket.

The “one-third off” fare applies for journeys starting after 09.30 a.m. This is to encourage people to travel at times when trains are less busy, although it may appear unusual that such a return ticket is only slightly dearer than a single.

I would like to add that our ticketing system is much simpler to understand than those operated by many train companies in Great Britain whose fare system guidelines can run to many pages and can be difficult for both staff and customers to understand.

Whilst train fares here may seem more expensive than in other countries I can assure you that we try to keep them as low as is possible. As a publicly funded company operating with a considerable amount of government subsidy, we have an obligation to set fares on a commercial basis. I would suggest that fares in France may be cheaper because French railways receive a larger subsidy from Central and Local government.

With regards to our Sunday timetable it is based on passenger needs and economic viability on what has always been the slackest day of the week. In view of this services are run accordingly.

I am sorry that you experienced such serious delays on a particular Sunday. Without having details of the date and time of travel I am unable to give any reason for the delay, but I sincerely apologise that you arrived so late at your destination. The ‘Delay-Repay’ scheme is based on similar schemes which operate in Great Britain and is based on the fare paid and the length of delay incurred.

I hope that my explanations have helped to answer the queries which you have raised and if I can be of any further assistance please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely

Barry McDevitte

Customer Services Coordinator

Central Station

Tel: 02890 899400 ext 2463