Not Yet The Best Form Of Commuting! (NI Railways)

Member Name: robertjb

Product:	NI Railways
Date:	15/09/09 (20 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Recent Modernisation, quick journeys

Disadvantages: Ticket fares expensive, packed trains at rush hour

The previous two reviews on Translink are a lot older than mine so I thought I'd provide a more up-to-date review for people considering travelling by train.

Translink have a monopoly in Northern Ireland ie they have no competitors, this enables them to price their fares and services at whatever level suits them because there is nobody to undercut them. Fares have continued to rise and rise in recent years, and while I understand this is due to fuel costs, Translink have done little to insulate the consumer from the substantial hikes. Perhaps what annoys me the most is the minimum fare, even if you only want to get on for one stop and it's only say 2 minutes up the line, they charge at least £1.10, how can anyone justify this?

My other problem with Translink is due to the actual trains that they use on the lines. I regularly use the Larne line to get into Belfast every day of the week and everyday the trains are packed. This is understandable at rush hour but although people are regularly crammed in like sardines there are no extra trains added to relieve this pressure, something I find ridiculous. Especially when Translink frequently advertise that commuting by train is easy, stress free and comfortable...anybody travelling on a train before 9 o'clock can testify otherwise.

I must however praise Translink in some areas of their business, in particular the introduction of the newer trains which are nice, comfortable, modern and quicker make travelling by train all the more pleasant. But please Translink get rid of the really old trains that you have to hang out the window to open the doors, they're just not suitable anymore.

Recently Translink have spent money updating and modernising many of the train stations which has needed done for a number of years now. It is nice to see them listen to customer feedback and certainly the introduction of proper shelters and lighting at the smaller stations will work wonders in re-assuring people that going by train is the way to go. Central station in Belfast is very nice and is an excellent place to get the train from, especially due to the nice shop, seating areas and restaurant.

Translink also suffer from the odd breakdown but normally these are resolved pretty quickly. They are my main form of transport as I can't be bothered trying to fight the traffic or pay petrol costs but I still feel translink could be doing a whole lot more to make their rail journeys better!

Summary: A decent service but much more still needs changed!