Staff shortages delay rail line

Other services could be changed to boost the Larne line

The reopening of the rail line between Larne and Belfast after a multi-million pound upgrade has been delayed.

It had been due to restart next Monday but Translink spokesman Mal McGreevy said "higher than anticipated staff turnover" meant this was not possible.

"We have some crewing issues and don't have enough staff to cover the full range of services," he said.

He said Translink hoped to restart the service at the end of January, but other rail lines could be reduced.

"We are working towards reintroducing the full services from Monday 30th January - to do that, we've got to review the services right across our network," he said.

We have lost some key people over the last 12 months Mal McGreevy Translink spokesman

"It will mean potentially a reduced number of trains in a number of other key areas, like the Bangor and Portadown to Belfast lines.

"The key issue there is that I am looking to increase the capacity, to operate longer trains at key times of the morning and evening."

Mr McGreevy said Translink had "lost some key people over the last 12 months".

"The combination of the length of time it takes to produce fully qualified train drivers plus the turnover issues (means) we haven't been able to keep our manpower planning at the same rate as our service development plans," he said.

Staffing levels

He said the civil engineering work on the section between Larne and Whitehead was completed on schedule before the end of last year.

DUP East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson said it was "clear Translink had made a total mess of the service".

"Before Christmas, Translink told me there would be a delay in reopening the line because of work that had been overlooked in the signalling beyond Whitehead," he said.

"The latest excuse is now put down to staffing difficulties.

We met Translink this week and were assured the service would begin on Monday - to learn that it is to be delayed again beggars belief Eddie Lynch Consumer Council

"From the responses given by Translink today, it is clear that they should have been able to resolve these staffing difficulties, had they engaged in some forward planning."

Elena Aceves-Cully, from the Larne Line Passenger Group, said they were disappointed at the news the service was to be delayed.

"We find it hard to believe that staffing issues could be the cause for the new timetable to be withdrawn just two days before its introduction," she said.

"We are continuing to press Translink for a reasonable explanation as to why we have been denied a fair share of the new trains on the Larne line."

The delay means current substitute bus services in place between Larne and Carrickfergus will continue to operate.

The Consumer Council said the Translink announcement was "another blow to its long suffering customers on the line".

Eddie Lynch of the council said: "We met with Translink this week and were assured that the service would begin on Monday as planned. To learn that it is to be delayed again beggars belief.

"As the consumer representative for train passengers, it is utterly unacceptable for Translink not to have told us that the situation had changed."