Commuters call for better value

Punctuality and reliability targets were exceeded

Translink needs to work to improve value for money on its Metro bus service and its rail service, the Consumer Council has said.

It said the public transport firm's latest survey showed it was meeting punctuality and reliability targets.

The Consumer Council's Aodhan O'Donnell said there was room for improvement.

"The Consumer Council is very concerned by passengers' increasing view that Translink services do not offer value for money," he said.

"Particularly since this survey took place before the August fare increases.

"Consumers are getting it tough these days and are struggling to make ends meet, so it's important that fares are affordable if passengers are to see public transport as value for money."

He said public investment in passenger facilities as well as buses and trains was paying off for passengers, "and it must be matched by quality services and excellent customer care".

The monitoring results showed all Metro, NIR and Ulsterbus services exceeded their standards for reliability and punctuality.

The value-for-money rating on the Metro service fell from 71 in 2007 to 63 in the Spring 2008 results.

The value rating for NIR also fell from 61 in 2007 to 54 in the Spring 2008 results.