Right lessons must be learned from Translink mis-management

8.55.00am GMT Thu 22nd Mar 2007

North Down Alliance Councillor Ian James Parsley

North Down Alliance Councillor Ian James Parsley has cautioned that the right lessons must be learned from the Audit Office's report into the mis-management of the planned Belfast-Bangor high-speed rail link.

The Holywood representative stated: "The latest damning audit report will no doubt be met by populist whinges and demands for privatisation. Neither of these is helpful.

"Privatisation is no way to improve our public transport system, as anyone who has paid a three-figure sum for a rail journey in England knows. But it is clear that our public transport system is not getting people where they want to go at a fair price. If we are to pay above the odds, we need at least to know how that money is being spent wisely.

"The lesson to be learned is that the accountability structures within Translink need to be greatly improved. Currently it is not clear to the user who is responsible for what, and there is concern that the performance of some aspects of the company is not up to standard. The best way to allay such concerns is to improve transparency, so that people can be clear what services are being offered, why they are priced as they are, and who is responsible for them.

"We should at least be grateful in North Down that the new trains have been delivered eventually. I fully agree with my colleagues on the other side of the Belfast Lough that the same standard service must be put in place on the Carrick/Larne line also."

ENDS