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Translink will need a $124m (\u00a3100m) injection of funds to continue providing a public transport network across Northern Ireland after the coronavirus crisis, its chief executive has said.<\/p>\nTranslink will need a $124m (\u00a3100m) injection of funds to continue providing a public transport network across Northern Ireland after the coronavirus crisis, its chief executive has said.<\/p>\n
Chris Conway said there has been a 90% reduction in passenger numbers across bus and rail services as the public stay at home amid the Covid-19 lockdown.<\/p>\n
He told the BBC: \u201cWe are probably at 10-15% of what we would normally see on our services on a daily basis, and obviously we\u2019ll respond to that demand, but also encourage only essential travel.\u201d<\/p>\n
Earlier this year, it emerged Translink was struggling with a \u00a329 million deficit and using reserves to continue running loss-making routes.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, Stormont finance minister Conor Murphy announced assistance for Translink.<\/p>\n
Mr Conway said funding in excess of \u00a3100 million will be required to continue to have a public transport network in the future.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re in the same situation post-Covid-19 like a lot of other businesses, we have very little revenue coming in for now and certainly for months to come and this will require significant support to continue to have a public transport network going forward,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn excess of \u00a3100 million will be required to continue to have a public transport network in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Conway said Translink is current running reduced bus and train services.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur rail network is running a Sunday service, our bus network is running a Saturday service but we continue to work with NHS care workers to make sure the services we are offering suit their needs. We are also working with trusts and the blood transfusion service to support specific staff transport requirements as well,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Mr Conway said measures have been put in place to protect staff, including enhanced cleaning regimes, minimizing contact between staff and customers, encouraging the use of prepaid tickets and contactless payments, hand-washing and the use of gloves.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cAt the minute we don\u2019t really have an issue with social distancing, there is plenty of space on all of our buses and trains and we will be taking further measures around social distancing in the future.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to work through that at this point, but certainly it\u2019ll be less than 50% of the current capacity, it really depends how long social distancing is required for.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s hard at this point, I don\u2019t think any of us have a crystal ball to know how long we are going to be on lockdown for.\u201d<\/p>\n