Translink to review Belfast-Dublin rail fare

Irish Rail customers in the Republic of Ireland are paying significantly lower fares than those booking with Translink

Translink is to review its fares on the Enterprise rail service, according to a company executive.

It comes after BBC News NI reported that passengers travelling from Belfast to Dublin can be paying more than double what passengers going in the other direction pay.

The Enterprise service is jointly run by Translink and Irish Rail.

However, depending on which side of the Irish border you buy your ticket, it will determine how much you will have to pay, and the differences can be vast.

"It’s a different fare structure compared to Irish Rail, that’s something we are looking at and working closely with Irish Rail [on]," David Curry, Translink General Manager Bus Service Operations, told BBC News NI.

"Subsidy is different in the north of Ireland to the south of Ireland, but I get where [frustrated] customers are coming from. We are reviewing that in the near future."

How much do Enterprise tickets cost?

Figures from Translink and Irish Rail websites show that passengers travelling from Belfast Lanyon Place to Dublin Connolly Station on 4 July on the 08:00 service would pay:

• Standard single £33

• Adult plus single (first class) £48

Passengers travelling from Dublin Connolly Station to Belfast Lanyon Place on the 07:35 service on the same day would pay:

• Flexible (standard) €15.99 (£13.50)

At present, you can only book tickets for the Enterprise on the website in the country where your journey originates.

Currently, passengers from Northern Ireland cannot reserve a seat with standard or websaver fares.

The Enterprise train is a joint venture between Irish Rail and Translink

In June, Translink said in a statement that the Enterprise service is operated as a joint venture by Irish Rail and Translink and that each company "has its own ticketing/IT systems, fare structures and special offers and operate in different jurisdictions with different government policies".

"The Republic of Ireland government has discounted public transport fares by 20% across the board, which includes Enterprise tickets for journeys originating south of the border," it added.

"All Enterprise customers originating from Northern Ireland will be able to book their seats online later this year."