Translink late-night transport services back for Christmas
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Translink says its late-night services will be in place in time for the run-up to Christmas
Late-night buses and trains will be put on to cover all of the main routes in and out of Belfast as well as some large towns, Translink has said.
The public transport operator said the new services would begin in time for Christmas.
Ian Campbell from Translink said the services would run until half-past midnight at the earliest.
Translink ran a pilot scheme in 2019 that was "well received" but was cut short by the coronavirus pandemic.
It is hoped the services will help to fill the gap in late-night transport after hundreds of taxi drivers left the industry.
Mr Campbell told BBC News NI that routes and timetables were yet to be finalised but departures would run until at least as late as half-past midnight as they did in the 2019 trial.
"This year we're taking a long, hard look at that services, we're speaking to stakeholders in terms of getting feedback as to where we believe the demand will be," he said.
Translink is taking on more staff to cover the late-night services
"All the main arterial routes in Belfast will be covered by our Metro services and in effect the main corridors into and out of Belfast and some of our provincial towns will also be covered."
He said Translink was recruiting extra staff to run the service because its existing workforce was "100% utilised" by the current timetable.
"We especially do want to support the hospitality and late-night economy," he added.
Bangor Chamber of Commerce president Geoff Thomson said he wanted to see services go beyond Belfast.
"Getting people around the town safely at night is obviously important," he said.
"We have several taxi companies in the town but also a night bus might work.
"Any way of getting people around the town a little bit safer is worth trying."
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