SDLP Newry & Armagh MLA Justin McNulty has raised the stark disparity in rail fares between the North and the Republic at a Stormont debate this week.
Mr. McNulty brought a motion calling for Executive Ministers to align rail fares across the island of Ireland.
Newry & Armagh MLA Justin McNulty said:
“I brought this motion to the Assembly to address the shocking disparity in rail fares between the North and the Republic. The simple fact of the matter is that commuters in the North are being saddled with an unfair and unequal cost burden compared to our neighbours across the border. This fact is clearly illustrated by the fact that a one way fare from Newry to Belfast costs £14.50, whereas a one way fare from Dundalk to Belfast costs just £6.85. That’s a 111% difference.
“It is unacceptable to me that people commuting to work in Belfast from Newry, using the same service and boarding the exact same train, travelling on the same tracks are forking out more than double the amount of someone making a longer journey from Dundalk to Belfast. It just doesn’t make sense.
“The Infrastructure Minister has attributed this difference to the level of subsidy provided by the Southern Government for rail travel. My argument is simply that if the Executive are serious about increasing the number of people using public transport and decreasing our dependency on cars, then they need to step up the mark and match the level of funding provided by the government in the South.
“At present, people in the North are being ripped off when it comes to train travel, and I am glad that my proposals received the backing of the Assembly. What we need to see now is action from Executive Ministers to get this sorted.”
ENDS
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