Translink's latest consultation exercise has been labeled "short-sighted, narrow, unfair, and unhelpful" by a local councillor.
Ulster Unionist Mark McKinty has suggested that 1 week's notice for consultation events, and their scheduling in Carrickfergus and Larne during working hours offered a "narrow window for response" and were "unhelpfully scheduled at awkward times, given that the majority of those views sought would be from school children, university students, and workers".
"Larne bus services recently escaped potential cuts by Translink only for the Larne Line now to be drawn into a railway consultation. Less than 8 days' notice was given for the meetings to be held - ridiculously - from 10 to 12.30pm in Carrickfergus Train Station and from 2 to 4.30pm in Larne Train Station."
"Most regular train users will be in school, university or work at those times, particularly since it is the early morning and evening services which Translink are interested in surveying. There are surveys taking place on trains, but I believe the consultation is inadequate and should be suspended."
"Leaving
aside the flawed process adopted by Translink, their motivation is not
to provide a better service but to cut their costs. They claim that any
services affected will be served by an alternative - when Translink
brought in new timetables a few years ago, Larne trains were downgraded
to such an extent that the alternative for many is now to use the car."
"We should be encouraging public transport. I am a train user and know that users of the stations between Whitehead and Larne are already sometimes forced to take a train almost 1 hour before necessary."
"The solution is simple. We have new trains, a much needed improvement on what we had before (and I must note that the Larne Line was the last to get these trains, which also deterred use of the line). We must promote the line so more users use it. By cutting services, we reduce numbers and therefore reduce income, leading only to further cuts in the future."
"Translink must realise that those people on services which are cut will not simply use another. That option may not be appropriate for their work or life schedule. Invest in and market the line, and revenue will increase. It's simple business logic!."
"I have written to Translink highlighting my concerns and requesting a meeting at their earliest convenience to discuss the Larne Line and to lobby for retention of services."
Ulster Unionist Mark McKinty has suggested that 1 week's notice for consultation events, and their scheduling in Carrickfergus and Larne during working hours offered a "narrow window for response" and were "unhelpfully scheduled at awkward times, given that the majority of those views sought would be from school children, university students, and workers".
"Larne bus services recently escaped potential cuts by Translink only for the Larne Line now to be drawn into a railway consultation. Less than 8 days' notice was given for the meetings to be held - ridiculously - from 10 to 12.30pm in Carrickfergus Train Station and from 2 to 4.30pm in Larne Train Station."
"Most regular train users will be in school, university or work at those times, particularly since it is the early morning and evening services which Translink are interested in surveying. There are surveys taking place on trains, but I believe the consultation is inadequate and should be suspended."
"I have spoken with Translink reps and
asked that if they are proceeding with the consultation, that it is
opened up to evening and weekend times, that the period of consultation
is extended, and that a survey be made available online."
"We should be encouraging public transport. I am a train user and know that users of the stations between Whitehead and Larne are already sometimes forced to take a train almost 1 hour before necessary."
"The solution is simple. We have new trains, a much needed improvement on what we had before (and I must note that the Larne Line was the last to get these trains, which also deterred use of the line). We must promote the line so more users use it. By cutting services, we reduce numbers and therefore reduce income, leading only to further cuts in the future."
"Translink must realise that those people on services which are cut will not simply use another. That option may not be appropriate for their work or life schedule. Invest in and market the line, and revenue will increase. It's simple business logic!."
"I have written to Translink highlighting my concerns and requesting a meeting at their earliest convenience to discuss the Larne Line and to lobby for retention of services."
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