Spellar Welcomes Ł48 Million Funding For Buses

13 December 2004
SPELLAR WELCOMES Ł48 MILLION FUNDING FOR BUSES
Regional Development Minister, John Spellar, has welcomed the announcement today of an investment totalling nearly Ł50m to fund the purchase of 300 new buses for Translink.
Mr Spellar said: "This investment signifies the Department’s resolve to provide modern, sustainable, safe transportation which benefits all of our society, the economy and the environment. Public Transport actively contributes to social inclusion and the quality of life and provides a realistic alternative to private transport.
"I think these are exciting times for public transport and I wish Translink every success in using the new buses to deliver the quality of service that our public deserve.
"Government’s commitment to public transport is further underlined by this funding boost which follows on from the recent funding of close to Ł80m for the purchase of 23 new trains, the first of them now in passenger service on the Northern Ireland Railways network, and assisted with the purchase of 190 new buses which were introduced to service during the 2003/04 year at a cost of some Ł23m. This latest order will receive DRD funding of over Ł48m," he added
The announcement of the funding was made at an event held at Parliament Buildings, Stormont hosted by DRD Permanent Secretary, Stephen Quinn.
Mr Quinn said: "This investment will enable Translink to continue the process towards the purchase of vehicles, which use the most up to date technology to allow passengers to travel in comfort and safety and have real confidence in the dependability of their vehicles, thus creating an attractive alternative to the use of private transport."
The first new buses are scheduled to be delivered towards the end of 2005 and will include single deck buses, Interurban Express Coaches; Low Floor Midibuses, Double Deck Low Floor Urban Buses, Double Deck Interurban Express Coaches.

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