25 September 2006
DOOR-2-DOOR TRANSPORT SERVICE GETS UNDERWAY
A new transport service, for people who cannot use conventional bus services, will be up and running in Dungannon from Friday, 29 September 2006.
At an event to launch the new vehicles, the Mayor of Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council, Cllr Jim Hamilton, said: "I am delighted that this new Door-2-Door Transport service is being introduced in the Dungannon town area. The service will make it easier for older people and people with disabilities to get out and about, using a safe mode of transport that will pick them up from their homes and leave them to where they want to go, whether it be to see friends or relatives or go shopping."
Trevor Robinson from the Department for Regional Development said: "This service marks the first step in delivering real improvements to the lives of those people who find it difficult or impossible to use mainstream public transport. The service will fulfil a function similar to regular bus town services by enabling people to get to and from their homes to access local facilities and services."
Paul Chambers, Director of Chambers Coach Hire Ltd, added: "We look forward to getting started in the Dungannon area and working in partnership with the local community to provide a quality service to those people who need it most."
The new service will be rolled out across 27 towns and cities across Northern Ireland in the next nine months. These include Dungannon, Cookstown, Newry, Newtownards, Comber, Dundonald, Armagh, Newtownabbey, Carrickfergus, Strabane, Banbridge, Omagh, Ballymena, Coleraine, Ballymoney, Enniskillen, Antrim, Limavady, Lisburn, Dunmurry, Bangor, Holywood, Craigavon, Lurgan, Portadown, Downpatrick and Larne.
Anyone who thinks they may be eligible to join the scheme should request a membership application form by calling (028) 9054 0609 or by e-mailing door2door@drdni.gov.uk. Details on the new scheme can also be found on the Department's Getting Out & About website - simply go to www.ni-transportguide.info and click on "Door-2-Door".
Passengers using the Door-2-Door Transport service will register to become a member with the department and will then be able to pre-book journeys via a dedicated 0845 phoneline, by SMS Text, or via the Internet.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. The Transport Programme for People with Disabilities (TPPD) is administered by the DRD and currently provides funding for door-to-door transport services in Belfast and Londonderry (operated by Disability Action and Bridge Accessible Transport respectively). The TPPD also funds Translink's Easibus services in Belfast, Bangor and Londonderry, and provides support for a number of Shopmobility schemes.
2. The new scheme will be officially launched later in the Autumn.
3. Media queries to: Paddy Cullen or Emma Flynn Davies, Press Office, Department for Regional Development, Tel: 028 9054 0372
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