asked Her Majesty’s Government:

What proposals they have to co-ordinate bus and rail travel in Northern Ireland. [HL959]

Currently, the bus and rail public transport services provided by the subsidiaries of the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company are co-ordinated under the brand name Translink. These comprise the majority of public transport services in Northern Ireland.

On 22 August 2006, the Minister for Regional Development, David Cairns, MP, announced the Government’s plans for the future governance, regulation and delivery of public transport in Northern Ireland.

The proposals include the creation of a unitary public transport authority that would comprise district councillors drawn from the new local authorities being created in Northern Ireland.

The new public transport authority will have responsibility for planning, designing and securing public transport services, both bus and railway services. This is intended to ensure that there will continue to be a unified, integrated and co-ordinated approach to public transport provision and development in Northern Ireland.