Decision due next week on new Derry to Belfast express coach service
by Gareth Cross
The company behind a new express bus service from Derry to Belfast is to find out next week if their bid has been successful.
Hannon Coach have said that a decision from the Department of Infrastructure (DfI) on their application is due next week.
The company had submitted a formal application to the department to operate the route, which would see a new express service run from Derry to Belfast and back, up to 20 times a day.
A further ten services would run on Saturday, with nine on Sundays.
Hannon has said the new service would represent a £4m investment in the city, creating up to 15 new jobs here, ten of which would be drivers.
The firm has added that fares would be set at around £10 for a single fare, and £15 for a day return, and hoped to shave 10 to 15 minutes off the existing bus journey time.
In May a full meeting of Derry City and Strabane District Council discussed the proposal from Hannon Coach.
At the meeting, councillors were asked for the views on the consultation, which would then be passed onto the DfI as part of the consultation, given that the council is a stakeholder.
A number of councillors said that they could not support the proposals, given the potential impact it would have on Translink’s service.
Speaking to the Derry News, Owen McLaughlin from Hannon Coach said that the north currently has no express coach services.
“The Department for Infrastructure has written to us to say that it will give its decision next Monday in relation to our application to offer a non-stop, express coach service between Derry and Belfast," he said.
"Northern Ireland is the only part of the United Kingdom which has no express coach services.
"The proposed service will operate as the only express service between the two major cities in Northern Ireland.
"Currently, the multiple intermediary stops on the Translink 212 bus service and associated longer journey time acts as a deterrent and puts many potential passengers off."
Mr McLaughlin said that the service could help people attending hospital appointments in Belfast.
"When we initially looked at this, we had really thought about tourists and people visiting friends and relatives," the spokesperson said.
"However, there have been so many people contacting us to say how useful and more comfortable it would be for people making one-off or regular journeys to Belfast for hospital treatment.
"Simple things people have pointed out are things like no toilet available for people travelling for prostate cancer appointments.
"People not being able to pre-book online and then missing appointments - these are the sorts of things we want to be able to provide."
Mr McLaughlin said he was disappointed that council did not engage further with Hannon Coach on the proposed service.
"I think council made a mistake not to seek further information about the bid," he said.
"We made 30-40 attempts to get in contact with a range of people from council but they failed to respond.
"They spent more time discussing whether to include 'Londonderry' in their joint European Capital of Culture bid than our proposal."
Mr McLaughlin said that Hannon Coach believed their application met all the requirements to be approved and challenged the department to ensure fair competition.
"We believe that our proposal is in line with all Government Strategy, relevant legislation and regulations," he said.
"We believe that we have also clearly demonstrated a demand for the proposed Express Service.
"The proposed service will improve connectivity and provide the quickest intra-regional connection between the two largest cities in Northern Ireland. Until a direct rail link is provided, the Express Coach will remain the quickest public transport option.
"It is for the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) to ensure fair competition (in line with legislation) among persons providing public passenger transport services."
Mr McLaughlin said the company would continue their attempts to secure the route even if rejected by the Department of Infrastrucutre.
"We are hopeful," he said.
"If we are rejected at this stage we would certainly look to take the matter to judicial review given what we have invested into this bid so far."
A Department for Infrastructure spokesperson said: “The Department for Infrastructure is responsible for the issuing of Commercial Bus Service Permits for all new and existing public transport services.
“An application by Hannon Coach to operate an express Belfast-Derry/Londonderry service is currently under consideration. A decision will be made later this month.”