A planned new express bus service from Derry to Belfast has been rejected by the Department for Infrastructure.

The department outlined a number of reasons for rejecting the application.

They said that due to the high level of existing service and fare levels, the route is 'already adequately and economically served'.

It said the planned new express service 'would have a negative impact on current Translink services'.

"Ulsterbus is already operating at a significant loss year-on-year and the grant of the proposed service permit would have a detrimental effect on its finances," a department spokesperson said.

Hannon Coach told The Derry News earlier this month that they would pursue a judicial review if their application was rejected.

The company had submitted a formal application to the department to operate the route, which would have seen 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.

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