With the season of goodwill almost upon us, Translink is spreading festive tidings with a range of great value travel deals and savings for cash strapped customers this Christmas.

Ciaran Rogan, Translink Marketing Executive, outlined the packages across bus, coach, rail and retail partners which have been designed to encourage as many people as possible to use the services during the festive period.  “We have loads of travel deals and great savings available; this Christmas there will even be some free services from some of our P&R sites and with extended opening hours - access to city centres has never been easier.

“Many of our passengers already benefit from a lower cost per mile as compared with the car - and with no parking charges - they can make the biggest savings by purchasing multi-journey bus and rail tickets, availing of promotional offers, as well as youth discount cards and Senior and 60+ free travel with a Smartpass.

“So whether you’re Christmas shopping, socializing with friends, attending Christmas parties or looking for a family day out we are confident there is something for everyone.”  

Details of Translink’s Christmas 2012 offers include;

• Expanded Park and Ride Services for Belfast, Lisburn, Newry and Londonderry. Park and Ride services will operate on each evening when there is late night shopping and all day on Saturdays with the last service leaving the city centre 30 minutes after the shops close.  These services will operate between Monday 19th November and Saturday 22nd December.

• Free Park and Ride Services after 4.30pm on weekdays and all day each Saturday. During the five weeks, all the Park and Ride services listed above will provide free parking and bus travel for people travelling into the city after 4.30 pm on the weekdays when late night shopping is in place and all day each Saturday. 

• Goldline 1/3 Off1/3 Off Day Return tickets to and from Belfast (in either direction) Monday – Sunday after 9.30am on selected Goldline services.

• NI Railways 1/3 off1/3 off day return tickets after 9.30am, with free Wifi on board

• Enhanced Rail CapacityFrom 19th November the majority of train services operating between Belfast and Coleraine will be increased from three-carriage to six-carriage services.

• Additional late night Christmas shopping trainFrom Saturday 3rd December an additional late night Christmas shopping train will be introduced from Great Victoria Street Station to Coleraine, departing Belfast at 22:08 (Monday to Saturday). This service will operate until Saturday 22 December.

• Family and Friends TicketUnlimited bus and rail travel available every Saturday and Sunday and available every day from Saturday 22nd December 2012 to Sunday 6th January 2013 inclusive

• Bus Rambler TicketAvailable every Sunday and also available everyday from Saturday 22nd December 2012 to Sunday 6th January 2013 inclusive.  This ticket offers passengers one day of unlimited travel on all Ulsterbus, Goldline and Metro services after 9.15am.

• Metro Family Day TicketAvailable every day from Saturday 22nd December to Sunday 6th January inclusive. A Family Day Ticket allows unlimited travel for up to 2 adults and 4 children (minimum 1 adult + 1 child) anywhere, any time on all Metro services for one day

• Love Metro SaturdaysThe special £2 Metro Day Ticket, which provides unlimited travel on Metro services each Saturday after 9.30am, has been extended to run until Saturday 5 January 2013 inclusive.

• DV8 Promotion Translink have teamed up with retail chain DV8 to offer 15% off during the festive period.  The discount is currently running until Christmas Eve

“We are already seeing more people choose our services and we hope these offers will encourage even more people to take advantage of the excellent value offered by using passenger transport.  Our packages have been designed with shoppers, traders, day trippers and the general public in mind as we want everyone to enjoy a cost-effective, hassle-free and convenient Christmas this year,” concluded Ciaran.

For full details of Translink offers visit www.translink.co.uk or call the Translink contact centre on 028 9066 6630

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Full details and fares for Translink’s Christmas offers are as follows;

Park & Ride

Expanded Park and Ride Services for Belfast, Lisburn, Newry and Londonderry. These Park and Ride services will operate all day Saturday and on each evening when there is late night shopping, with the last service leaving the city centre 30 minutes after the shops close. 

Cairnshill/Blacks Road/Northside/Eastside P&R to Belfast City Centre services will operate for 5 weeks from Monday 19 November to Saturday 22 December.Sprucefield to Lisburn City Centre services will operate from 26th Nov to 22nd DecDrumahoe to Derry City Centre will operate from 26th Nov to 22nd DecNewry Train Station to Newry City Centre from 3rd Dec to 22nd Dec

Free Park and Ride on above services between Monday 19 November and Saturday 22 December.Free Park and Ride Services after 4.30pm on weeknights when late night shopping is in place and all day each Saturday for people travelling into the city. N.B. Not available for those using the P&R for all day parking.

Family and Friends Ticket: Unlimited Bus & Rail - £20Available every Saturday and Sunday.Will also be available every day (Mon – Sun) from Saturday 22 December 2012 to Sunday 6 January 2013 (inclusive).This ticket offers unlimited travel for up to 2 adults + 4 children (minimum 1 adult + 1 child) on ANY scheduled bus or rail service within Northern Ireland for one day.  (Not valid on Ulsterbus Day Tours or Cross Border services).

Fare:• Family & Friends ticket: £20• Additional children (under 16): £4• Children under 5 years will be counted as part of a party.

Bus Rambler Ticket: £9Available every Sunday and also available every day (Mon – Sun) from Saturday 22 December 2012 to Sunday 6 January 2013 inclusive.This ticket offers passengers 1 day of unlimited travel on all Ulsterbus, Goldline and Metro services within Northern Ireland, Monday-Sunday after 9.15am.Fare:• Adult £9• Child £4.50

Metro Family Day Ticket (Metro Buses Only): £9Available everyday (Mon – Sun) from Saturday 22 December to Sunday 6 January inclusive.A Family Day Ticket for Metro will allow unlimited travel for up to 2 adults + 4 children (minimum 1 adult + 1 child) anywhere, any time on all Metro services for one day.Fare:• Metro Family Day Ticket £9• Additional child (U16) £1.50• Children under 5 years will be counted as part of a party.

Love Metro SaturdaysA £2 Metro Day Ticket will be available after 09.30 a.m.– 3p.m. every Saturday from Saturday 1 September 2012 – Saturday 5 January 2013 inclusive.

Goldline1/3 Off Day Return tickets to and from Belfast (in either direction) Monday – Sunday after 9.30am on the following Goldline services:• 215 – Downpatrick to Belfast• 218 / 219 – Coleraine, Ballymena, Antrim to Belfast• 238 / 238A – Newry to Belfast• 250/251 –  Portadown to Belfast, Armagh to Belfast• 256 – Larne to Belfast

Ulsterbus PromotionsBangor's Big Seat Sale – 1/3 Off Day Returns1/3 Off Day Return tickets to and from Bangor (in either direction) will be available on the following Ulsterbus Services:1, 1A, 1B, 2, 502A, 502B, 203

Ulsterbus Town Service TravelcardsDay Tickets available for unlimited travel on Ulsterbus town/City services.Available to buy from the driver of at station.Adult £2.40 Child £1.20

NI Railways1/3 off day return tickets after 9.30am.

Enhanced Rail CapacitySaturday 17th & 24th November, Saturday 1st, 8th,15th,22nd DecemberThe following services will be 6 carriage trains:• 0838 Coleraine – Gt Victoria Street    1510 Gt Victoria Street    - Coleraine• 1038 Coleraine – Gt Victoria Street   1710 Gt Victoria Street    - Coleraine• 1707 Coleraine – Gt Victoria Street   1910 Gt Victoria Street    - Coleraine

Sunday 16th 25th November, Sunday 2nd,9th,16th,23rd December:The following services will be 6 carriage trains;• 1110 Coleraine – Gt Victoria Street    1843 Gt Victoria Street    - Coleraine 

Monday – FridayThe following services will be 6 carriage trains:• 0726 Coleraine – Gt Victoria Street  1028 Gt Victoria Street    - Coleraine• 0957 Coleraine – Gt Victoria Street  1410 Gt Victoria Street    - Coleraine• 1157 Coleraine – Gt Victoria Street   1600 Gt Victoria Street    - Coleraine                                                                1658 Gt Victoria Street    - Coleraine

Special late train  - Belfast to ColeraineAn additional special train service will operate from Gt Victoria Street Station to Coleraine at 2208 covering the normal stops (to Coleraine only).This will operate from Monday to Saturday from 3rd December to 22 December.

Enterprise Web FaresWe have a range of web fares available on our Enterprise service.These fares include:• Day Return - From £10• Monthly Return - From £20• Single - From £8.99• 1st Plus Day Return (Sat & Sun) - From £25

DV8 PromotionTranslink have teamed up with DV8 to offer 15% off Christmas shopping.  Discounts are available from now until 24th December upon presentation of a valid Translink ticket