[Colm Moore]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...258982257.html

Special fares planned to regain custom

DAN KEENAN Northern News Editor

TRANSLINK AND Iarnród Éireann are to introduce a series of special fare packages shortly to win back thousands of rail passengers on the Dublin-Belfast Enterprise service.

A series of promotional fares are to be introduced this weekend designed to regain market share.

The Northern Ireland transport company said yesterday it had lost up to 60 per cent of cross-Border rail passengers and about £2 million (€2.25 million) since a 20- metre section of the Malahide viaduct collapsed three months ago.

Yesterday’s first Enterprise service to run over the replaced section of track arrived in Connolly Station slightly behind schedule.

One passenger told BBC Northern Ireland: “When they run on time the trains can be very effective . . . But today, as the first day, hasn’t been the greatest start.”

Repairs to the Malahide viaduct were completed ahead of schedule and rail bosses are pleased this will afford them an opportunity to pitch a marketing campaign before the lucrative Christmas shopping season is fully under way.

Iarnród Éireann’s Barry Kenny said a sales drive would help win passengers back.

“We are going to have quite a lot of promotions obviously to bring people back,” he said. “We are also quite pleased we are going to have the service back ahead of the Christmas season.” He apologised for the break in full services between the cities.

“The service is back, the bridge is secure and safe and independently declared to be so, and we are very clearly looking forward to welcoming people back to the service.” Since August, Dublin to Belfast passengers have been transferred by coach between Connolly and Drogheda. While there has been much praise for the back-up measures, there has been a significant drop of nearly two-thirds on the numbers using the Enterprise.

One passenger said: “Talking to people who have been travelling on the bus between here and Drogheda, they said a lot of their friends had stopped using the train and were taking the bus instead.”