Two private bus companies say they have lost passengers and sales due to “anti-competitive” actions as Translink refuses to allow them entry to the new £340 million Grand Central Station.
Aircoach and Dublin Express have been in talks with Translink over gaining access to the taxpayer funded transport hub, after the Department of Infrastructure moved their on-street stopping point to Upper Queen Street in Belfast city centre.
However the companies have been told they will only be allowed to use stands at the station once it is “fully operational” – which could be September 2025.
They had previously been placed on Glengall Street, adjacent to the old Europa bus centre and Great Victoria Street train station.
The companies say their passenger numbers have gone down 30% since the opening of the new station in September, while Translink’s own Dublin airport and city services have seen increased passenger numbers.
Translink has also reported a 50% increase in passenger numbers on its Enterprise train service to Dublin in the same time.
Dublin Express says heavy traffic at the Upper Queen Street location and the “chaotic nature” of the loading bays is putting off customers, and has also led to verbal confrontations between its drivers and Translink drivers.
The companies have issued a joint letter to the Department for Infrastructure pleading to be allowed into the new station – a move which could see them pay £120,000 to cash-strapped Translink.
“The customers are voting with their feet and our passenger numbers are down significantly since we moved from Glengall Street in October,” general manager Rory Fitzgerald told the Irish News.
“A rough estimation of our decrease would be 30% of passenger numbers which is unsustainable.
“We would like to move to Grand Central Station as soon as possible to give the travelling public the choice of operator they deserve because as things stand, the options are not even.”
Aircoach said its current location presented a safety risk to its passengers and staff as well and urged Translink and DfI to allow them to operate at a “fair and level playing field”.
“Our current location at Upper Queen Street is desperately failing the needs of both our passengers and Aircoach as a commercial operator,” it said.
“We have real concerns regarding the safety of our passengers and staff on what is a very busy and now a very congested street.
“As the safety of passengers and staff should be the priority of all stakeholders involved, Aircoach is very keen to engage with Translink to gain access to Grand Central Station and to bring this situation to a satisfactory conclusion as quickly as possible.”
A Translink statement said private bus operators can apply for access to Grand Central Station but that the applications will only be considered when the public realm scheme associated with the hub is completed and “all bus stands at the new station are open”.
A spokesperson for DfI said the companies agreed to a “temporary” move to Upper Queen Street in October last year.
“The Department has been working with the bus operators to find an alternative arrangement while Glengall Street is closed and Dublin Express agreed to move its services to Upper Queen Street in October 2024 as a temporary measure,” the spokesperson said.