Transport

That this conference reiterates its support for Northern Ireland’s integrated, publicly-owned public transport provider, Translink, and calls for responsible Ministers to ensure the stability of its finances through restoring the fuel duty rebate which was withdrawn by the Northern Ireland Executive in 2013.

We state clearly our support for the Belfast Rapid Transit system and the dedicated 12-hour bus lanes central to its success. We are also hugely concerned by the possibility that operating licenses for economic routes could be offered to private sector operators threatening the integrity of current public transport which is only sustained through cross-subsidisation of uneconomic with economic routes.

Further we call for responsible Ministers to bring forward an investment strategy to deliver a step-change to public transport in Northern Ireland. At its core this must mean more resources for bus and rail services and a programme of extending rail connections across all parts of the province and to all major airports and seaports.

Conference expresses our support for the proposed bridge from Northern Ireland to Scotland. The inclusion of both road and rail lines on the plans would represent a huge boost to public transport and freight, deliver substantial economic efficiency gains, further improve social and communal interaction across the sea connecting everyone on these islands in an unprecedented manner. It is vital that this facility remains fullyowned by the public sector to avoid the waste associated with PFI/PPP contracts.