'How is it cheaper to travel from Dundalk to Dublin than Newry to Belfast?', MLA asks
Questions have been asked at Stormont about the cost of rail travel from Newry.
SDLP MLA for Newry and Armagh, Justin McNulty, raised the topic during questions to the Infrastructure Minister, John O’Dowd.
Mr McNulty pointed out that a same-day return fare from Newry to Belfast is 68% more expensive than it is from Dundalk to Belfast.
“Will the Minister explain why passengers travelling from Newry are expected to pay more for a shorter journey? How does that encourage people to use public transport?” he asked.
In response, Mr O'Dowd explained: “The Dublin Government have been able to subsidise Iarnród Éireann to a higher degree than I have been able to subsidise Translink.
"They seem to have quite a healthy bank balance and they are able to subsidise public transport to a greater degree than I am. That is the reason for it.”
He added: "Translink is making some adjustments to fares on the Belfast to Dublin route in a bid to correct that anomaly.”