AQW 37697/22-27

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 07/01/2026
Answered On Date: 23/01/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure to detail any (i) criteria; and (ii) data, being used to evaluate the current night-time bus services operated by Translink, including how (a) passenger usage; (b) service reliability; and (c) daytime performance on the relevant routes, are taken into account when informing decisions on future provision.

Answer:

The current night-time bus services are part of a one-year pilot scheme being operated by Translink on Friday and Saturday nights. Although historically, late-night services only operated in the run up to the Christmas period, the 52-week pilot will provide a base to develop the consistency and dependability for these services in order to fully evaluate the demand and sustainability for late night bus provision. The criteria and data being used to evaluate success of the pilot scheme includes:

Quality of service delivery (punctuality and reliability)

Level of patronage and revenue generation; and (passenger volumes and fare income)

Running costs

It will also consider how the pilot has supported the Strategy for Ending Violence Against Women and Girls.

Translink routinely uses a range of available data when making decisions on service provision including all available route information such as daytime performance on specific routes.