HL Deb 11 June 2003 vol 649 cc46-7WA
Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the current average age of Translink's bus fleet in Northern Ireland. [HL2831]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

Translink has advised that as at 31 March 2003 the average age of its bus fleet was 13.4 years. It is the Department for Regional Development's policy that Translink should replace buses as they reach their target replacement age of 18 years. Increasing maintenance costs and reliability problems make keeping vehicles over this age in operation uneconomical and unsatisfactory. The allocation of an additional £40 million for bus grants in the Northern Ireland budget, announced in December 2002 will, subject to economic and other appraisal processes, enable Translink to replace older vehicles and reduce its average fleet age.

Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they are taking to reduce uneconomic competition between Translink's bus service and its rail service. [HL2885]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

Translink has, since its inception, endeavoured to provide integrated public transport services where feasible, with the aim of both improving options for the travelling public and also managing bus and rail services in an operationally efficient and economic way. Under this regime, the emphasis is placed on bus and rail services being complementary to one another. We have no plans to ask Translink to alter this operating regime.