Ulster Unionist Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy has welcomed the achievements made in 2012/13 to make public transport more accessible to older people and people with disabilities.
The Transport Minister was speaking on the publication of the first year monitoring report of his Department’s Accessible Transport Strategy Action Plan.
Mr Kennedy said: “I welcome the progress that has been made in the first year of the three year Action Plan, which I published in 2012. Against a backdrop of budget constraints, I am pleased to report that my Department continues to strive towards the removal of barriers that impede disabled people and older people from travel and transport services.
“This Action Plan follows on from the success of earlier plans in delivering the Accessible Transport Strategy. I will continue to seek opportunities for funding which will further enhance delivery of the Action Plan over the next two years.”
Some notable achievements in the first year are;
· Further investment in the Translink bus fleet, in the region of £30million, has enabled the introduction of 143 new fully wheelchair accessible buses.
· There were 20 new trains brought into operation, at a cost of £114million. All of the new trains are fully compliant with Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations.
· The Department for Regional Development, in conjunction with Guide Dogs and Translink, completed a successful pilot project to introduce audio visual information systems on Metro services in Belfast. The Department is seeking funding to install the systems on all Translink buses.
· The redevelopment of the Antrim Bus and Rail Station and Portadown Rail Station has provided new facilities to assist travel by people with disabilities.
