A new public transport company is to be formed to run bus and rail services in Northern Ireland, Stormont Regional Development Minister, Mr Peter Robinson announced today.
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Mr Peter Robinson
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The Democratic Unionist minister outlined plans in the Assembly to amalgamate the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company and Translink.
They would form a "new dynamic publicly owned operating company" called Transport Northern Ireland, with the Department of Regional Development as its shareholder.
Mr Robinson (DUP, East Belfast) told MLAs: "This company would have direct lines of accountability with DRD as its shareholder.
"It would continue to have a lead role in providing bus and rail services but would focus on developing the commerciality of the operating companies, with a view to competing in a market progressively opened up to private sector participation."
He also said: "An independent public transport regulatory body would be established, initially in shadow form and in due course on a statutory basis.
PA