A COACH firm is set to rival Translink’s monopoly on public transport by offering a new Derry to Belfast bus service.
Hannon Coach wants to run an express service 20 times a day between the two cities as part of a multi-million pound investment.
If approved by the Department for Infrastructure, the buses could run from public transport provider Translink’s bases at the Europa Bus Centre in Belfast and Foyle Street station in Derry.
Hannon Coach is the newly formed business from long-established Co Armagh firm Hannon Transport – which turns over more than £20m a year.
The company believes the new service will knock 10 minutes off the journey, and also see an increase in passenger numbers, including tourists, visiting Derry city and the north west.
It’s understood the business submitted its formal application and proposals to operate the new route to the Department for Infrastructure last week.
That included an application for a ‘commercial bus service permit’ to operate a regular non-stop express service between Derry and Belfast.
The firm says the link would be the only express service between the two cities.
To be considered an ‘express’, each passenger journey must include a ‘closed door’ element, which is not less than 30 miles.
That means passengers must not be picked up, or set down, within that period.
In effect, other companies cannot compete with Translink on any of its timetabled services.
However, Hannon is proposing an express route which it says Translink is not offering.
Hannon Coach managing director Aodh Hannon said: “As a company, we have always been prepared to move our business forward. Our move into the coach industry is a continuation of our diversification strategy.”
Hannon Transport has also recently diversified into the steel business.
While other operators have competed on shorter routes before, Hannon’s foray into the market is the first significant move from a private bus operator in recent years.
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