Translink apologises for axing all Belfast buses three days in a row, blaming 'fluid situation' after people stranded: All services to run today, including Farmers Bash event travel

The public transport firm stopped all of its services on Tuesday evening when one of its Glider buses was burned out on east Belfast’s Newtownards Road.

It did the same again between noon and 12.30pm on Wednesday, without warning – leaving people trying to get back to normal after a night of violence stuck, confused and worried when buses abruptly went out of service and all bus stops displayed messages stating they had been “suspended”.

The move came as an unverifiable anonymous image was circulating, claiming all businesses had to close by 11am as widespread protests would happen at 1pm. Those protests did not appear to materialise.

Despite being quizzed on the situation almost immediately by the News Letter, the firm didn’t issue a statement to the press or put anything on their social media about its cessation of services until after 1pm. The firm then stated some suspended services would be reactivated at 1.30pm, though in practice only a small handful were – and all of them, Translink said, would stop again at 5pm.

On Thursday afternoon the company announced it would halt all buses in the middle of the evening rush hour, every route ceasing by 5.30pm. Many businesses in the city centre worked a full day, however, meaning staff and customers were still in the city centre at 6pm. Cut off from public transport, they were left with a struggle to get home.

Today, after several days of the News Letter questioning its choices in handling the situation, Translink finally issued statements explaining some of its actions.

Wednesday, it said, was “a fluid and challenging period and we apologise for any inconvenience caused”.

Addressing its choices on Thursday, the transport firm didn’t provide a direct answer to a question on why it axed all routes citywide instead of only those going to the specific parts of Belfast where that evening’s small number of protests were held.

But a spokeswoman did tell the News Letter: “We understand the inconvenience caused to our customers but in the interests of public safety and following ongoing consultation with key partners, we made the decision to suspend evening services to keep our staff, passengers and the wider public safe.”

The spokeswoman added it would cost around £750,000 to replace the burned-out Glider, but even without it Translink still expects to be able to deliver a full service on its route running from east Belfast to west and back, as well as one from looping from the city centre to Titanic Quarter.

Today, she said, all buses and trains are running as normal “with minimal alterations”, and both Belfast late-night services and event travel to the Farmers Bash event that kicks off the Belsonic festival in Ormeau Park tonight should be on.

“The safety of our staff and customers is always our top priority, and we continue to monitor the situation, working closely with key stakeholders,” she stated.

“Passengers can keep up to date with the latest travel alerts via Translink’s website and socials, plus the journey planner app.”