Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has defended her decision to freeze public transport fares for a second consecutive year despite warnings that the move could force cuts to bus and rail services.

Kimmins told BBC News NI that increasing fares would have been more harmful to passengers already facing financial pressures from fuel costs and household expenses. She said the decision aims to encourage greater use of existing services rather than deter riders.

Translink has identified proposals to achieve £10 million in savings, including potential reductions to Metro, Ulsterbus and NI Railways services and the removal of some fare discounts. The company has stated that previous fare freezes have cost it over £20 million in revenue across nine years.

DUP MLA Deborah Erskine said the minister's choice to freeze fares means service reductions are inevitable and will affect communities across Northern Ireland, particularly in Fermanagh and South Tyrone. She stated that Translink cannot maintain current service levels without additional funding.

Kimmins said she will continue working with Translink to identify solutions while acknowledging ongoing budget constraints and the lack of an agreed multi-year budget for the Executive. A Department for Infrastructure spokesperson confirmed no budget has been finalised and that the department is working with the company on the issue.

The fare freeze applies to all Translink services across Northern Ireland.