Translink has launched a 12-week public consultation on proposed cuts to bus and rail services and changes to fare discounts, citing financial pressure from real-term funding reductions and rising costs.

The proposals would eliminate the last departures on the rail network and later bus services after 22:00 on Mondays through Wednesdays. Some high-demand routes would be retained, including the 212 Belfast-Londonderry service, X1, X2, X3, X4, and the 300 and 600 Airport services.

The yLink smartcard discount for 16 to 23-year-olds would be reduced from 50 percent to 33 percent. Off-peak day return fares on bus and rail for both adults and children would be removed, and some promotional fares would increase by £2.

Passengers boarding NI Railways trains without a valid ticket would only be able to purchase single tickets on board, as the company aims to make pre-purchasing more advantageous.

No connecting services would meet the last Enterprise train from Dublin, which arrives at 22:58, on the affected days.

An equality impact assessment published by Translink acknowledged that the discount changes would likely disproportionately affect younger people, and that removing last services could have a greater impact on older and younger customers, with some female customers potentially feeling more affected.

In May, outgoing chief executive Chris Conway told a Stormont committee that the company is seeking to make £10 million in savings. He said the public service agreement has not been funded by the Department for Infrastructure in recent years and that subsidies per passenger are lower than in other regions.

Conway also noted that five fare freezes over nine years, including one announced by Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins in April, have cost over £20 million in revenue.

The department said its priority is to keep public transport affordable and urged passengers and stakeholders to engage with the consultation, while noting there is no agreed budget and it continues to work with Translink in the interim.