Sinn Féin Foyle MP Elisha McCallion is to meet the management of Derry bus service Airporter after the firm announced it will not be able to accommodate the use of smart passes from next January.
“The issue appears to be that Airporter have been unable to access the automatic scanning hardware used currently by Translink to read the smartpasses,” Elisha McCallion commented.
“I will also be seeking a further meeting with Translink to explore any potential solutions to this problem that will be satisfactory to all the parties involved.
“For almost 20 years, Airporter has provided the Derry public with a direct transport link to the Derry and Belfast Airports. I want to see that service retained in full, including the access for Smartpass holders.”
On their website, Airporter states: “Any travel that has already been booked by smartpass passengers for dates beyond January 1st 2018 will be honoured, however all passengers will pay for travel on any further bookings for dates after 1st January 2018. This applies to all DfI smartpasses.”
It adds: RESERVATIONS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS CAN CONTINUE TO BE TAKEN OVER THE PHONE AND IN THE AIRPORTER OFFICE FOR ALL DATES WITH THE FOLLOWING RESTRICTIONS:
1. If you have already booked before 8th November for ANY dates up to and including 25th March 2018 free travel will be honoured.
2. If you book after 8th November for any date up to andincluding 31st December 2017, Smartpasses will continue to be accepted for free travel.
3. If you book after 8th November for any dates after 1st January 2018 Smartpass holders will have to pay for travel.
4. If you book after 8th November, and the first date of travel is before 1st January 2018 and the second date of travel is after, then the first part of the journey would be free and the second part of the journey would be charged as a normal one-way fare.
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