Translink Reviews 536

You look at the excellent marketing and wonderful presentation, unfrortnatly reality is bitter and reminds you to avoid this service.

Terrible journey from Antrim to Portrush today. We arrived at Antrim station this morning to a large crowd of passengers on the platform which was very unusual as it was off peak at 10.40. The train arrived and loads of people were piling off the train along with a member of Translink staff. My husband asked him what was happening and he walked past us and shouted this train is being evacuated. We didn't know what to do so we walked down the platform where another member of Translink staff was standing and asked him why we weren't allowed on the train. He said you are being bused so go to the bus station. A passenger said to us that he had heard someone say the train was going back to Belfast. It was absolutely chaotic and the Translink staff were just standing around looking confused. Eventually after following the crowd we got on to the substitute coach. I have to say it was abysmal, it hadn't been cleaned and there were empty drinks cans and sweet papers everywhere. The bus took twice as long as the usual train journey but it was the lack of organisation and communication at Antrim train station which was unbelievable. Surely they could have made an announcement telling the passengers what was happening and what arrangements were in place to resolve the issue. We don't have many trains in Northern Ireland so surely it can't be that difficult. It was a very long day!!!

Almost every time my wife and I travel from Castlerock to Belfast or Londonderry the train is always running late sometimes up to half an hour. This has to be the worst run train service in the UK. Something is badly wrong with the management and needs to be sorted out.

Got a train on friday 18th october.from belfast to portrush.there was a lovely conducter on the train he told us we had to change at coleraine and he would be on the same train and not to rush as there was no hurry. There was another translink worker a man standing who told us hurry up as the train was leaving he was very rude. so we went to get the lift and you could only get 2 passengers with 2 small suitcases in it thats how small it was they have just spent millions of pounds updating the train stations and the lifts r pathetic.why not put escalators in because the lifts do not accomedate customers.

Would give it zero if i could, 12a 12b buses never come, 2 hrs waiting last tuesday and 2hrs 15 on friday, guy from complaints had a very bad ignorant attitude, i had a bus driver scream at me when i asked him if the bus was coming after almost 3 hours waiting last year he shouted eff off get the eff away from me infront of everyone, i had a 6ft 5 man verbally abuse me and intimidate me because i got on bus before him, the bus drivers are the most ignorant unfriendly drivers i have ever met, they need competition from other bus companies as they get away with everything because they are the only bus company we have. I attend hospital a lot and now have to fork out for taxi's as i cant rely on a bus, and dont start me about the last stop being the start of royal avenue, i will be contacting my mp as complaints do nothing

Found grand central eventually, ticket and seat numbers on digital receipt useless as scanners did not work and another paper ticket obligatory after generated from the original bar code sent as ticket? Why on earth would this be required ?? Not like anywhere else in Europe where you simply get a ticket that works when you pay! And get email with barcode and seat number( not working today)
On return journey got as far as door of train not allowed on because I had t the paper ticket although receipt and seat number at purchase, so I do have to ask could you please send someone to see how this is done in the rest of Europe? With less people confusion and aggression from staff ! At least several steps a waste of money which puts up prices which are not good either!

With out a doubt, Translink is the worst transport
system I have ever come across. Late trains, cancelled
buses , unhelpful staff. As far as the new Hub , a total
waste of money, staff standing around doing nothing.
A complete waste of tax payers money.

Where to start lol...

- The app they try to force you to use is barely functional, works about 50% of the time. When it doesn't work good luck getting the train/bus you've already paid for
- Has to be one of the most expensive public transport systems in Europe if not the world, daily tickets booked well ahead of time work out around £20 a day for a 50 mile round trip
- As reliable as my dead grandparents, trains regularly are delayed 15-20 mins with no recourse to get compensation like any other public transport system. Every now and again buses or trains don't show, if that happens you're screwed - be prepared to pay for your TransLink ticket + the price of a taxi
- The new Grand Central station is a signal blind spot with currently barely functional wifi, even if you've paid for a ticket there's a decent chance the app won't load or you'll have no signal. If that happens you'll get zero sympathy from the staff, was told it was my fault for not loading up my ticket before trying to the station
- For a public transport network that costs a fortune and barely functions they have a hell of a lot of staff standing around doing seemingly nothing
- On a 40 minute train journey expect to have your ticket checked to get onto the train, 2-3 times again during your 40 min journey and then again to leave the station

An absolute farce of a company, disgusted my tax goes towards funding these feckless cowboys.
If you want to get anywhere in NI I would recommend driving, these useless layabouts would struggle to run a bath.. let alone one of the smallest countries in the world's transport networks.

Well money spent on a new station and still the f****** trains can't run on time. Getting to be a bit of a phish take now, meant to be a train at 18.01, now 18.13 and no sign. Translink are the gift that just keeps giving eh

I was assaulted by a wild driver and mob of racists from a Ulster bus trying to speak up for another passenger who was being dehumanised, I will not forget the day not even a pip from Translink, I has to jump through hoops just to get a response by mail, the matter is with the police now, I intend to sue after a 100%.

Useless. I entered my home address in Belfast and my destination as Dublin Connolly station using bus and train. I was informed that there were 'No Trips Found' and asked to try again

I cane down to the 11 a bus stop and waited 34 MINUTES and it still didnt come and the wait was only meant to be 9 minutes 1star i could walk up to Ballysylin faster than that

Travelling from Castlerock to portrush by train I discovered that instead of a 40 minute wait for a change over train to portrush there was a bus leaving within 5 minutes. Asked the personnel at the station if my ticket could be used on the bus. He politely replied that it would depend on the driver. When I asked him if I could transfer to the bus I was answered with a terse no.
Just back from a trip to York where bus driver manners are streets ahead of translink. I had a query about ticket validity on the Arriva service and the driver could not have been more helpful and approachable.

I would give it zero stars if possible.
What kind of a***hole service decides to do rail upgrades during weekdays during the DAY??? At least London does it at night like any non moronic system does...

Good luck Olympics...

Local bus services in Derry half of the time are running VERY late, multiple buses on the same route at the same time but you need to wait an hour plus for anything in between. Online timetables are bare minimum and don’t include all of the stops. ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS!!

just got a bus from Carrickfergus to Belfast and never again, 1st time on a bus and last. Apart from feeling sick I thought the bus was about to fall apart. Suitcase shelf rattling it's brains out roof access hatch hanging down. Heaven help the Poor driver of this bus. Cannot wait to get of this bus. Train home.

After a nightmare journey and misinformation, Michael in the York St. station saved the day!

His kind and patient manner was a breath of fresh air after some impatient and unhelpful bus drivers, who sent me on a wild goose chase all round Belfast (almost 2 hours of wasted time, might I add)!

He has a real way with people, I saw that in his interactions with other customers, including a baby and an elderly man. Michael finally got me on my way to Coleraine, what an asset to Translink! 3 cheers for Michael and his epic customer service (and calming influence) 😊🫶🏻

THEIR NEW APP INTERFACE IS SERIOUSLY FLAWED AND HARD TO HANDLE.

Absolutely terrible service, trains never on time and totally unreliable service.