smart card travel northern ireland

60+ SmartPass and Senior (65+) SmartPass

To apply for a 60+ SmartPass you must be aged between 60 and 64 and permanently resident in Northern Ireland for a minimum of three months. To apply for a Senior (65+) SmartPass you must be aged 65+ and permanently resident in Northern Ireland for a minimum of three months.

How to apply

You can get an application form:

• by calling in person at any manned Translink bus or rail station
• by phoning 028 9066 6630 (applicants who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus can use the textphone number 18001  028 9066 6630) and asking for a form to be posted to you
• by emailing  [email protected]  and asking for a form to be posted to you (provide your name and full address with postcode)

You will never be contacted asking for any bank account details when you're applying for or renewing a SmartPass. 

60+ SmartPass applications

Applications may be made no earlier than six weeks before your 60th birthday. 

Applications can take four to six weeks to process. 

Senior (65+) SmartPass applications

Applications may be made up to four weeks before your 65th birthday, but the SmartPass will only start working on your birthday.

Applications are processed as soon as possible but can take four to six weeks, and your new pass will be posted to you directly.

Proof of age and residency

After filling out your form you must take it, in person, to your nearest Translink bus or rail station along with a countersigned passport-sized photograph and a choice of the following documents to prove your age and residency.

Proof of age:

• driving licence (non-UK driving licences must contain your date of birth)
• passport (non-UK passports must contain your date of birth)
• birth certificate (if name on birth certificate differs from name on application form, then you must provide official documents to support any name change)
• Northern Ireland Electoral ID Card

Proof of residency:

• driving licence (non-UK driving licences must contain your address)
• recent (no more than three months old) utility bill (an electricity, gas or landline telephone bill, but not a mobile phone bill)
• recent (no more than three months old) bank or building society statement

60+ SmartPass holders who will turn 65 shortly

Your 60+ SmartPass is programmed to run out at the end of the calendar month in which you become 65.

If you have applied for a Senior (65+) SmartPass, it will not be sent to you until near the end of the month in which you become 65.

As free all Ireland and cross-border travel is only available to holders of a Senior (65+) SmartPass, you may have to wait up to three weeks following your 65th birthday before you can make use of this benefit.

Renewing your Senior (65+) SmartPass

SmartPasses are only valid for five years. Check the expiry date on the front of your SmartPass to see when it will run out, as it cannot be used to get free travel after this date.

Around three months before each SmartPass expires, pass holders will get a letter explaining how to get a new pass.

If you want further information about renewing your SmartPass, phone Translink on:

• 028 9066 6630 (applicants who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus can use the textphone number 18001 028 9066 6630)

Lost or stolen SmartPass

If your SmartPass is lost or stolen, you should report it to Translink as soon as possible to make sure the card is cancelled and avoid the likelihood of fraudulent use. 

If anyone else tries to use a stolen pass, Translink staff will be alerted.  

Unauthorised use of a SmartPass may result in prosecution.

To get your replacement SmartPass, you should either go to your local Translink bus or rail station, or:

• phone: 028 9066 6630
• email:  [email protected]

Faulty or damaged SmartPass

If your SmartPass is faulty or damaged, you can get a free replacement. 

Go to a Translink bus or rail station and exchange your SmartPass at the ticket office for a ‘Faulty SmartPass Receipt’ ticket. This will provide you with free travel on buses and trains for a seven-day period, during which time a new free replacement pass will be issued. 

Or you can also get a free replacement pass by contacting Translink: 

The ‘Faulty SmartPass Receipt’ ticket is only available at a Translink train or bus station when exchanged for the faulty or damaged pass. 

Using a SmartPass

You can use your 60+ SmartPass and Senior (65+) SmartPass on all Translink scheduled services within Northern Ireland.

Senior (65+) SmartPasses are valid on cross border bus and rail services, and can also be used for free public transport journeys taken entirely within the Republic of Ireland on services run by participating operators.  You can find details on the participating operators on Free travel in Ireland .

In cases of doubt, SmartPass holders are advised to contact operators in Republic of Ireland ahead of travel to establish whether they offer free travel as part of the All Ireland Free Travel Scheme and to find out how passes are verified for travel.

Your SmartPass is also valid on eligible scheduled services operated by other participating operators within the concessionary fares scheme. Details on these operators are available by contacting the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) Concessionary Fares team .

Free travel is also available on the Rathlin Island ferry service under the Rathlin Island Ferry Discounted Fares Scheme and Strangford Lough ferry service on  showing your SmartPass.

Members of the Rural Community Transport Partnerships can travel free of charge on Dial-a -Lift Scheme services through the Assisted Rural Travel Scheme (ARTS) on  showing a valid 60+ or Senior SmartPass. Further information can be found on the Community transport and shopmobility page .

You can also view a leaflet at these links showing you how to use your 60+ SmartPass or Senior (65+) Citizen SmartPass:

• Senior Citizen SmartPass card user guide
• 60+ SmartPass card user guide

The Concessionary Fares Scheme privacy notice is available on the DfI website .

Glider services

You can use your 60+ SmartPass or Senior (65+) SmartPass on all Glider services.

SmartPass users do not need to use Glider ticket vending machines but must tap their card on a validator at the Glider halts before boarding the Glider.

Contact information

If you have any queries, contact Department for Infrastructure (DfI) Concessionary Fares .

Translation help

Help improve this page - send your feedback.

You will not receive a reply. We will consider your feedback to help improve the site. Don't include any personal or financial information, for example National Insurance, credit card numbers, or phone numbers.

What to do next

Comments or queries about angling can be emailed to [email protected] 

If you have a comment or query about benefits, you will need to contact the government department or agency which handles that benefit.  Contacts for common benefits are listed below.

Carer's Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912 Email  [email protected]

Discretionary support / Short-term benefit advance

Call 0800 587 2750  Email  [email protected]

Disability Living Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912  Email [email protected]

Employment and Support Allowance

Call 0800 587 1377

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office

Personal Independence Payment

Call 0800 587 0932

If your query is about another benefit, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

Comments or queries about the Blue Badge scheme can be emailed to [email protected] or you can also call 0300 200 7818.

For queries or advice about careers, contact the Careers Service .

For queries or advice about Child Maintenance, contact the Child Maintenance Service .

For queries or advice about claiming compensation due to a road problem, contact DFI Roads claim unit .

If you can’t find the information you’re looking for in the  Coronavirus (COVID-19) section , then for queries about:

• Restrictions or regulations —  contact the Department of Health
• Travel advice (including self-isolation) —  contact the Department of Health
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations — contact the  Department of Health  or  Public Health Agency

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email [email protected] and for queries about your certificate, email [email protected] .

For queries or advice about criminal record checks, email [email protected]

Application and payment queries can be emailed to  [email protected]

For queries or advice about employment rights, contact the Labour Relations Agency .

For queries or advice about birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates and research, contact the General Register Office Northern Ireland (GRONI) by email  [email protected]

For queries about the High Street Spend Local Scheme,  email  [email protected] .

For queries about:

• Car tax, vehicle registration and SORN contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea  
• Driver licensing and tests, MOT and vehicle testing contact the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), Northern Ireland

For queries about your identity check, email [email protected] .

For queries or advice about passports, contact  HM Passport Office .

For queries or advice about Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), including parking tickets and bus lane PCNs, email  [email protected]

For queries or advice about pensions, contact the  Northern Ireland Pension Centre .

If you wish to report a problem with a road or street you can do so online in this section .

If you wish to check on a problem or fault you have already reported, contact DfI Roads .

For queries or advice about historical, social or cultural records relating to Northern Ireland, use the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) enquiry service .

For queries or advice about rates, email [email protected]

For queries or advice about  60+ and Senior Citizen SmartPasses (which can be used to get concessionary travel on public transport), contact  Smartpass - Translink .

If you have a question about a government service or policy, you should contact the relevant government organisation directly .  We don't have access to information about you.

Cookies on citizensinformation.ie

We use cookies to collect information about how you use citizensinformation.ie. This helps us to improve your experience. You can find out more about the cookies we use in our Cookie notice . You can also read our Privacy policy . You can accept all cookies or you can chose which cookies to accept or reject. You can change your cookie preferences at any time by using the My cookie preferences link at the bottom of each page.

Cookie preferences

Cookies used by google analytics.

We use Google Analytics to measure how you use the website so we can improve it. We have configured Google Analytics to anonymise your IP address so that you are not personally identified. We gather information on:

• How you got to the site
• The pages you visit on citizensinformation.ie, and how long you spend on each page
• What you click while you are visiting the site

Free travel in Ireland

What is the free travel scheme, how to use free travel, where can i use free travel, how to qualify for free travel, how to apply for free travel, where to apply for free travel, senior smartpass for travelling in northern ireland.

The Free Travel Scheme allows you to travel, free of charge, on public transport and some private bus and ferry services.

Everyone aged 66 and over, living permanently in Ireland, can get the Free Travel Scheme.

People with disabilities and carers aged under 66 may also qualify for Free Travel.

If you qualify for Free Travel and you are married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting, your partner may travel with you for free if you meet certain criteria (see ‘Spouses, civil partners and cohabitants’ below).

If you can’t travel alone for medical reasons, you may get Free Travel for a companion. This allows a person aged over 16 to travel with you for free.

Changes to the Free Travel Scheme in 2024

From July 2024, you will qualify for the Free Travel Scheme if you have:

• Never been able to drive due to a disability
• A driving licence and are medically certified as ‘not fit to drive’ for 12 months or longer.

If you qualify for Free Travel, your Public Services Card (PSC) will have FT (for Free Travel) in the top left-hand corner. The letter following it shows who can travel for free with you:

• FT-P - you can travel for free
• FT+S - your spouse, partner or cohabitant can travel with you for free
• FT+C - you can have a person (over 16) travel with you for free

You must show or scan your Public Services Card to the travel operator when you are travelling on public transport. Find out more about 'How to use your public services card for free travel' .

Paper travel passes are no longer being issued but you can still use your paper pass, if it is valid.

You can use your Free Travel on most Iarnród Éireann , Bus Éireann , Dublin Bus , DART and Luas Services and on certain private bus and ferry services (pdf) .

Free travel is also available on Dublin Bus Nitelink , Go-Ahead Ireland and TFI (Transport for Ireland) Local Link services .

Free travel does not include some special services such as Dublin Bus AIRLINK services .

You can find a full list of services where you can use Free Travel (pdf) on gov.ie.

There are no restrictions on the times you can use your Free Travel.

Living on the Aran Islands or Tory Island

If you are permanently living on any of the Aran Islands, you may get up to 12 single (or 6 return) air trips each year between the islands and Galway City.

People who live permanently on Tory Island (Co. Donegal) are entitled to 8 (or 4 return) free journeys on the seasonal helicopter service operating between the island and Falcarragh on the mainland.

If your public services card includes free travel for a companion, spouse, partner or cohabitant, they can also travel with you for free on the above services.

Going to Northern Ireland

You may also travel free of charge on certain cross-border services between Ireland and Northern Ireland. But to travel free in Northern Ireland, you must have a Senior Smart Pass – see ‘Senior SmartPass for travelling in Northern Ireland’ below.

To get Free Travel you must be living in Ireland and meet one of the following conditions:

• You are aged 66 or over
• You are getting Disability Allowance , Blind Pension , Carer's Allowance or an Invalidity Pension
• You are blind or visually impaired and meet the medical conditions for Blind Pension
• You have been getting Incapacity Supplement or Workmen's Compensation with Disablement Pension for at least 12 months
• You are a specified carer for a person getting Constant Attendance Allowance or Prescribed Relative's Allowance
• You are getting a social security invalidity payment (or similar payment) from a country covered by EU regulations or from a country with which Ireland has a bilateral social security agreement for at least 12 months

Widow or widower or a surviving civil partner

If you are a widow or widower or a surviving civil partner aged 60 or over, living in Ireland and your late spouse or civil partner had Free Travel, you can get Free Travel, if you are getting one of the following payments:

• Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Partner's (Contributory) Pension
• Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Partner's (Non-Contributory) Pension
• One-Parent Family Payment
• Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Partner's Pension under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme
• A similar social security pension or benefit from a country covered by EU regulations or a country with which Ireland has a bilateral social security agreement
• You are getting an ordinary Garda widow's pension

Spouses, civil partners and cohabitants

If you are entitled to Free Travel and you are married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting, your partner may be able to travel with you for free.

Your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant cannot travel with you for free, if you are under age 66 and getting Free Travel because you are:

• Getting Carer's Allowance
• The nominated carer for a person getting Constant Attendance Allowance or Prescribed Relatives Allowance

Your PSC card must have FT-S on it to allow your partner travel with you. To add your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant to your Free Travel - see ‘How to apply for Free Travel’ below.

If you can’t travel alone

If you are unable to travel alone , you can have a person, over 16 years of age, travel with you for free. Your PSC card must have FT-C on it. To add a companion to your Free Travel, see ‘How to apply for Free Travel’ below.

Free travel companion card for children

A child with a visual impairment can get Free Travel for a companion if they are under 18 and they either:

• Satisfy the blindness condition for a Blind Pension, or
• Are registered with Vision Ireland or the National League of the Blind of Ireland

The person they travel with (companion) must be age 16 or over.

Work and Free Travel

You can keep your Free Travel for 5 years, if you moved from one of the following disability payments to work:

• Disability Allowance
• Invalidity Pension
• Partial Capacity Benefit (from Invalidity Pension)
• Disablement Benefit paid along with Incapacity Supplement

You can also keep your Free Travel for 5 years if you transferred from Disability Allowance or Invalidity Pension to a Community Employment , SOLAS or a Back to Work scheme.

If you are aged 66 or over and are getting a State pension, your Public Services Card (PSC) will be issued showing that you have Free Travel automatically.

If you are under 66, you will get Free Travel automatically issued on your PSC if you get one of the following payments:

• Blind Pension
• Carer’s Allowance

If you are married or in a civil partnership, your PSC will be issued with FT-S on it. If you are cohabiting, you must fill in Part 1 and 2 of the Free Travel application form FT1 (pdf) .

If you are not getting one of the payments above but you are eligible for Free Travel, you must fill in the Free Travel application form FT1(pdf) and send to the Free Travel Section in the Department of Social Protection.

If you can’t travel alone and need a companion

If you are unable to travel alone, you can apply for Free Travel for a Companion, using either of the following forms:

• Over 70 Companion pass form (pdf)
• Under 70 Companion pass form (pdf)

You can get an application form for Free Travel from the Department of Social Protection. The form is also available at your local post office and Citizens Information Centre .

Lost or damaged Free Travel pass or PSC

There are currently 2 types of Free Travel Pass:

• A paper Free Travel Pass
• A Public Services Card with Free Travel (with F-T written in the top left-hand corner)

Paper passes are no longer being issued so if you need a replacement for a lost or damaged paper pass, you must undergo SAFE registration and get a Public Services Card .

If your Public Services Card Free Travel is lost, stolen or damaged, you should telephone 0818 837 000 to request a replacement card.

Free Travel

Social Welfare Services College Road Sligo Ireland

If you are 66 or over and have Free Travel, you can travel free of charge on all bus and rail services within Northern Ireland using a Senior SmartPass card.

If you are 66 or over and have Free Travel, you do not need to meet the residency condition in Northern Ireland to apply for a Senior SmartPass card.

How to apply for a Senior SmartPass

To get a Senior SmartPass, you must fill in an application form (FTNI1). You can get this form from your local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office. It is not possible to get this form online .

You should not use a photocopy of the form as each form is barcoded. The application form must be filled in with black ink only and returned in person (not posted) to your Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office.

You must bring each of the following items with your application form to your Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office:

• Your Irish Free Travel pass/Public Services Card
• Proof of your address, (for example, a gas, electricity, phone bill or bank statement)
• Proof of your identity, (for example, your driving licence, passport or another form of photo identification)
• A recent passport standard colour photograph

It may take up to 6 weeks to process your application. There is further information on the extension of the Free Travel Scheme .

Travelling with a partner or companion

A spouse, civil partner, cohabitant or companion cannot travel with you for free on public transport within Northern Ireland.

However, your Irish Free Travel allows your spouse, civil partner, cohabitant or companion to travel for free on certain cross-border services between Ireland and Northern Ireland. For example, a cross-border train journey that starts in Ireland and ends in Northern Ireland or vice versa.

Renewing and replacing a Senior SmartPass

Your Senior SmartPass will expire after 5 years.

• If you have electronically used your card within the last 2 years, you will get a new card automatically in the post from Translink when your card expires.
• If you have not used your card in the last 2 years, you will be sent a renewal application form to fill in. The renewal form is not the same as a first-time application and you do not need to supply a photograph.
• If you have never used your card, you will not hear from Translink at all. If you wish to get it renewed, you must contact Translink by email at [email protected] , or telephone 00 44 289 075 9129 or 028 90 66 66 30 and they will send you a renewal application.

If you lose or need to replace your Senior SmartPass for travel in Northern Ireland, you can fill in form (FTNI 2) (pdf) .

Brexit and the Senior SmartPass

On 31 January 2020 the UK exited the EU . Senior SmartPass holders can continue to travel in Northern Ireland on the bus and train.

Related documents

• Tax-free purchases for non-EU travellers The Retail Export Scheme, allows visitors to Ireland (from outside the European Union) to buy goods in Ireland to take home with them and benefit from tax relief. 2862.156
• Customs regulations for travellers to Ireland Find out about the important rules in place regarding customs regulations for people travelling to Ireland. 2635.0413
• Travelling from Ireland for healthcare in Europe Introduction to the options for Irish residents who wish to access healthcare in other countries in Europe. 2558.0198

If you have a question about this topic you can contact the Citizens Information Phone Service on 0818 07 4000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm).

You can also contact your local Citizens Information Centre .

Manage cookie preferences

• +28 9072 6020
• [email protected]

Accessible Travel NI

Concessionary fares, what’s available.

People aged 60 and over and some groups of disabled people are eligible for discounted travel on a range of services on production of a SmartPass.

Discounted travel is funded in most cases through the Northern Ireland Concessionary Fares Scheme, although discounted travel on rural community transport is funded through the Assisted Rural Travel Scheme.

Eligible Services in Northern Ireland

Your SmartPass can be used on all bus and train services operated by Translink in Northern Ireland.

Your SmartPass can also be used for discounted fares on the Strangford and Rathlin ferry services.

Your SmartPass can be used for discounted travel on the rural Dial-a-Lift service provided by community transport.

Travel in Ireland

People aged 65 and over can use their SmartPass  to travel free on public transport throughout the island of Ireland.

People who are registered blind can use their SmartPass to travel free point to point between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. This means you can travel from Belfast to Dublin for free but would have to pay full fare if you are travelling on to another destination in the South after visiting Dublin.

Travel in Great Britain

You cannot use your SmartPass when travelling in Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales or the Channel Islands).

Older people and disabled people from Northern Ireland can apply for Railcard which entitles you to a discount on rail fares in Great Britain.

Visit the Senior Railcard website .

Visit the Disabled Persons Railcard website .

Free travel entitlements for older people

Under the Northern Ireland Concessionary Fares Scheme people aged 60 and over are entitled to the following discounts on production of a valid SmartPass:

• Free travel on bus and train services in Northern Ireland
• Free transport on bus and train service throughout the island of Ireland for people aged 65 and over
• Free travel on the Strangford and Rathlin ferries

People aged 60 and over are also entitled to free travel on rural Dial-a-Lift using their SmartPass. This is through the Assisted Rural Travel Scheme.

Free travel entitlements for disabled people

Under the Northern Ireland Concessionary Fares Scheme people who are registered blind are entitled to the following discounts on production of a valid SmartPass:

• Free travel on point to point journeys between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland
• Free travel on the Strangford and Rathlin Ferries 

Under the Northern Ireland Concessionary Fares Scheme People in receipt of the War Disablement Pension are entitled to the following discounts on production of a valid SmartPass:

• Free travel on the Strangford and Rathlin Ferries and rural Dial-a-Lift services

People who are registered blind or who are receipt of the War Disablement Pension are also entitled to free travel on rural Dial-a-Lift using their SmartPass. This is through the Assisted Rural Travel Scheme.

Half-Fare entitlements for disabled people

Under the Northern Ireland Concessionary Fares Scheme disabled people who meet the following criteria are eligible for discounted travel using a SmartPass:

• If you get the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• If you get the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• If you have had a driving licence refused or revoked on medical grounds
• If you have a learning difficulty
• If you are partially sighted

This SmartPass entitles you to the following discounts:

• A half-Fare concession on the price of a single ticket when using bus and train services in Northern Ireland.
• A half-Fare concession on the Strangford and Rathlin Ferries

Eligible disabled people are also entitled to free travel on rural Dial-a-Lift using their SmartPass. This is through the Assisted Rural Travel Scheme.

Further information

For detailed information about eligibility for discounted travel in Northern Ireland visit the NI Direct Website.

Applying for your SmartPass

You must apply for a SmartPass before you can get discounts on travel. You need to  complete an application form to be issued with a free or half fare SmartPass. Forms are only available in hard copy, so if this does not work for you someone will have to fill it in for you.

People aged 60 or over are required to take their application form to a bus or train station with proof of residency and age.

The requirements for disabled people differ depending on the criteria you are applying under. Some people may have to send their forms to another agency (such as the local Health Trust) to be authorised before it is sent to Translink.

Renewing your SmartPass

SmartPasses are renewed every 5 years. You will receive a renewal form by post.

Transferring from a Half-Fare SmartPass to a free SmartPass

If you are a disabled person who has a half fare SmartPass, you can transfer to a free SmartPass once you are 60. You must complete  a new application form.

Transferring from a 60+ SmartPass to a 65+ SmartPass

If you already have a 60+ SmartPass you will be sent a renewal form when you are 65. You do not have to complete a new application form, simply complete the renewal and you will be sent your 65+ SmartPass.

For detailed information about how to apply for your SmartPass visit the NI Direct website .

Half fare concession rail day returns

Although Half fare SmartPass holders receive half off a single fare not a return journey, you can get a Day Return ticket for rail journeys in Northern Ireland.

Offers and promotions

Translink often have offers and promotions on bus and train fares. It is worth asking about offers that may make the cost of some journeys cheaper than using your Half Fare SmartPass.

Queuing for tickets

If you are a free or half fare SmartPass holder you can obtain a ticket on-board every bus or train. There is no need to stand in queues if you find this difficult.

Glider is the name for a bus service in Belfast. All SmartPass holders, including half fare, travel free on Glider services. Before boarding Glider you must touch your SmartPass on a validators. Validators are located at each end of the shelter.

For more information about using Glider services visit the Imtac website .

DATS and Dial-a-Lift

You can use your free or half fare SmartPass on rural Dial-a-Lift services but not on DATS.

Lost, stolen or faulty SmartPasses

If you lose your SmartPass or if it is faulty or stolen you should contact Translink straightaway.

For advice about what to do visit the Translink website .

• Latest News

• Site search Enter search keywords
• Back Information and Advice
• Back Looking after yourself
• Back Good Vibrations
• How's the Form?
• Good Vibrations 2020-2021
• Move with Mary
• Eat Well with Jane
• Check In and Chat
• Keeping well at Home
• Move More Live More
• Back Money Matters
• Energy Efficiency
• Back Benefits and Entitlements
• Attendance Allowance
• Bereavement benefits
• Carer's Allowance
• Centenarian Bounty
• Cold Weather Payment
• Finance Support Service
• Help with Health Costs
• Help with Rates
• Housing Benefit
• Income support
• Lone Pensioner Allowance (LPA)
• Pension Credit
• Personal Independence Payment
• Post Office Card Accounts
• Support for Mortgage Interest

Transport concessions

• TV licence concessions
• Universal Credit
• Winter Fuel Payment
• Back Debt and savings
• 8 ways to make the most of your savings
• Debt advice
• Financial jargon checker
• How to trace lost money
• Getting the best energy deal
• Save money on your energy bills
• Using credit wisely
• End of life planning
• Back Income and tax
• Equity release
• Inheritance tax
• Boost your income
• Tax mistakes
• Back Legal issues
• Advance decisions (living wills)
• Legal advice
• Making a will
• Power of Attorney
• What do executors do
• What to do when someone dies
• Back Pensions advice
• Pension scams
• Tracing old pensions
• What you can do with your pension pot
• Workplace pensions
• State Pension
• Back Scams and fraud
• Email Scams
• Consumerline
• Doorstep scams
• Postal scams
• Phone scams
• Report fraud to Action Fraud
• Support for scam victims
• Investment scams
• Back Care & support
• Back Adapting your home
• How to find a good tradesperson
• Using technology for independence
• Adaptations and equipment to make home tasks easier
• Back Care homes
• Types of Care Homes
• Finding a care home
• Moving into a care home
• Problems with a care home
• Back Find care and support
• How to find the help you need at home
• How to complain about care
• Back Helping an older relative or friend
• Carers' Guide
• I’m a carer and worried about money
• Can carers get help from social services?
• Getting support and looking after yourself
• I’m juggling work and caring
• My caring role has changed
• Caring for someone with dementia
• Back Home safety
• Fire prevention, gas safety and electric safety
• Neighbour disputes
• Preparing for flooding
• Crime prevention
• Back Housing options
• Specialist housing options
• Renting and social housing
• Moving in with family
• Sheltered housing and extra-care housing
• Returning to the UK after living abroad
• Moving abroad in retirement
• Back How to arrange care
• What is Social Care?
• Care needs assessment
• Deprivation of assets
• Personalised care budgets
• Do I have to sell my home to pay for care?
• Paying for care - the means test explained
• Back Work & learning
• Cyber Safety Training
• Age Awareness Training
• Back Discrimination and rights
• Human rights
• The Equality Act
• Your rights at work
• Back Education and training
• Build up your skills
• Classes and courses
• Higher education and university
• University of the Third Age (U3A)
• Computer training courses
• Back Looking for work
• Be your own boss
• CVs and job applications
• Job interview tips
• Back Retirement
• Preparing emotionally for retirement
• Planning for retirement
• Retirement age
• Back Technology and internet
• Glossary of online terms
• Making the most of the internet
• Staying safe online
• Guides & Factsheets

Age NI Advice Service

0808 808 7575.

Free to call 9am – 5pm (Mon - Fri)

• Find out more
• Advice & Advocacy
• Care & Wellbeing Services

More services

• Age Sector Networks
• Policy and Engagement
• Age NI Shops
• Age at Work
• Back Services

With your help we can be there for the thousands of older people facing later life alone in Northern Ireland.

• Make a Donation
• Raise money

More ways to get involved

• Gifts in Wills
• Back Get Involved

Age NI is the leading charity for older people in Northern Ireland.

Our vision is a world where everyone can love later life..

• Read about us
• Who we've helped
• Latest news

More about us

• Love later life
• Board of Trustees
• Senior Management
• Care Services
• Policy & Engagement
• Work for us
• Back About Us

Age NI Products & Services

028 9024 5729.

Age NI provides products and services specifically designed for older customers.

• Independent Living Products
• Personal Alarms
• Bathroom Adaptations
• Mobility Aids
• Back Our Products

Benefits and Entitlements

Free travel is available to everyone in Northern Ireland aged  60+ with a SmartPass card.

You must be a resident in Northern Ireland, for a minimum of 3 months to be eligible. With a 60+ SmartPass you can travel anywhere in Northern Ireland on any Translink bus or rail service and a number of coach services completely free of charge.

Everyone 65+ and resident in Northern Ireland can apply for a Senior SmartPass. This allows free travel throughout all of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Free travel on public transport is also available for people who are registered blind and war disablement pensioners.

Half fare travel is available for people who get the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment (PIP), who have had a driving licence refused or revoked on medical grounds, who have a learning disability or are partially sighted.

Concessionary fares are also available with a number of other private transport companies.

How do I claim?

Application forms are available from Translink bus and railway stations, calling  0845 600 0049  (textphone number 028 9038 7505) or by emailing  [email protected]

Complete the form and take it in person to your local bus or rail station with a recent colour passport-sized photograph, proof of age and proof of residency. Your new pass will be posted to you within six to eight weeks.

Read more on the  NI Direct  website.

Download our guide

• More Money in your Pocket Guide

Every year our Advice Service deals with thousands of calls from older people in need. Call us today to make sure that you are receiving all the help and support available to you.

Call freephone 0808 808 7575 Monday - Friday 9am – 5pm 

• Share on Facebook

Last updated: May 25 2021

Become part of our story

• Please enter a valid email address

Back to top

Recommended

About us | Advertise with us | Contact us

iLink – a new era in smartcard technology for Northern Ireland

• Odnoklassniki
• Facebook Messenger
• LiveJournal

Posted: 22 December 2009 | Catherine Mason, Group Chief Executive, Translink | No comments yet

Translink is the main provider of public transport in Northern Ireland incorporating Metro, NI Railways and Ulsterbus services. Our success is clearest in the growing numbers of passengers travelling on our bus and train services. Over 80 million passenger journeys per year are now made with Translink – a rise of more than eight million in the last four years alone.

Translink aims to provide integrated travel solutions that are attractive, sustainable and good value. We recognise that our bus and rail services enrich the economy, the environment and the life of the community in a sustainable fashion through innovation, service quality and value for money.

Innovative ticketing solutions with a focus on integration, flexibility and convenience play an important role in attracting more passengers onboard our services. In Autumn 2009, we launched iLink – Northern Ireland’s first commercial integrated bus and rail smartcard representing a major step forward in delivering integrated travel solutions for our customers. iLink is the latest development in our long-running strategy to offer innovative smartcard technology that will help deliver more attractive services for our customers.

Translink smartcard products

Translink differs from most other public transport providers in that it not only operates bus and rail services in Northern Ireland but also performs all administration, maintenance and management of smartcards and ticketing systems. Translink first introduced smartcard travel products in the form of concessionary Smartpasses in May 2002. Now, both concessionary Smartpasses and commercial Smartlink cards are used by our customers on all of our bus and rail services and have proved extremely popular.

The Northern Ireland Concessionary Fares Scheme is funded by the government’s Department for Regional Development (DRD) and managed and administered on their behalf by Translink. Over 10 million journeys currently are made on concessionary schemes cards each year in Northern Ireland.

Catherine Mason, Group Chief Executive for Translink (left), was joined by Chief Executive of the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland, Antoinette McKeown, to launch the new iLink Smartcard

The first free concessionary Smartpass card types to be introduced in 2002 included: Senior (65+) Smartpass, Blind Smartpass and War Pensioner Smartpass. Later additions included: four new categories of half-fare Smartpasses in 2004 covering passengers with a range of disabilities; introduction of the Republic of Ireland Senior Smartpass in 2007 permitting senior residents of Republic of Ireland to travel free on Translink services within Northern Ireland; and in 2008, free travel was extended to 60-64 year olds within Northern Ireland with the introduction of a 60+ Smartpass. In conjunction with the Northern Ireland government’s Department for Regional Development, Translink currently provides nine different concessionary schemes and card types with over 300,000 live photo-personalised Smartpasses currently in use.

A further 6.5 million journeys are made each year on Translink’s selection of commercial smartcards, branded ‘Smartlink’, which were also first introduced in 2002. This portfolio includes a range of discounted zonal and distance-based multi-journey and period travel Smartlink products for all bus services throughout Northern Ireland.

The multi-journey Smartlink products allow the user to purchase between five and 40 journeys, in multiples of five, at a time. All journeys topped up on a Smartlink card last for 12 months. Each time the user places their card on the driver’s ticket machine, one journey is deducted from the card and the customer receives a ticket receipt advising how far they can travel.

Period travel Smartlink cards allow the user to top-up with one day, one week or one month’s travel to be used for unlimited journeys within a zone.

We are using our Smartlink card products to provide the best value for money travel option for customers by providing the highest level of discount to encourage more people away from cash fares and onto smartcards in order to improve boarding times, offer better convenience, increase safety and remove cash from buses.

Smartcard technology

ESP Systex has been Translink’s supplier of the concessionary Smartpass bureau service and associated card management since 2002. As each photo-personalised Smartpass has an electronic expiry date of five years, Translink and the DRD have reissued over 115,000 passes to date to customers who received cards originally back when the Smartpass scheme was first introduced.

Smartpasses and Smartlink cards are electronically read on Parkeon Wayfarer-supplied bus and rail ticketing equipment, including: bus ETMs, office and agent-based POS machines, portable hand-held ticket machines and rail platform validators.

All non-personalised Smartlink cards are produced by Burrall Infosmart and all Translink smartcards are Wayfarer proprietary format (not ITSO).

iLink – integrated smartcard technology

iLink in use

iLink is the latest Translink smartcard developed with more sophisticated technology and is ideal for customers who use both bus and train services or make cross-zonal journeys regularly. The iLink card can be purchased for unlimited day, weekly or monthly travel on Metro, NI Railways and Ulsterbus services within three specified zones covering all of Northern Ireland.

It is available for both adults and children (5-16 years) and has been designed with a focus on passenger ease of use. iLink cards complement rather than replace Translink’s existing suite of commercial smartcard products.

iLink customer benefits

With integration, flexibility and convenience at the forefront of iLink’s development, customers can enjoy a range of benefits, including:

• No restrictions on the number of journeys you can make within the zone you have purchased
• More convenient, safer, cash-free way to travel
• Speeds up boarding times on buses making overall journey times faster for everyone
• More flexible – iLink cards can be passed to other family members or friends if they are travelling at a different time within the same zone. It also allows the customer the flexibility to select the product which best suits their travelling pattern and be charged an appropriate price
• If a card is lost or stolen it can be ‘hotlisted’ (electronically deactivated) to prevent anyone else from using it fraudulently

Using iLink

iLink is initially purchased at a set charge of £1.50 with an online purchase facility also available. There are three types of card depending on the customer’s preferred zone(s) of travel with a ‘Zone 3 card’ covering travel across all of Northern Ireland. Customers can easily decide on their zonal requirements using an easy-to-read Translink zone map. Validity of each period of travel commences from the first time the card is used on bus or train.

Each card can be topped-up for unlimited day, week or monthly travel on Metro, NI Railways and Ulsterbus services at:

• Any Translink bus or rail station ticket office
• Any of Translink’s 80 designated agents in the Greater Belfast Area
• Both airports in Belfast
• On-bus and on-train (day and weekly top-ups only)

iLink is the latest smartcard developed with more sophisticated technology and is ideal for customers who use both bus and train services

On the bus, customers simply place their iLink card to the target of the ticket machine reader. When the card reads successfully, the machine bleeps once and shows a green light. Bus passengers are issued with a paper ticket showing their boarding stage, limit of travel on that route and expiry date of their card.

On the train, customers simply hand the card to the conductor who will validate it with no ticket receipt produced. Translink iLink platform validators are located at main stations along the NI Railways network to help facilitate each leg of the customer’s journey as they pass through the ticket barrier.

iLink project delivery

Translink undertook a huge exercise to allocate the correct iLink zone to every bus fare stage and every rail station in Northern Ireland. The iLink card is encoded with the correct zonal reference at the time of card issue. Each time the card is validated, the reference on the card is compared to the boarding stage and also calculates the alighting stage (i.e. furthest point within that zone.)

Translink provided all software specifications, administered the necessary fares and ticket type configuration changes, carried out all software testing, produced all marketing literature and advertising, trained all operational and systems support staff and project managed delivery on a day-to-day basis.

Parkeon Wayfarer developed the necessary software for ETM, POS, Hand-held and Platform Validator ticketing equipment as well as the associated back office software for reporting.

Payne Security produced the non-personalised Adult and Child iLink cards for sale to Translink customers.

iLink employee training

A comprehensive training programme was rolled out to ensure employees were fully informed and familiar with iLink, including:

• Bus ETM Training: Driving Instructors trained by Ticketing Systems Department Managers provided training sessions for all Translink bus drivers
• Hand-held ticket machine training: Rail Customer Service Instructors trained all NI Railways conductors and hand-held operators. This was the first time that commercial Smartcards had been issued and topped-up on rail ticket machines
• Bus and Rail POS ticket machine training: Ticketing Systems Department Managers trained all bus and rail ticket office employees on how to issue and top-up cards, ensuring that the correct version is sold for the correct zone
• A simple but comprehensive employee guide booklet was produced to assist with the training programme for all bus and rail operational employees
• Translink’s Contact Centre and Ticketing Systems Department staff also received iLink training to ensure they could deal effectively with customer telephone enquiries

Future developments

iLink is just one example within Translink’s innovative ticketing development programme to offer passengers with convenient cash-free value-for-money travel solutions. Since the launch in early Autumn, we have been encouraged by customer interest and uptake in iLink and look forward to building on its success to develop even more attractive smartcard technology.

In 2010, Translink will launch a new ‘TaxSmart’ card under the HMRC Salary Sacrifice Scheme for employers and their workforce. TaxSmart will give significant Income Tax and National Insurance Contributions savings on annual bus travel to bus users who join the scheme. All TaxSmart cards will be photo-personalised smartcards to allow the card holder to travel mainly to and from their workplace.

Smartcard technology development is an important part of our strategy to successfully meet the needs of our customers and adapt to rapid changes in the environment in which we operate. We remain focused on innovation across all programmes of work including ticketing solutions to help ensure we offer our customers better convenience and flexibility, maximise value for money, improve efficiency levels and provide attractive journey choices.

Related topics Ticketing & Payments

Issue Issue 6 2009

Related cities UK

Related organisations Translink

Related people Catherine Mason

Transforming customer journeys: Enabling seamless travel with the latest ticketing & payment technology integration

By Intelligent Transport , sponsored by Pcentra

Quadrac and Discover® Global Network transform Japan’s cashless public transit landscape

By Masayuki Takada - Quadrac

Butler County RTA introduces innovative account-based ticketing system

By Intelligent Transport

Metlink unveils fare changes impacting passengers under 24

Next phase of Greater Manchester’s Bee Network begins operation

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

© Russell Publishing Limited , 2010-2024. All rights reserved. Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy

Website design and development by e-Motive Media Limited .

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorised as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. For our other types of cookies "Advertising & Targeting", "Analytics" and "Performance", these help us analyse and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these different types of cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. You can adjust the available sliders to 'Enabled' or 'Disabled', then click 'Save and Accept'. View our Cookie Policy page.

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Analytics cookies collect information about your use of the content, and in combination with previously collected information, are used to measure, understand, and report on your usage of this website.

Advertising and targeting cookies help us provide our visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns.

Performance cookies are includes cookies that deliver enhanced functionalities of the website, such as caching. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Keep up with Armagh i

Plans to increase age limit for free travel in NI as well as limiting use of SmartPass

• June 2, 2023

A consultation on changes to the Northern Ireland Concessionary Fares Scheme has been launched by the Department for Infrastructure (DfI).

The 12-week public consultation will review eligibility for the Scheme, which has not changed since 2008.

The scheme aims to promote accessible public transport for those most at risk of social exclusion and currently allows older people (60+) and some disabled people to travel for free or at a discounted rate using a SmartPass.

Changes being considered include raising the age of eligibility for concessionary fares to either 65 or state pension age. This change, which would apply to existing users and new applicants, would bring Northern Ireland into line with England and the Republic of Ireland.

Other options include limiting SmartPass use to off-peak travel. This change would mean that a SmartPass would no longer permit people to travel before 09.30 on weekdays (Mondays to Fridays).

The Department is also consulting on extending eligibility to include free travel for disabled people who currently qualify for a half fare SmartPass and a companion pass for disabled people who qualify for a pass and are unable to travel alone.

Aspects of the scheme that will be reviewed as part of the 12-week consultation include:

• Raising the age of eligibility
• Limiting SmartPass use to off-peak travel
• Limiting SmartPass use to bus-only travel
• The introduction of application, renewal and replacement fees
• Free travel for those in receipt of a half-fare concession due to a qualifying disability
• Companion passes for disabled people unable to travel alone
• Extending qualifying criteria for a half-fare SmartPass
• Free transport for those receiving asylum support and victims of human trafficking
• Changes to residence test
• Proving residency.

Any changes that would increase the total costs of the Scheme would require additional budget cover.

The cost of the scheme has continued to rise significantly since 2010/11 for a number of reasons including increased fares and an increase in the eligible population entitled to the age-related concession.

In 2022/23 the Scheme cost £39m and DfI estimates the cost of the Scheme will rise to £44.6m in 2023/24 – due to continued passenger number recovery following the Covid-19 pandemic and fare increases. Estimations indicate the cost could further rise to more than £52m by 2030.

A DfI spokesperson said: “We recognise the importance of the scheme and the benefits it brings to those who use their SmartPass to travel on public transport. However, the cost of the Scheme has increased significantly and we anticipate it will continue to rise. With that in mind we are looking at all options to ensure the scheme will continue to promote social inclusion, without impacting the delivery of public transport services or other services the department provides.

“No decisions have been made yet. We are keen to hear from the public, representative groups and others on how the proposed changes might affect them. We also want to hear view on how the scheme might operate in the future. Our priority is to ensure that it is affordable and at the same time, targeted at those who need it most.”

The public consultation is available here: https://www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/consultations/consultation-changes-concessionary-fares-scheme

Following the consultation all submissions will be analysed before recommendations are made to the Minister for Infrastructure. Should there continue to be an absence of Ministers, approval will be considered taking into account the decision-making framework set out in the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc.) Act 2022 or relevant legislation in place at the time.

Sign Up To Our Newsletter

Most read today, newry – shop local, more in news.

South Armagh road closed following collision involving police car

Man (46) arrested on suspicion of attempted murder as victim remains critical in hospital

Man detained after ‘paedophile hunter’ style sting charged and due in court today

Craigavon restaurant shares staggering £71,000 rates bill

Dún Laoghaire - Rathdown

Older peoples council.

Register Club

Update club.

• CLUB DIRECTORY
• ABOUT THE NETWORK
• CONTACT DETAILS
• WHAT IS DEMENTIA?
• COPING WITH DEMENTIA
• TOP TIPS IN DEMENTIA CARE
• DO’S AND DON’TS OF COMMUNICATION
• DRIVING WITH DEMENTIA
• MEMORY CLINICS
• SOCIAL CLUBS
• DEMENTIA ADVISOR
• LIVING WELL WITH DEMENTIA
• USEFUL WEBSITES
• USEFUL NUMBERS
• INFORMATION DIRECTORY
• HEALTH CENTRES IN THE COUNTY
• CITIZEN’S INFORMATION CENTRES
• JOURNEY PLANNER
• FREE TRAVEL PASS
• DISABLED PARKING PASS
• DRIVER’S LICENCE

SENIOR SMART PASS

• MOBILITY MATTERS
• MOBILITY SCOOTERS

If you have a Free Travel Pass this pass will allow you to travel free of charge any where within the south of Ireland and you can use this pass to travel to Northern Ireland. If you wish to travel within Northern Ireland you must have a Senior Smartpass. In order to get a Senior Smartpass you must fill out an application form.

Your spouse or partner cannot travel on your Senior Smartpass.

Application forms are available in your local Citizens Information Centre or Social Welfare Office.

For more information on the Senior Smartpass contact your local Citizens Information Centre or Social Welfare Office.

Electronic Travel Authorisation Update

• October 16, 2023

Plans by Westminster to introduce a new travel visa known as an Electronic Travel Authorisation – ETA for short – is a requirement to all non-visa national visitors to the UK whether they arrive direct into a UK port of entry (Airport/Ferry Terminal) or via the land border. The cost of an ETA will be £10. Each traveller must get their own ETA, including children and babies and the guidance states that the majority of decisions will be made within 3 days.

This briefing relates to the requirement of non-visa nationals, arriving in RoI prior to travelling to NI via the land border, to apply for an ETA whether they are on a day trip, transiting through NI or staying overnight.

Case for providing an exemption for tourists entering NI via the land border

NITA has been lobbying for an exemption for non-visa nationals crossing the land border for the last 18 months and following engagement with the Minister for Immigration, Robert Jenrick and Home Office officials, NITA submitted a proposed solution of a short- term duration exemption in January 2023. We would like to see a complete exemption for tourists arriving into NI via the land border, however following discussions with the Home Office, NITA have put forward a compromise solution of a time-bound exemption of 5-7 days which would cover around 90% of these tourists.

The Minister for State for Immigration considered our proposal but made the decision not to grant an exemption as it would undermine the rationale to introduce the ETA. At the same time, the Minister of State did grant an exemption for non-visa national residents of Ireland to travel to the UK without the need for an ETA.

The refusal to exempt tourists from the ETA requirement is perplexing. The Home Office argue that it would undermine their rationale for the ETA and that UK border security must be uniform across all borders. However, it’s crucial to recognise that the land border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland is unique, with no immigration checks due to the Common Travel Area (CTA) and no plans to introduce such checks.

Considering the relatively small number of tourists crossing this land border compared to the total visitors to the UK (1.8%), the absence of immigration checks, and the unlikelihood of “persons of interest” applying for an ETA, a short-term exemption for tourists seems entirely reasonable. This approach would preserve the Good Friday Agreement’s collaborative spirit across the island of Ireland, safeguard the financial contribution of overseas tourism to Northern Ireland, all without compromising the ETA policy.

We continue to make the case for an exemption and although the policy has been set, the Minister for Immigration has indicated that he is open to further discussion. We believe that the justifications below provide a strong case.

We have the support of the tourism industry, other GB tourism bodies, the Department for the Economy, Head of the Civil Service, all Northern Ireland MPs, Shadow SoS and MoS, Taoiseach and Tánaiste as well as a number of peers in the House of Lords.

Rationale for an Exemption

Northern Ireland Tourism holds a unique position within the UK:

• Tourism is one of the six areas of co-operation enshrined within the Good Friday Agreement, which introduced a new business model to promote NI overseas as part of the island of Ireland destination through the creation of the cross-border body Tourism Ireland. This is different to all other regions of the UK which are promoted overseas by Visit Britain.
• Overseas tourism to Northern Ireland accounts for around 25% of total tourism spend, £250M in 2019. Spend from day trips is not reported and we conservatively estimate that this generates a further £250M. ETA is putting £500M of tourist spend into the economy at risk.
• The majority of overseas tourists (70%) arrive via the Republic of Ireland, as over 85% of flights from Northern Ireland airports head to holiday destinations. Plus, the 300-mile-long border between RoI and NI is an invisible one, allowing seamless travel. It is only a 90 minute journey from Dublin to Belfast.
• The decision to make a day trip to Northern Ireland is usually made at the last minute. To be faced with applying and paying for an ETA for each member of the group travelling (with no guarantee that you will have an immediate decision) will put many tourists off and they will stay within the Republic of Ireland.
• Unlike those tourists who arrive in the UK via a direct port of entry, tourists who travel via Republic of Ireland will not be aware (through their booking agent), that an ETA is required if they are intending to travel to NI. With Northern Ireland being promoted as part of the Island of Ireland, a lot of tourists are not even aware that they are crossing into the UK when they travel to Northern Ireland, and therefore a tourist can inadvertently enter NI without being aware of the need to have an ETA and being subject to criminal sanctions including the potential to be deported. Although the Home Office have committed to continuing with the policy to have no immigration checks on the land border, immigration checks will be intelligence led so a tourist could be stopped at any point on their visit.
• Ultimately, tourists and operators may opt to skip Northern Ireland altogether in favour of the Republic due to the added cost and hassle.

Proposed Adapted Solution

Following engagement with Home Office officials we proposed an exemption from the ETA requirement for those visitors who travel to Northern Ireland (NI) via the Republic of Ireland (RoI). Ideally, we would like to see the requirement completely removed, however, based in research by Tourism Ireland a duration exemption for a period of 5- 7 days stay in NI would mean around 90% of international visitors would not require an ETA.

This exemption should cover promotable visitors travelling to NI, via RoI, as part of their trip to the island of Ireland including those travelling as part of a tour group or travelling independently.

Note: Promotable visitors are made up of holiday makers, those visiting family and friends, conference, trade/fair/exhibition visitors.

We believe this minor adaptation is in keeping with the spirit of the original legislation and the Good Friday Agreement and will allow seamless tourism on the island of Ireland to continue in the majority of cases. It will protect our tourism economy, ensure clarity in marketing and eliminate disruption for most visitors.

Related posts

NI Assembly Questions (from March 2024)

White Paper – The Future of Tourism, Hospitality and Events (THE) Education, February 2024

Northern Ireland Key Travel Statistics from Tourism Ireland SOAR Report, February 2024

• 07742 450283
• [email protected]
• Northern Ireland Tourism Alliance LTD C/O 50 Bedford Street, Belfast BT2 7FW
• News Stories
• Newsletters

Sign Up for nita newsletter

Copyright @ 2024 Northern Ireland Tourism Alliance

Privacy Overview

• View Record

TRID the TRIS and ITRD database

iLink - a new era in smartcard technology for Northern Ireland

Translink aims to provide integrated travel solutions that are attractive, sustainable and good value. Innovative ticketing with a focus on integration, flexibility and convenience play an important role in attracting more passengers. In autumn 2009 iLink was launched. It is Northern Ireland's first commercial integrated bus and rail smartcard and represents a major step forward in delivering integrated travel solutions for passengers. Translink also performs all administration, maintenance and management of smartcards and ticketing systems. First introduced in 2002, concessionary Smartpasses and commercial Smartlink cards have proved very popular. The concessional fares scheme is funded by the government's Department for Regional Development (DRD) and managed and administered by Translink. Eligibility for these concessions has gradually increased since their introduction. The commercial product has also proved popular. iLink is the latest Translink smartcard complementing their existing suite of commercial smartcard products and has been designed with ease of use in mind. Other advantages include flexibility, faster journey times, convenience, cash-free status, and a hot-listing facility to prevent fraudulent use in the case of theft or loss.

• Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/14788217
• Publication Date: 2009
• Pagination: 28-33
• EUROTRANSPORT
• Publisher: RUSSELL PUBLISHING LTD
• ISSN: 1478-8217

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Administration ; Buses ; Carriers ; Economics ; Passenger information systems ; Public transit ; Railroad trains ; Smart cards ; Vehicle occupants
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• ITRD Terms: 155 : Administration ; 1272 : Bus ; 255 : Economics ; 1715 : Occupant (veh) ; 1715 : Passenger ; 8786 : Passenger information ; 744 : Public transport ; 290 : Smart card ; 1268 : Train ; 274 : Transport operator ; 8119 : United Kingdom
• Subject Areas: Economics; Passenger Transportation; Public Transportation; Railroads; I20: Design and Planning of Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01323483
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: TRL
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Dec 22 2010 8:52AM

Using Our Services and Products

TICKETS AND TRAVEL CARDS

The easiest and quickest way to purchase tickets is to download the free mlink mobile ticketing app. mlink is also a contactless method that limits contact between our staff and passengers..

Pre-paid tickets and travel cards are available online or on the mLink ticketing app. If buying on board please use contactless when possible.

You can also pay as you go by paying on board bus services, at stations or from train conductors (when no Translink employee is available at train station). Tickets can also be purchased at ticket vending machines before you board for Glider services. This will normally be the standard fare although some special offer discounts are available. 

We have a range of pre-pay travel cards designed to save you money and offer convenience. Many of the travel cards are available to buy online and offer significant cost savings on the standard fare.

3 Day Flexi Ticket

Available on train services – unlimited travel on any 3 days out of 7 between two chosen rail stations within Northern Ireland. Available to purchase on the mLink app, ideal if you want the flexibility to travel any 3 days of the week. The 7 day expiry is set when the 1st day of travel is activated.

More on mLink

Our Travel Cards

We try to offer the best value for our customers. Travel cards are great for saving money and time.

Day, Weekly and Monthly Travel Card -  Buy a daily, weekly or monthly travel card to save on Metro, Glider and Ulsterbus Town services.  Find Out More about Day, Weekly and Monthly travel card

Multi Journey - Smartlink  You can pre-purchase up to 40 pre loaded journeys for all bus services and save on every journey.  Find out more about multi journey travel cards

yLink   If you are lucky enough to be between 16-23 apply for a FREE Ylink card and you can enjoy a massive 50% off travel on all bus and rail services within Northern Ireland.  Find Out More about yLink

Under 16 Digital Travelcard   Translink is working with digital ID experts Yoti to introduce a free digital travelcard for school students aged 13 and over. Learn more about the Under 16 Digital Travelcard

iLink   Available to buy online, our integrated ilink travel cards offer fantastic value for money with unlimited day, weekly and monthly bus and rail travel within specified zones across Northern Ireland.  Find Out More about iLink

aLink    The alink is an annual travel card available for your selected scheduled bus or rail commute and gives you FREE, unlimited use of scheduled bus and train services at weekends.  Find Out More about annual travel cards

24+    Like it says on the tin! Discounted rail travel for aged 24+. (if you're a full time student!) - 1/3 off! From 01 September 2020 until further notice you can get a free 24+ Student Railcard!  Find Out More about 24 plus travel

Belfast Visitor Pass    1,2 or 3 days travel within Belfast with lots of little extras from our business partners.  Buy Now

Concession     Half Fare and free travel concession passes available for eligible users includes, 60+ and Senior SmartPasses.  Find out more about concession passes  

Smart cards are available to buy online. Please allow 72 hours for postal products. You may want to check out our  mLink ticketing app  for mobile tickets.

Travel cards not for you? Paying on board or in station might be the more convenient way for you to travel. Check out our special offers  as promotional discounts are often available.

Paying on board for bus travel is cash for most services. 

Using Glider services - you need to buy your ticket before you board at the ticket vending machine (TVM). TVM's are at every Glider halt and you can pay by cash or card.

Insufficient Change

You will be given a card if you have tendered a large banknote and the bus driver has insufficient change available. Translink bus drivers have been instructed to adhere to the following Company procedure:

The driver has issued you with a valid ticket for your journey and collected the banknote.

If the driver acquires change along the route you will receive your change before disembarking, if not the driver will obtain the correct change at the bus station.

If you are not travelling to a bus station where change can be obtained, please provide the driver with your name and details of where you would like to collect your change (Metro passengers can collect at Metro Short Strand Depot or at a chosen Metro location).

Delay Repay

Fare evasion.

Useful Links

• Plan a journey
• Find a timetable
• Request accessibility advice