Boyle welcomes direct bus service to Altnagelvin Hospital following successful lobby

Sinn Féin West Tyrone MLA Michaela Boyle has welcomed the announcement by Translink of the commencement of a direct bus link to Altnagelvin Hospital on Wednesdays and Thursdays after she mounted a lobby for the move following representations she received from local constituents complaining about the logistical and time consuming nightmare that was involved in trying to get to the hospital by way of the conventional bus service routes.

She said,

“Many people have no access to private transport and the absence, up until now, of any direct bus link to Altnagelvin Hospital has presented a logistical and time consuming ordeal for those who have attend appointments or visit loved ones on a frequent basis- with passengers having firstly to go to the Foyle Street Depot in Derry and then having to wait to get the connecting service to Altnagelvin and the same on the return journey.

“Following representations from a number of constituents on the issue, I raised the issue with senior Translink officials at a meeting in January and subsequently made a formal request, in writing, to Translink calling for the introduction of a direct service to Altnagelvin.

“I therefore very much welcome Translink’s announcement of the commencement of “Pilot Service 294” as and from 5th September which will see two return journeys per day every Wednesday and Thursday.
“In terms Of West Tyrone the 2 direct buses to Altnagelvin will leave: Omagh Buscentre at 10:05am and 12noon; Newtownstewart at 10:20am and 12:20pm; Victoria Bridge at 10:25am and 12:25pm; Sion Mills Main Street at 10:30am and 12:30pm; Strabane Bus Centre 10:35am and 12:35pm and the two connecting return buses will leave Altnagelvin once again at 1pm and 4:30pm respectively.

“Having talked to personnel involved in Rural Transport provision locally as well as to passengers who have been using pre-existing Translink service to the hospital, I feel that the critical mass of passengers exists to make this direct service to Altnagelvin viable and hopefully this pilot scheme will lead to an extension of the service if the demand is deemed sufficient."