Issue 174 - Belfast BT6 • BT7 • BT8
Translink keeping services moving during wintry weather Translink has a number of contingency measures in place to deal with wintry weather conditions, to keep services operating and minimise disruption. Every winter, a range of measures are undertaken to ensure services are maintained during adverse weather. Translink’s Director of Service Operations, Ian Campbell, said: “Safety is our top priority and each year our teams work hard 24 hours a day, 7 days per week, to keep our buses and trains operating in all weathers. “We order stockpiles of defrosting materials to tackle ice and snow on our platforms and in our bus stations. We have crews on standby to remove snow, debris and fallen trees from railway lines. “Our winter programme also includes getting vehicles ready for ice and Mayors and Council Representatives across NI helped launch the Digital Transformation Flexible Fund.
New £7.5m Digital Transformation Flexible Fund will stimulate digital innovation Small and micro businesses and social enterprises across Belfast and Northern Ireland are set to benefit from £7.5m funding to help accelerate their digital transformation ambitions through the Digital Transformation Flexible Fund (DTFF). Officially launched recently, at a special event in Riddel Hall at Queen’s University, Belfast, the scheme will uniquely operate across all City and Growth Deals in Northern Ireland. It’s set to stimulate digital innovation
through grant assistance between £5,000-£20,000, removing the financial obstacles that prevent small and microbusinesses from implementing cuttingedge digital technology to transform their operations.
Talking about how the DTFF programme will help to boost smaller businesses to compete, Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast Councillor Áine Groogan said: “It’s vital that we help our smaller businesses adapt
to rapid changes in customer behaviours and business models and harness digital transformation to allow them to expand and thrive.
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snow conditions; regular treatment of platforms and passenger access (bus and rail stations) and utilising points/level crossing barrier heaters for railways. “Our bus and train drivers receive special training in how to deal with adverse weather conditions and we liaise with other agencies in the event of road closures or diversions.” Ian concluded: “We would like to assure our customers that we do all we can to keep services running on time and minimise delays keeping people better connected”. Passengers are advised to check Translink’s website: w w w. t r a n s l i n k . c o . u k ; Journey Planner App, and social media accounts for up to date travel information.