LOCAL Translink passengers are to benefit from the annual fare revision as the company announced most of their bus and rail fares will decrease or remain unchanged this coming year.

In addition there will new promotional day return fares available from Monday to Thursday and Saturdays, offering 33% reductions for off-peak travel.

Day tickets costing £1.70 will be available for Omagh town services on routes where a single fare costs £1.

The announcement comes in the wake of a successful year for Translink with a growing number of people opting to make the switch to public transport.

Translink's Marketing Executive, Ciaran Rogan believes increased usage is to the benefit of regular passengers.

"It is good news for Tyrone passengers" said Mr Rogan, "we are able to give back the benefits of a growing and successful public transport network and reward loyalty. This should encourage even more people to make the switch to bus and train and lock in a cycle of growth and success".

In the proposed revisions, due to take place on March 26, approximately one third of Ulsterbus single fares will remain unchanged, one third will decrease and one third will increase. The maximum increase for a single fare will be 20p.

Translink is also keen to promote its multi journey tickets, which are aimed at regular bus and train users.

"Most fares are unchanged or decrease and where they increase we would encourage people to move to weekly, monthly or multi journey tickets where even more savings can be made" stressed Mr Rogan.

Local students will be particularly interested to hear that fares on all Belfast metro services will remain unchanged with day tickets at peak time costing £3.50 and off-peak tickets costing £2.50.