Talks to avoid public transport disruption

Talks are continuing between Translink and a trade union to try to avoid any disruption to public transport during The Open golf championship in Portrush.

A dispute over pay has yet to be resolved less than a week before the international tournament is due to begin.

Translink has planned special buses and trains to Portrush, while maintaining about 13,000 services a day across the network.

About 270,000 spectators are expected during the eight days of practice and competitive play.

The first official practice day is on Sunday with the four-day championship beginning on Thursday 17 July.

The union concerned is TSSA (Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association) which represents mostly railway workers in clerical, administrative, supervisory and managerial roles.

Last month, after a vote, they announced they were prepared to take strike action, if necessary.

About 300 Translink workers are in the union, and a warning was issued last month by the union that events such as The Open could be impacted if members take industrial action.

A Translink spokesperson said: “We continue to engage with our trade union TSSA to reach an agreement that will not impact passenger services.”

Behind the scenes, contacts are continuing and there are hopes that a resolution can still be found.

It is six years since The Open was last in Northern Ireland. Since then a new transport hub Grand Central Station has opened in Belfast.

There is now a more frequent train service to and from Dublin which will make it easier for golf fans from the Republic of Ireland to travel to Portrush, if there is no disruption to services.

Ireland’s Shane Lowry won The Open at Portrush in 2019 amid raucous scenes of celebration on the 18th green.

Rory McIlroy’s recent victory in the Masters means he will be the focus of attention when the four-day tournament begins on 17 July.