Young travellers get on board for Translink prizes

Pictured celebrating their success in the Translink Eco-Schools Travel Challengeare Ciaran Maguire (St Malachys Primary School, Newry), Caitlan Prichard (Kilmoyle Primary School, Ballymoney), Stacey Connor (Ulidia Integrated College, Carrickfergus), Anna Gordon (Mill Strand Integrated Primary School, Portrush) and Aimee-Lee Caraher (St Patricks Primary School, Newry).

A special prize-giving took place at Belfast Central Station during Translink’s Bus + Train Week, June 5 – 11; a celebration of the benefits of using public transport.

Over a two-week period, 24 local schools participated in the ‘Translink Eco-Schools Travel Challenge’ with 1640 pupils monitoring their travel patterns and making an effort to walk, cycle, use the bus or train for the school run. There was a massive shift away from car use to sustainable travel with 11,464 sustainable journeys made.

Mill Strand PS, Portrush were among the top performers encouraging pupils and parents to choose more environmentally-friendly transport modes. Kilmoyle PS, Ballymoney also won an Ulsterbus Tours educational class coach trip and day out in Dublin.

Kilmoyle Primary School from Ballymoney who won an Ulsterbus Tours Prize Draw. Pictured L-R (back row) Enda Sheridan (Business Development Manager of Translink Travel Centre), Dr Ian Humphreys (CEO of Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful), Austin Millar (Translink Inspector, Coleraine) and Gordon Milligan (Deputy Group Chief Executive of Translink). Front row L-R Kilmoyle Primary School pupils; Joshua Bennett, Jessica Less, Caitlan Pritchard and Jackie Cheung

Thanking pupils, parents and teachers for their participation, Gordon Milligan, Deputy Group Chief Executive, Translink, said: “Congratulations to all 24 schools who successfully completed the travel challenge.

“By holding this event during Bus + Train Week we want to encourage more people to choose public transport which plays an important role in making Northern Ireland a place where people want to live, work and visit. And it’s very encouraging to see more people getting on board – over 1.5 million additional fare-paying passenger journeys were made last year.

“Our services keep people connected and helps address the challenge of congestion and climate change creating healthier towns and cities. On an individual level, ‘active travel’ modes give people choices, freedom and more opportunities in terms of business, education, shopping and leisure activities.

“Every pupil here today sets a shining example to other young people and we would like to thank them for participating in the Challenge and joining us during Bus + Train Week as we say #GetonboardNI!” said Gordon.

Mill Strand Integrated Primary School from Portrush won the prize for the Best 'Smartmovers' Travel Challenge Project in the Translink Eco-Schools campaign. Pictured (back row) Dr Ian Humphreys (CEO of Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful), Austin Millar (Translink Inspector, Coleraine) and Gordon Milligan (Deputy Group Chief Executive of Translink). Front row L-R Mill Strand Integrated Primary School pupils; Luella Connor-Boyd, Niall Brownhill, Anna Gordon, Harry Grocott and Isla Martin

Schools interested in participating in the next Translink Eco-Schools Travel Challenge as part of the Eco-Schools Awards Scheme can call 028 9073 6920 or click www.translink.co.uk/ecoschools/. For details on Ulsterbus Tours Educational Trips click www.ulsterbustours.com or call 028 9033 7004.