Four Winds residents are calling on Translink to provide a "working bus service" to the South Belfast area, saying that they regularly do not appear for passengers.
Passengers say that the number 7 Metro bus service has become completely unreliable as buses do not appear when they are meant to, leaving passengers stranded and late for school, work and appointments.
It has even been alleged that passengers have been told to disembark the bus at Forestside when leaving the City Centre with drivers saying they would not be driving to the Four Winds.
Read more: MLA questions 'jobs for the boys' as former DUP MLA Mervyn Storey appointed EA chair
Read more: Mum's praise after Translink pays £100 taxi to get sick child home during storm
It has also been claimed that buses often drive past passengers waiting at bus stops with their lights off or are seen parked at the turning circle at the roundabout for hours.
Four Winds resident Jane Donnelly has launched a petition calling on Translink to provide a better service for the area, saying that passengers are being repeatedly failed by the public transport provider, with this having a huge impact on the elderly, school children and those trying to work in the city centre.
She says that many residents have "given up" taking the bus and are now using cars to get to work, adding further to the congestion crisis in Belfast.
Speaking to Belfast Live, she said: "The Four Winds area has had a poor bus service for years but recently things have got even worse as buses are just not showing up for passengers at all.
"People are being left stranded while multiple buses just do not appear, although we often see empty buses with their lights off parked at the turning circle or driving past us.
"There have even been times recently where passengers coming home from the City Centre have been told to get off the bus at Forestside as the drivers have said they would not be driving to the Four Winds. When this happened to my son last week the driver was asked why they were being kicked off he was told 'just'.
"This is having a huge impact on residents living here, particularly school children and the elderly who can no longer rely on the service. People who would normally get the bus to work are now using their cars the service has got so bad, and this is only adding to the congestion issues in the city.
"I have launched this petition in the hopes of getting Translink to finally take action and provide a proper, working bus service to the Four Winds."
Castlereagh South Sinn Fein councillor Ryan Carlin said he has received numerous reports from frustrated residents regarding the "unacceptable" bus service and has called on Translink to take urgent action.
He said: "Translink’s services to the Four Winds have become totally unreliable, leaving local residents frustrated and let down. This ongoing situation is unacceptable, with many unable to depend on public transport for work, education, and even critical medical appointments.
"I have received troubling reports from residents—parents, elderly individuals, and those with mobility challenges—about buses failing to complete journeys or not arriving at all, leaving young people stranded and unable to get to or from school.
"This unreliability is pushing residents to seek alternative modes of transport, adding to traffic congestion in an already overburdened area—precisely the opposite of what we want in South Belfast.
"Residents, as paying customers, deserve better. We fully support their petition and campaign, which rightly highlight the lack of urgency in addressing this issue.
" Translink must take immediate and decisive steps to deliver a fit for purpose bus service, with frequent, reliable, and accessible buses that meet the community’s needs.
"Reliable public transport is essential for reducing congestion, supporting sustainability, and ensuring no one is left behind.
"We will continue to stand with residents and work to ensure their voices are not only heard but acted upon."
A Translink spokesperson said: “We operate frequent Metro 7 services to the Four Winds area, with around 90 services in each direction on weekdays.
“We work hard to maintain our timetables but unfortunately delays or cancellations can occur for many reasons, including heavy traffic, road traffic accidents, weather conditions and mechanical issues.
“We appreciate passengers’ frustrations and apologise for any inconvenience caused to those impacted when services don’t operate as expected.”
If you would like to sign Jane's petition, you can do so via this link.
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.
English (United States) ·