Chris Conway, Chief Executive of Translink in Northern Ireland, has told the House of Lords that it is still unclear how the operator would run cross-border bus services if we leave the EU without a deal.
Translink currently runs 70 services which cross the border at points in the route.
The reason for the issue of cross-border services is the Community Licence – a permit which allows drivers to make journeys between EU member states.
If UK community licences are no longer recognised after the country leaves, services such as these would have to come to an end.
“Without a Community Licence, it’s very difficult to know how we’re going to prepare,” said Chris.
“The suggestion is that the UK would join the Interbus arrangement, however that doesn’t allow for regular services currently.
“At the moment, we don’t have a clear way forward as to how we would actually operate those cross-border services.”
Chris told the committee that Translink was also looking at the issuing of driver CPCs: “They might have to be issued from Ireland rather than the UK if we wanted to cross the border,” he said.
