Safer travel guidance for public transport users

Following this guidance when planning or making a journey on public transport, will help you stay safe and protect others by controlling the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19). You should not travel if you have tested positive for COVID-19, have coronavirus symptoms or are self-isolating.

Before travelling

Plan your journey and if you can, travel at off-peak times. Your transport provider can advise you when these are, but the peak times are usually between 7.30 am and 9.30 am, and 4.00 pm and 6.00 pm.

Public transport operators are phasing in a return to more frequent services. Before and during your journey, check with your transport operator for the latest travel advice on your route:

For Translink services (Metro, Glider, Ulsterbus, NI Railways and Enterprise), go to Translink’s journey planner on the day you wish to travel or by phoning 028 9066 6630.

You can find useful information at the link below:

Latest travel guidelines

You can also find information online about

Operators are free to set their own conditions of carriage and you should check with the operator of the service for the latest travel advice before you travel.

Staying safe on public transport

To help keep yourself, other passengers and transport staff safe:

you should not travel if you have tested positive for COVID-19, are experiencing coronavirus symptoms or are self-isolating
walk or cycle for more of your journey - get off a stop early if it’s less busy
wear a face covering on public transport and in stations
cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or the inside of your elbow when coughing or sneezing
wash or sanitise your hands regularly and do not touch your face
wait for passengers to get off first before you board making sure to allow room for social distancing
while waiting for a service to arrive stay outdoors, rather than indoors, where possible
use contactless payments or pre-paid tickets where possible, for example on Translink services use tickets such as mLink, Smartlink, dayLink or iLink - if you must use cash, try to have the correct change
leave windows open on public transport, where it is possible and safe to do so, even when it is cold or wet
treat transport staff with respect and follow their advice

When travelling on public transport be particularly considerate of pregnant women, older people, people with disabilities, or those travelling with children, who may require a seat or extra space.

You can get more information on the latest public health advice on the Public Health Agency website.

Cross-border services

For cross-border coach and Enterprise rail services, get the latest information by checking Translink’s journey planner on the day you wish to travel or by phoning 028 9066 6630.

Before you travel, check with your travel operator for the latest travel advice on your route and whether there are any specific requirements you need to know about. You can find the Irish government's latest public health advice at this link:

Public health measures in place right now

International travel

If you are travelling abroad, make sure you check the latest advice for the country you plan travelling to and the requirements for your return at:

Coronavirus (COVID-19) travel advice and guidance

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What to do next

Comments or queries about angling can be emailed to anglingcorrespondence@daera-ni.gov.uk

If you have a comment or query about benefits, you will need to contact the government department or agency which handles that benefit. Contacts for common benefits are listed below.

Employment and Support Allowance

Call 0800 587 1377

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office

Personal Independence Payment

Call 0800 587 0932

If your query is about another benefit, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

Comments or queries about the Blue Badge scheme can be emailed to bluebadges@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk or you can also call 0300 200 7818.

For queries or advice about careers, contact the Careers Service.

For queries or advice about Child Maintenance, contact the Child Maintenance Service.

For queries or advice about claiming compensation due to a road problem, contact DFI Roads claim unit.

If you can’t find the information you’re looking for in the Coronavirus (COVID-19) section, then for queries about:

Restrictions or regulations — contact the Department of Health
Travel advice (including self-isolation) — contact the Department of Health
Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations — contact the Department of Health or Public Health Agency

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk and for queries about your certificate, email covidcertni@hscni.net.

For queries or advice about criminal record checks, email ani@accessni.gov.uk

Application and payment queries can be emailed to ema_ni@slc.co.uk

For queries or advice about employment rights, contact the Labour Relations Agency.

For queries or advice about birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates and research, contact the General Register Office Northern Ireland (GRONI) by email gro_nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk

For queries about the High Street Spend Local Scheme, email HSSS.mail@economy-ni.gov.uk.

For queries about:

Car tax, vehicle registration and SORN
contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea
Driver licensing and tests, MOT and vehicle testing
contact the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), Northern Ireland

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk.

For queries or advice about passports, contact HM Passport Office.

For queries or advice about Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), including parking tickets and bus lane PCNs, email dcu@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about pensions, contact the Northern Ireland Pension Centre.

If you wish to report a problem with a road or street you can do so online in this section.

If you wish to check on a problem or fault you have already reported, contact DfI Roads.

For queries or advice about historical, social or cultural records relating to Northern Ireland, use the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) enquiry service.

For queries or advice about rates, email LPSCustomerTeam@lpsni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about 60+ and Senior Citizen SmartPasses (which can be used to get concessionary travel on public transport), contact Smartpass - Translink.

If you have a question about a government service or policy, you should contact the relevant government organisation directly. We don't have access to information about you.

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Safer travel guidance for public transport users

Before travelling

Staying safe on public transport

Cross-border services

International travel

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What to do next

Carer's Allowance

Discretionary support / Short-term benefit advance

Disability Living Allowance

Employment and Support Allowance

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Personal Independence Payment