Translink & Eco Schools reward pupil efforts to tackle car dependency .

 The results of the 2014 ‘Translink Eco Schools Travel Challenge’ have been announced, recognising pupils across Northern Ireland who have taken positive steps to tackle car dependency.  

The initiative encourages school pupils and parents to choose more environmentally-friendly transport modes for the school run. Over a four-week period,  participating schools monitored pupil travel patterns and encouraged more walking, cycling, bus or train travel.

 James Murphy from Holy Cross Primary School - Attical was the top performer in the travel challenge and his school also won an Ulsterbus Tours coach trip to Dublin including a tour of either the Aviva Stadium or Croke Park.

 Speaking at a Prize Giving Ceremony in Belfast Central Station, Translink Chief Operating Officer Philip O’Neill said: “Congratulations to all 24 schools who have successfully completed the travel challenge and embraced the benefits of sustainable transport.  Last year, over 79 million bus and rail passenger journeys were made in Northern Ireland - an increase of over two million in the past two years. These figures support our belief that ‘Life’s better by bus or train’ and we hope that more young people will choose passenger transport throughout their lives.  We were pleased to work in partnership with Eco Schools to deliver the travel challenge and look forward to educating more local pupils about the benefits of sustainable travel.”

Carmel Fyfe, Eco-Schools Manager, Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, said: “The Translink Travel Challenge has been an exciting way to educate our young people further on the positive reasons for using sustainable transport and it is wonderful to see so many pupils in schools across Northern Ireland getting involved. Encouraging sustainable transport use is a key topic in the Eco-Schools Programme and we are delighted to once again be supported by Translink with the Travel Challenge which is a great way for schools to work towards achieving the prestigious Eco-Schools Green Flag. Congratulations to all those schools which participated in the challenge.”

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.

Pictured - Holy Cross Primary School - Attical pupil James Murphy is joined by l-r Translink Ulsterbus Inspector Greg McKernan, Translink Chief Operating Officer Philip O’Neill, Enda Sheridan from Ulsterbus Tours and Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful Eco Schools Manager Carmel Fyffe to celebrate his top performance in the 2014 Translink Eco Schools Travel Challenge.