Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company facts for kids

The Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company (NITHCo) is a special company owned by the government in Northern Ireland. It was set up in 1967 to manage and run the main bus and train services across the region. NITHCo helps people travel for school, work, and fun every day.

What is NITHCo?

NITHCo is like a big manager for public transport in Northern Ireland. It makes sure that buses and trains run smoothly. The company was created by a special law called the Transport Act (Northern Ireland) 1967. Its main goal is to provide safe and reliable ways for people to get around.

How NITHCo Started

When NITHCo was formed in 1967, it took over the jobs of an older transport group called the Ulster Transport Authority (UTA). This meant NITHCo became responsible for the main train service, Northern Ireland Railways (NIR), and the bus services, Ulsterbus. Later, in 1973, another bus service called Citybus joined the NITHCo family. Citybus took over the bus routes that used to be run by the Belfast Corporation Transport Department.

Running the Airport

For many years, NITHCo also helped manage air travel. From 1971 to 1994, it ran Belfast International Airport. This was done through a company called Northern Ireland Airports Limited (NIAL), which was part of NITHCo. In 1994, the government decided to sell the airport. A new company, Belfast International Airport Ltd (BIAL), was created and then sold to a group of managers and employees.

Bringing Transport Together

In 1996, a new name was introduced to make all the public transport services feel more connected. This new name was Translink. The Translink brand brought together Ulsterbus, NIR, and Citybus. This made it easier for people to understand and use the different bus and train services across Northern Ireland. Translink is now the well-known name for public transport in the region.