TRANSLINK LAUNCHES PAYPOINT SMARTCARD TOP UP SERVICE 14 June 2010 Customers set to enjoy better top-up convenience and accessibility Translink and retail network provider PayPoint today (Monday 14th June 2010) launched a new customer service that enables Translink smartcard customers to top-up both Smartlink and iLink travel cards at all PayPoint Agents across Northern Ireland. With over 900 PayPoint Agents in Northern Ireland, the new service is in addition to Translink’s other existing card top-up facilities in stations, at Smartlink Agents and onboard buses. William McGookin, Ticketing Systems Manager, Translink, says the PayPoint smartcard top-up service makes it much easier for all Smartlink and iLink customers to add journeys and travel to their cards: “With Translink’s smartcard product range the emphasis has always been on customer convenience and value for money. Smartlink and iLink cards not only offer great value for money with huge discounts compared to cash single and return tickets, but they also help to speed up bus boarding times making overall journey times faster for everyone. “We want to keep improving our range of smartcard products and services, and this latest partnership with PayPoint makes travelling with a smartcard even more attractive and customer-friendly, and we hope many people will take advantage of this facility. “Most PayPoint facilities are situated in local newsagents and convenience stores near households in both rural and urban areas so now people can easily top-up their smartcard when buying daily groceries or the newspaper. Topping-up is quick and easy too. Customers should just look out for the PayPoint sign, tell staff in the shop the number of journeys or period of travel required and they will top-up the card instantly,” said Mr McGookin. Michelle Stanbrough, Transport Sector Manager at PayPoint, adds: “We are delighted to be partnering with Translink so that its customers across Northern Ireland are now able to ease their bus travel by topping up their smartcards in advance, within more convenient times and locations. Most PayPoint outlets are open long hours, seven days a week and can be found at the heart of their communities.” For further information on the new Translink PayPoint top-up service click www.translink.co.uk/paypoint or call the contact centre on 028 90 66 66 30. ENDS Note to Editors: The new PayPoint service can be used to top-up Metro Smartlink, Ulsterbus Smartlink and Translink iLink adult and child cards. PayPoint top-up prices are the same as topping-up at any other Translink sales outlet. Customers do not pay any additional charges to PayPoint Agents for any top-ups processed. Before PayPoint, customers could top-up in approximately 80 Metro Smartlink Agents in Greater Belfast; main bus stations or onboard Ulsterbus services. PayPoint Agents not able to issue Smartcards, just top-up Smartcards with additional journeys or period based travel. The initial smartcard (at a cost of £1.50) can be purchased from: Metro Smartlink Agents Metro Kiosk, Donegall Square West Main Bus Stations Ulsterbus Multi Journey Cards Ulsterbus Town Service Travel Cards iLink Zone 1, 2 and 3 Travel Cards
Main Rail Stations Online via Translink’s website Metro Multi Journey Cards Metro Travel Cards Ulsterbus Multi Journey Cards Ulsterbus Town Service Travel Cards iLink Zone 1, 2 and 3 Travel Cards
2. A full up to date list of Metro Smartlink Agents can be found at www.translink.co.uk
3. Belfast Central, Belfast Laganside Bus Centre, plus Great Victoria Street Bus and Rail stations also act as Metro Smartlink Agents.
4. An initial charge of £1.50 is levied for every Smartcard purchased except for purchases made online at www.translink.co.uk PayPoint is one of the UK’s leading branded retail networks for the convenient local payment of top-ups and household bills. Click
www.paypoint.co.uk for details. All media enquiries: Lynda Shannon or Ursula Kelleher, Translink on tel. 9089 9455. | 
