Translink is to make 500 extra buses available for schools and peak times to cope with demand.
The public transport provider has said that it is using more buses than it has in any previous year for school services and it is making even more available, along with providing extra carriages on trains.
The move has been praised as helping to address some of the safety concerns affecting pupils and drivers.
A Translink spokesperson said: “We are using more buses than in any previous year for school services.
“We will have around 500 additional buses available to respond to the increase in demand across the network and are also adding additional train carriages, for extra capacity at peak times.
“We continue to enhance our safety standards with regular deep cleaning of our vehicles and facilities using long lasting anti-viral disinfectant and our mobile cleaning teams are sanitising common touch areas.
“We have protective screens in stations and on bus drivers cabs and have provided hand sanitiser in all main bus and train stations."
Translink has said that it is now compulsory for all pupils over the age of 13 to wear a face mask on board public transport.
However, their spokesperson continued: “It is strongly recommended that all pupils regardless of age should wear a face covering on any form of home to school transport where it is appropriate for them to do so. Compliance is already very high at over 85% and together with our wider safety measures, passenger confidence is growing.
“It is important pupils also practice the wider safety and travel advice including good hand hygiene and use pre-paid tickets such as mLink or travelcards where they are not eligible for a sessional school pass. For everyone’s protection there will be no change given on board the bus and train.”
The move has been praised by Sinn Fein education spokesperson Karen Mullan, who feels that it will help to alleviate some of the health and safety concerns of students and drivers.
The Foyle MLA said: “This is important in helping to address some of the health and safety concerns affecting pupils and drivers on school transport.
“Translink have also confirmed that this will not affect public transport services already in place.
“Further consideration must be given to safety measures for school transport drivers such as plastic screens or hand sanitisers being installed on buses.
“It is vital that the health and safety of school pupils and bus drivers is protected on school journeys and that the necessary steps are taken to ensure this.”
