Connecting Ireland Project Updates

Route 438 Tuam to Galway Timetable change

Dear Customers,

Ahead of the Route 438 Galway to Tuam launch date, we would like to inform you that, as a result of scheduling conflicts, it has become necessary to make amendments to the timetable for Route 438 Galway to Tuam.

We have updated our website with the most up-to-date timetable for your convenience. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Thank you for your understanding.

Bus Éireann announces improved services and timetables on Route 270, Killarney to Skibbereen

21ST JUNE 2023

New service provides connection between Kerry and West Cork all year round

Bus Éireann enhanced service and timetable this Sunday

Bus Éireann, Ireland’s national bus company, is pleased to announce significantly enhanced services and timetable to Route 270, Killarney to Skibbereen which will come into effect this Sunday, 25 June.

Route 270, Killarney to Skibbereen

Funded by the Department of Transport through the National Transport Authority as part of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan, the enhanced Route 270 will provide five daily services connecting Killarney with Skibbereen all year round. The updated service will also a feature an enhanced weekly timetable with earlier daily departures from Kenmare to Killarney at 07:00 and later departures at 21:40 from Killarney to Skibbereen.

Bus Éireann Route 270 will serve Killarney, Glenflesk, Loo Bridge, Morleys Bridge, Kilgarvan, Kenmare, Glengarriff, Snave Bridge, Eagle Point, Ballylickey, Bantry, Durras Cross, Ballydehob Bridge, Aghadown, Church Cross and Skibbereen.

West Cork passengers offered a connection with MTU Tralee as well as rail services in Killarney

The improved service will also offer passengers from West Cork a connection with MTU Tralee as well as rail services in Killarney.

“Bus Éireann is delighted to introduce these new and improved services between Killarney and Skibbereen, linking Kerry and West Cork all year round, while significantly increasing the daily services,” said Aled Williams, Bus Éireann, Senior Operations Manager, South. “Thanks to the National Transport Authority, through the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan we have added over 2 million kilometres to our network and have created over 62 new jobs. Demand for our services in the South is higher now than pre-pandemic, passenger numbers nationally are 20-30% higher than they were in 2019, this enhanced service will enable us to connect our growing number of customers with who and what matters to them.”

“Fáilte Ireland welcomes the launch of the new and improved service of Route 270 connecting West Cork and Kerry all year round,” said Josephine O’Driscoll, Wild Atlantic Way Manager, Failte Ireland. “Improving connectivity and car free travel routes between the two regions is key to encouraging new demographics of visitors as well as locals to explore the very best that Ireland has to offer.”

Updated service details and timetables are available at buseireann.ie.

TFI Local Link Longford Westmeath Roscommon launches new bus service between Longford and Roscommon

21ST JULY 2023

TFI Local Link Longford Westmeath Roscommon is launching a new bus route, which will improve connectivity between Longford and Roscommon, from Monday 31st of July 2023.

This new route is part of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan which is a major national public transport initiative developed and funded by the National Transport Authority (NTA) as part of the Transport for Ireland (TFI) Network.

Route 426 will operate seven return trips Monday to Thursday, eight return trips on Friday and Saturday and four return trips on Sunday. The route will connect villages and areas such as Killashee, Clonfore Cross, Lansborough, Ballyleague, Cloonladdra, Moneen, Beechwood and Emoe Cross.

The new route will offer a peak-time service for commuters as well as late evening services. The route will also provide improved connectivity to regional bus services and the wider TFI Network with connections at Longford Irish Rail station and Roscommon to facilitate onward travel to Dublin, Sligo and Galway. Route 426 is the first of two new rural regular routes which the NTA and TFI Local Link Longford Westmeath Roscommon plan to launch over the coming months.

Speaking ahead of the launch, TFI Local Link Longford Westmeath Roscommon General Manager, Damien O’Neill said: “We are delighted to launch this important link between the towns of Longford and Roscommon. This route is a priority for our area and it will play an important part in developing reliable connections for our passengers. We all know the importance of using sustainable modes of public transport from an environmental point of view. It is also vital that passengers have a frequent bus service which they can rely on to travel to work, college, training, sightseeing, or meeting family and friends.

“In partnership with the NTA we are working to deliver affordable, accessible appropriate public transport for our area. The NTA is committed to the growth and development of local bus services, which in this case, is a brand-new high frequency service linking two key rural towns that will provide opportunities for people to get where they need to go.”

For route and timetable information, visit locallinklwr.ie

To learn more about the five-year Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan visit: www.nationaltransport.ie/connecting-ireland/

TFI Local Link Waterford announce increased services on 363 Tallow to Dungarvan and 667 Dungarvan to Waterford routes.

363 Tallow to Dungarvan

From Monday 7th August Local Link will commence the roll-out of increased services on our 363 Tallow to Dungarvan service. In response to requests from the public we are introducing an earlier 06.30am service out of Tallow with the return service to Tallow leaving Dungarvan at 07.40am. This earlier service will allow passengers to link with our 667 (formerly 367a) to Waterford that will leave Dungarvan at 07.15am. We are also adding two additional evening services to fill some gaps in our current schedule. This will see us now operating almost hourly services from Tallow to Dungarvan between 06.30am and 22.00pm in response to the significant growth in passenger numbers on this route. We are also increasing the number of services we operate on Sundays from four to eight.

667 Dungarvan to Waterford City

Local Link are moving from two to four daily return services on this route. The new schedule which leaves Dungarvan at 07.15am and we anticipate that the increase in services will allow for better connections to SETU for students living in the areas of Stradbally, Bunmahon, Kill, and Dunhill. The new timetable will also allow for connections for people using our 363 service between Tallow and Dungarvan to Whitfield and Waterford University Hospitals. This also sees us re-routing the service in Waterford to avoid busy roads and we will now travel to WUH via John Street. We will no longer use the stops on Parnell Street and instead drop off on John Street and pick up at Railway Square. The change will also see services now operating on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

James O’Donoghue, Manager with TFI Local Link Waterford said “we would ask passengers to note the changes we are making to our current timetables, in particular on the 667 Dungarvan to Waterford service where the new timetable does mean some significant changes to current schedules, but we hope that the increase from two to four services, along with the introduction of services on Sundays and Bank Holidays will out-weight any short-term inconvenience”.

Further Developments

Speaking on new and enhanced services, Mr O’Donoghue added “we are progressing with the introduction of our 357 Youghal to Dungarvan service through Clashmore, Aglish and Villierstown. I am aware that people in the area were looking to have the service much earlier in the summer but there are a number of issues, not least the availability of new vehicles, delaying the process of putting a service in place. My hope is that we will be announcing the launch date of this service within the next few weeks.

We are also preparing the extension of the 361 Ardmore to Dungarvan service that will in future operate from Youghal through Ardmore, Old Parish and Ring, and looking at our 367 Tramore to Dungarvan service with a view to including stops in Clonea and The Gold Coast and finally for the moment, providing a link from Ballyduff Upper to our 363 service in Lismore.

So, there is a lot of change happening and we are delighted with the focus on the continuing development of local transport services under the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan, developing services that along with addressing some of the gaps in public transport services across the County, will allow people to consider switching at least some journeys to public rather than private transport” he said.

For route and timetable information, call (058) 22076 or visit www.locallinkwaterford.ie

To learn more about the five year Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan visit: www.nationaltransport.ie/connecting-ireland/

IMPORTANT NOTICE – 356 Dungarvan to Clonmel timetable changes from Monday 3rd July

Having operated the Dungarvan to Clonmel service for three weeks and examining the results we are making the following changes to the timetable to ensure that the service can operate on time and we hope provide a better service for passengers. Our apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.

TFI Local Link Laois Offaly launches new bus service connecting Mountrath to Carlow

11TH AUGUST 2023

TFI Local Link Laois Offaly is launching a new bus service, which will improve connectivity between Mountrath and Carlow, from Monday 21st of August 2023.

which is a major national public transport initiative developed and funded by the National Transport Authority (NTA) as part of the Transport for Ireland (TFI) Network.

Route 822 will operate four daily return services Monday to Saturday and three daily return services on Sunday, creating a new connection from Mountrath to Carlow.

The new service will provide improved connectivity to the SETU Carlow campuses as well as providing a peak-time service for commuters and improved connectivity to regional bus and rail services in Mountrath and Carlow. The route will offer enhanced connectivity to villages and areas such as Abbeyleix, Heywood Gardens, Ballinakill, The Swan, Clogh, Moneenroe, Crettyard, Newtown, Killeshin and Graiguecullen.

Speaking ahead of the launch TFI Local Link Laois Offaly General Manager Frances Byrne said: “We are delighted to launch Route 822 Mountrath to Carlow and increase our service provision in Laois.

“This new timetable has been designed to facilitate passengers travelling between towns and villages, which enables greater connectivity and creates access for employment, education, training, recreation, social and health purposes.

“I would encourage passengers to make the most of our public transport system as it’s not only an environmentally friendly option but also an inclusive and cheaper way to travel. Leap and TFI Go are accepted on this service along with the Free Travel Pass.

“The NTA is committed to the growth and development of local bus services, which in this case, is a brand-new high frequency service linking key rural towns that will provide opportunities for people to get to where they need to go.

“In partnership with the NTA, we support the Government’s Sustainable Mobility Policy and believe this new service and enhancements to existing services in Laois Offaly complement the policy and it will contribute to reducing CO2 emissions in the transport sector.”

For route and timetable information, call (057) 869 2168 or visit www.locallinklaoisoffaly.ie

To learn more about the five year Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan visit: www.nationaltransport.ie/connecting-ireland/

The timetable is here: https://www.transportforireland.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/TFI-Local-Link-Laois-Offaly-822-Mountrath-to-Carlow.pdf

TFI Local Link Wexford launches new route connecting Wellingtonbridge to New Ross

11TH AUGUST 2023

TFI Local Link Wexford connecting Wellingtonbridge and New Ross

TFI Local Link Wexford is launching a new bus service, which will improve connectivity between Wellingtonbridge and New Ross, from Monday 21th of August 2023.

This new route is part of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan which is a major national public transport initiative developed and funded by the National Transport Authority (NTA) as part of the Transport for Ireland (TFI) Network.

Route 392

Route 392 will operate five daily return services seven days a week. The new route will provide late evening and peak-time services for commuters and will offer enhanced connectivity to villages and areas such as Ballycullane, Gusserane, Newbawn and Ballinaboola.

The service will also offer improved connectivity to regional bus services and the wider TFI Network, with connections to New Ross via Gusserane and Newbawn.

Speaking ahead of the launch, TFI Local Link Wexford, General Manager MaryB O’Leary said: “TFI Local Link Wexford is thrilled to provide a daily service on route 392 to New Ross Town and surrounding villages. The addition of two evening services on Friday & Saturday, is welcomed by both rural and town communities.

“Route 392 brings to eight the number of seven day a week public transport services that TFI Local Link Wexford provides in the county. We will continue to work with the NTA to expand this network further which will provide more public transport options for more people around Co. Wexford.

“In addition to the seven day services we also provide over 60 one and two-day services across the county, many of these provide a door to door option which is ideal for those in the more remote areas of Co. Wexford.”

Additional Information

For route and timetable information contact TFI Local Link Wexford visit www.locallinkwexford.ie

To learn more about the five year Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan visit: www.nationaltransport.ie/connecting-ireland/