Connecting Ireland Project Updates

Three new TFI Local Link bus services will increase connectivity in East Clare

18TH AUGUST 2023

TFI Local Link Limerick Clare is launching three new bus services, which will increase public transport connectivity in East Clare, from Monday 28th August 2023.

The three new Regular Rural Services (RRS) will all operate seven days a week in what is seen as a major boost in public transport for the people of Clare.

Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan

This 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 318 Ennis to Limerick servicing Quin, Kilkishen, O’Callaghan’s Mills, Broadford and Ardnacrusha

Route 318 will be TFI Local Link’s first service operating from Ennis to Limerick. The route, which will significantly increase frequency, will take in towns and villages including Quin, Kilkishen, O’Callaghan’s Mills, Broadford and Ardnacrusha. The route will have three return journeys a day Monday to Sunday with the addition of an early morning connection from Quin to Limerick and a late evening return service from Limerick to Quin, an area which has seen a large population increase in recent years.

This service will be transformative for local people travelling to work, education, health or leisure appointments as the early morning service is due to arrive into Ennis before 9am, with a range of return journey options to cater for workers. The route also includes stops at Knappogue Castle and Quin Abbey, one of the most well preserved Franciscan Abbey’s in Ireland, which will give tourists the option to use public transport to visit the area.

Route 342 Flagmount to Ennis servicing Feakle, Scarriff and Tulla

Route 342 will run from Flagmount to Ennis servicing Feakle, Scarriff and Tulla along the way. This service will have three return journeys per day Monday to Sunday which will allow more people to travel using a sustainable mode of transport in their daily lives. While visitors can also see views of Lough Graney, one of the largest lakes in Clare and take in the Cahermurphy looped walk.

Route 344 Whitegate to Ennis, servicing Mountshannon

Route 344 will commence in Whitegate and travel to Ennis. It will run four return journeys Monday to Sunday. This new route will really benefit Whitegate and Mountshannon in particular and will enable better access for locals and tourists. The service will facilitate workers to get to Ennis for 8am with the option to connect with Irish Rail, Bus Éireann and other public transport services. Early evening and a night return journey will provide people with the freedom to work late and still have access to bus services to get them home.

The NTA and TFI Local Link, working in partnership, have designed the timetables and enhanced the services to meet the needs of local people, following a public consultation earlier this year.

Travel to work, college, sightseeing, or meeting family and friends

Speaking ahead of the launch, Anne Gaughan, General Manager of TFI Local Link Limerick Clare said: “We are delighted to announce this substantial expansion of services in Clare. These new high frequency routes provide a vital level of connectivity for passengers, which they can rely on to travel to work, college, training, sightseeing, or meeting family and friends.

“In partnership with the NTA, we support the Government’s Sustainable Mobility Policy and believe these new services complement this policy. The NTA is committed to the growth and development of local bus services, as we work together to deliver affordable, accessible public transport for our area.

“I’m delighted that, one of the services, includes our first Ennis to Limerick route which will provide new public transport opportunities for local people in towns and townslands along the way.”

Additional Information

For route and timetable information contact TFI Local Link Limerick Clare www.locallinklc.ie

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

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

18TH AUGUST 2023

TFI Local Link Longford Westmeath Roscommon is launching a new bus route, Route 819, which will improve connectivity between Athlone and Mullingar, from Monday 28th of August 2023.

Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan

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 819 connecting Athlone and Mullingar seven days a week

Route 819 which will operate five return trips seven days a week, is the second of two new rural regular routes which the NTA and TFI Local Link Longford Westmeath Roscommon launched this summer. The route will connect villages and areas such as Castletown Geoghegan, Loughnavalley, Ballymore, Drumraney, Mount Temple and Baylin.

The new route will offer a peak-time service for commuters as well as late evening services. It will also provide improved connectivity to regional bus services and the wider TFI Network with connections at Mullingar and Athlone Irish Rail station to facilitate onward travel to Dublin, Sligo and Galway. It will also serve the FÁS Centre in Garrycastle and the Fardrum stop will connect passengers to the Athlone campus of the Technological University of the Shannon.

Connecting Mullingar and Belvedere House Gardens and Park

Additionally, this route will also serve as a link between the town of Mullingar and Belvedere House Gardens and Park, with three services a day to the Westmeath County Council Parkland amenity.

A frequent bus service to rely on to travel to work, college, training, sightseeing, or meeting family and friends

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 Mullingar and Athlone. 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.”

Additional Information

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 Laois Offaly launches new bus service connecting Athlone to Roscrea and Thurles

25TH AUGUST 2023

Route 850 launching on Monday 4th of September 2023

Athlone to Roscrea, Templemore and Thurles

TFI Local Link Laois Offaly is launching a new bus service, which will improve connectivity between Athlone and Roscrea, from Monday 4th of September 2023.

Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan

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.

New Connection servicing TUS Athlone campuses, Clonmacnoise, Shannonbridge, Belmont, Cloghan, Banagher, Birr, Crinkill and Shinrones

Route 850 will operate six daily return services, seven days a week creating a new connection from Athlone to Roscrea as well as offering four additional daily return trips on Sunday to Templemore and Thurles. The new route will provide improved connectivity to the TUS Athlone campuses as well as providing a peak-time service for commuters and improved connectivity to regional bus and rail services in Athlone and Roscrea. The route will also offer enhanced connectivity to villages and areas such as Clonmacnoise, Shannonbridge, Belmont, Cloghan, Banagher, Birr, Crinkill and Shinrone.

Greater access for employment, education, training, recreation, social and health purposes

Speaking ahead of the launch TFI Local Link Laois Offaly Manager Frances Byrne said: “We are delighted to launch Route 850 Athlone to Roscrea and increase of our service provision in Offaly.

“This new timetable has been designed to facilitate passengers travelling between towns and villages, along the route 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 in towns and townslands, 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 this policy and it will contribute to reducing CO2 emissions in the transport sector.”

Additional Information

For route and timetable information visit www.locallinklaoisoffaly.ie

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

Bus Éireann announces improved service on new Route 170 from Dundalk to Cavan

30TH AUGUST 2023

New service provides improved connectivity and a Sunday service launched 27th August

Bus Éireann, Ireland’s national bus company, is pleased to announce a new service Route 170 from Dundalk to Cavan which came into effect on Sunday, 27 August.

Part of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan

The 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 170 servicing Carrickmacross, Kingscourt and Bailieboro

Route 170 will provide six daily return services between Dundalk and Cavan, via Carrickmacross, Kingscourt and Bailieboro. The new service features an enhanced timetable with a later departure from Cavan at 19.45pm and Dundalk at 19.45pm. It is the first service to include a Sunday and Public Holiday timetable between Dundalk and Cavan.

Bus Éireann 166 service replaced by TFI Local Link 171 and Bus Éireann 170

Route 170 is the second of two routes, in conjunction with the Local Link Route 171, in a planned phased roll out of new TFI Local Link and Bus Éireann bus services in Cavan, Monaghan and Louth.

The existing Bus Éireann 166 service was replaced by the new TFI Local Link 171 service and the new regional Bus Éireann 170 service. The new Local Link Route 171 will serve Shercock and Inishkeen, these stops are no longer served by Bus Éireann. Passengers travelling between Shercock and Cavan can transfer between Local Link Route 171 and Bus Éireann Route 170 at Carrickmacross.

Plans to provide a new service between Virginia, Bailieboro, Shercock and Cootehill later this year

Following the withdrawal of the existing 166 service, there will be no direct bus services between Shercock and Cavan on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. However, the NTA working with TFI Local Link Cavan Monaghan, are currently preparing plans to provide a new service between Virginia, Bailieboro, Shercock and Cootehill which will be implemented later this year.

Significantly increasing the daily services, particularly for those passengers travelling at the weekend

“Bus Éireann is delighted to introduce these new and improved services between Dundalk and Cavan, significantly increasing the daily services, particularly for those passengers travelling at the weekend,” said Adrian O’Loughlin, Bus Éireann, Senior Operations Manager, East.

“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 East 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.”

Updated service details and timetables are available at BusEireann.ie