Analysis Shows 60% Drop In Bus Services To Portiuncula Hospital

Bus Eireann recently wound down its 20/20X service in the area.

There's been a 60% reduction in the number of bus services for patients and visitors travelling to Portiuncula Hospital. 

A recent analysis on behalf of Independent Roscommon/Galway TD Denis Naughten showed a drop in buses per week of 226 to 83 stopping outside the facility between 7:30am and 9pm. 

The figures come shortly after Bus Eireann wound down its 20/20X service. 

In a response to deputy Naughten, The National Transport Authority acknowledged the current Citylink Route is not sufficient for a town the size of Athlone and the surrounding area. 

Full response from the NTA to Denis Naughten TD with reference to Athlone and Ballinasloe:

Athlone

Athlone will continue to be served by the following public transport services:

• Irish Rail Athlone-Dublin, 13 times per day in each direction Monday to Saturday and 9 times in each direction on Sunday.
• Irish Rail Athlone-Galway, 10 times per day in each direction Monday to Saturday and 6 times in each direction on Sunday.
• Irish Rail Athlone-Westport, 4 times per day in each direction Monday to Sunday

• Citylink commercial Route 763 Galway-Ballinasloe-Athlone-Dublin-Dublin Airport, 8 times per day in each direction daily.  These services are currently being provided under an Emergency Direct Award Contract.
• Aircoach commercial Routes 706/706X, 10 times per day in each direction. The NTA has granted an application for a licence from Aircoach which will help maintain capacity and connectivity. The services commenced on 29 July 2021.

• Numerous other local services which are not linked to the Galway-Dublin corridor.

Although the withdrawal of Route 20/X20 will reduce the number of Galway-Dublin bus services operating through Athlone, all connections will continue to be provided by Irish Rail services and Citylink Route 763.

The NTA has determined that while the level of service provided by Citylink Route 763 is considered to be sufficient for towns such as Loughrea or Ballinasloe, it is not sufficient for a town of Athlone’s population and status as a Regional Growth Centre under the National Planning Framework. Under Connecting Ireland, a large number of regional and local routes are proposed to operate into Athlone, which will serve as a hub for the midlands of the country, so consideration will need to be given to continue to provide high quality intercity connectivity to both Dublin and Galway. The NTA has granted an application for a licence from Aircoach which will help maintain capacity and connectivity in the medium term. The Aircoach service provides 10 return journeys every day between Galway and Dublin via Athlone. The services commenced on 29 July 2021.

Ballinasloe

Ballinasloe is currently served by the following public transport services:

• Irish Rail Galway-Athlone-Dublin, 9 times per day in each direction Monday to Saturday and 6 times in each direction on Sunday
• Local Link Galway Route 547 Portumna-Ballinasloe, 4 times per day in each direction Monday to Saturday and twice in each direction on Sunday

• Citylink commercial Route 763 Galway-Ballinasloe-Athlone-Dublin-Dublin Airport, 8 times per day in each direction daily. These services are currently being provided under an Emergency Direct Award Contract

• Citylink commercial Route 763X Ballinasloe-Galway, 2 morning peak journeys Monday to Friday. These services are currently being provided under an Emergency Direct Award Contract
• Local Link Galway Loughrea-Ballinasloe, 3 times per day in each direction Monday to Friday
• Aircoach commercial Routes 706/706X, 4 times per day in each direction serving Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe. The NTA has granted an application for a licence from Aircoach which will help maintain connectivity on the corridor. The services commenced on 29 July 2021.

The NTA has granted an application for a licence from Aircoach which will help maintain capacity and connectivity in the medium term. The Aircoach service provides 10 return journeys every day between Galway and Dublin with 4 of these journeys operating via Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe. The timetable specifically includes a departure for the hospital at 06:30 from Galway. The services commenced on 29 July 2021.

The NTA has determined that the combination of the Irish Rail services, Citylink Routes 763/763X and Aircoach Routes 706/706x are considered sufficient to provide connectivity for Ballinasloe and Portiuncula Hospital, and no interventions are proposed.

We note the comment concerning Expressway Route 21. As you are aware this commercial service ceased operation in April 2017.  The NTA is working on plan called Connecting Ireland which has the objective of improving accessibility by public transport between settlements across the country in order to meet sustainable mobility and climate change objectives as well as to facilitate participation in society by more people without recourse to the use of a car. The NTA has done this by:-

• systematically identifying and measuring the extent of gaps in connectivity by public transport between settlements across the State, outside of the five major conurbations of Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford; and
• developing a set of proposals to address those gaps, by enhancing existing services and introducing new ones.

Later this year the NTA will be undertaking a public consultation on proposals emanating from Connecting Ireland. The consultation will provide all interested parties including public representatives and the general public with an opportunity to review and comment on the proposals.

It is envisaged that, subject to additional funding being made available, the recommendations in Connecting Ireland will be implemented over a 5-year programme starting in 2022.