Midlands Bus Services To See 20% Drop In Fares From Today

Monday, 11 April 2022 06:52

Bus Éireann and Local Link customers will benefit from a drop in fares.

Those who avail of public transport in the midlands will notice a drop in fares from today.

Bus Éireann and Local Link are cutting their fares by an average of 20 per cent, following an announcement from Transport Minister Eamon Ryan in February.

The changes will see a Lead Card journey from Birr to Athlone, for example, drop from €8.40 to €6.72; Portlaoise to Carlow will drop from €9.19 to €7.35; and Athlone to Mullingar will drop from €9.10 to €7.28.

Fares on the company’s commercial Expressway services are not included.

Passengers on TFI LocalLink rural services operated by the 15 Transport Co-ordination Units around the country, including in Laois, Offaly and Westmeath, will also see their fares drop by 20%.

The fare reductions will also benefit Bus Éireann customers on city services in Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford, as well as town services in Athlone, Balbriggan, Drogheda, Dundalk, Navan and Sligo.

While all fares are being reduced by about 20%, customers currently paying their fare by cash can make even greater savings by switching to Leap.

Minister Eamon Ryan says;

"We want to make it easier for people to be able to choose public transport throughout the country and I am delighted that this saving of 20% off public transport costs is now being implemented for commuters across regional cities and towns particularly.

"People are coming under more and more pressure as the price of essentials continues to increase. As one element of a suite of measures being introduced by the government, this fare reduction will go some way to easing some of the financial strain that households are experiencing.

"Choosing public transport over the private car, even for one trip a week, can begin to help us reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. It will also help improve the air quality and cut down on congestion in our cities and towns throughout the country.

"And at a time when fuel security is a greater concern than it has been in decades, leaving the car behind, if at all possible, is one of the best things we can all do to help reduce our energy use."

Bus Éireann customers using a Student Leap Card will see an additional reduction of 50% on their fares from today.

Iarnród Éireann’s online fares are also reducing by an average of 20%, from today.