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Plan For More Rural Public Transport Gathering Pace

Wednesday, 20 July 2022 13:50

A number of new bus routes for the midlands are in the pipeline.

Plans to increase and improve rural transport are taking another step forward this week.

The 2022 Implementation Schedule for the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan has been published, which includes proposals for new bus routes in the midlands.

It signals the first year of Connecting Ireland funding as part of a €55 million commitment in the Programme for Government to radically improve rural public transport.

It follows a 20% reduction in public transport fares introduced already this year and a 50% reduction in travel for young adults (aged between 19 and 23).

Early indications show a 10% increase in public transport uptake outside the greater Dublin area since costs were lowered.

Responding to the news, Junior Agriculture Minister and Offaly Green Party Senator Pippa Hackett said;

“We are committed to ensuring that we have a more affordable, more accessible, more efficient and more frequent rural public transport service. This first phase of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan sets out what can be achieved this year, as another vital initial step towards transforming the way people can get around this country over the coming year. We have reduced transport fares, something we will work hard to continue, and now we are committed to increasing rural transport availability and frequency.”

The Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan aims to create a more integrated, accessible and sustainable public transport network for rural Ireland.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) published Phase One of the Implementation Plan which includes an outline of the new routes that have already come into operation, routes that are to go into procurement, and routes that are expected to go into the planning and design phase.

In Offaly, the 840 Bus from Banagher to Tullamore is already in operation, while the 823 Birr to Portlaoise bus is expected to be in operation some time between now and October.

Further north in Westmeath, the 819 will service Mullingar to Athlone, via Castletown Geoghegan.

A  A13 service between Roscrea and Athlone is currently at the planning and design stage, as is an extension to the 29 Athlone to Drogheda route, and a new 41 service connecting Mullingar to Dundalk, via Kells and Ardee.

There are also proposed new regional corridors including Portlaoise to Wexford and Athlone to Cavan, via Longford. Regional Corridors generally operate along main roads, connecting cities and large towns and any settlements en route. The Connecting Ireland programme is intended to improve the level of service during the core day, evenings and on weekends on Regional Corridors by liaising with existing service providers, improving existing services and may add new services.

 

The implementation dates are indicative and may change for a number of reasons. Variables can include the duration of the planning and design process, liaison with different stakeholders; discussions with operators, and availability of service providers and drivers.

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