Concerns have been raised about the cancellation of multiple evening bus services between Galway City and Gort.
Bus Eireann recently recently drastically altered the timetables for some expressway services, with evening runs cut back.
Galway TD Ciaran Cannon raised the matter in the Dail last week, where he said there has been a “slow but steady erosion” of public transport options.
On the Galway – Cork Expressway Route 51, the last bus leaving from Galway is now at 5:05pm and the last bus leaving from Gort is at 7:55pm.
This has a knock on effect for commuters to Oranmore, Clarinbridge, Kilcolgan, Ardrahan, and Gort, who will be out later evening runs.
The 6:55pm, 8:55pm, and 9:55pm buses out of Galway were all cancelled without any consultation with the people using these routes.
This goes against the programme for government’s commitment to protect and expand regional connectivity with rural towns and villages he said.
Responding on the day, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said that he would pass these concerns on to Transpo
Reducing evening public transport services connecting the city with towns in the county can have a seriously negative effect on people who work in the city, but live elsewhere, as well as students in the same situation.
“During the pandemic it was perfectly understandable that both bus and train services would be scaled back, with little or no demand occurring,” Ciaran Cannon said.
“However I am completely mystified by the decision taken by Bus Eireann last week to significantly scale back frequency on the Galway to Limerick Expressway service.”
He said that this could potentially cause major problems for commuters between Galway City and Gort in particular, and leave a large area of south Galway without an evening connection from the city.
“I pointed out to the Taoiseach that our programme for government makes very strong commitments to expanding rural bus services and this action by Bus Éireann runs contrary to our ambition.”
