BREAKING: Eight new and enhanced bus routes announced for Tipperary
The Department of Transport and the National Transport Authority have announced eight new and enhanced bus routes serving Tipperary.
The new routes were announced as part of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan Phase two.
According to the NTA Connecting Ireland Programme - Phase 2 2023 Implementation Plan, the new routes are as follows:
- Dungarvan to Clonmel
- Roscrea to Portlaoise
- Roscrea to Athlone
- Portumna to Nenagh
- Nenagh to Roscrea
- Nenagh to Limerick
- Athlone-Nenagh-Limerick
- Portlaw-Dunmore East to be extended to Carrick-on-Suir
The Dungarvan to Clonmel route is currently in the procurement stage and is expected to become operational in this quarter of 2023.
The routes serving Roscrea are expected in quarter two, as well as the Portumna to Nenagh and the Portlaw to Carrick-on-Suir.
And the Athlone-Nenagh-Limerick and the Nenagh to Limerick are to become operational in quarter four.
The implementation plan says these timeframes are subject to change.
These routes are part of 38 new routes announced today by the Minister for transport Eamon Ryan at the plan’s launch in Tullamore.
Minister Ryan said improving public transport is one of his key priorities.
“It’s clear that when you build it, they will come. We know from last year’s statistics that people respond positively to new routes and services, backed up by our new cheaper fares. Young people, in particular, are choosing to use public transport more, which is great.
“It’s more convenient, it’s more accessible and frequent than it’s been, and it’s cheaper than driving and paying for a parking spot all day in college or school. The more people choose public transport the better it is for our environment as well. Public transport, both rural and urban, is a key to Ireland meeting our emissions targets,” said Minister Ryan.
The new routes are to be operated between Local Link and Bus Eireann on behalf of the NTA.
CEO of the National Transport Authority Anne Graham said:
“NTA is proud to launch our Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan for implementation in 2023, which will deliver better access to safe, reliable, and more frequent bus services connecting towns and villages.
“The NTA is continuing its efforts to improve rural bus services by identifying areas that require additional services, and we are committed to continuing to develop connectivity and mobility in rural areas through the phased rollout of new and enhanced bus services this year and in future years.”