Plan b for Laois Kildare bus service 'falls way short' insists Brian Stanley
Laois independent TD wants Portarlington to Kildare service fully reinstated
A plan to replace a service which Portarlington workers depended on to get to their jobs in Kildare is insufficient according to Laois TD Brian Stanley who insists that only full reinstatement of the recently scrapped service will do.
Dep Stanley called for the reinstatement of the Portarlington–Kildare Village Bus Service, which eased operation on November 30.
The Route 816 Portarlington Connector travels between Portarlington—Monasterevin—Kildare. Dublin Coach operated it, providing 16 services Monday through Sunday.
“The failure by the NTA (National Transport Authority) to reinstate route 816, which was Portarlington to Kildare service, leaves Portarlington commuters without a proper service. A large number of workers from Portarlington and surrounding area depend on this service to get to work in Kildare," said Dep Stanley.
The recently re-elected TD says plan being hatched to replace won't suffice.
"While the NTA have now informed me that they are ‘working on a proposal’ to provide a service from Portarlington to Monasterevin, this falls way short of what is required. It would mean these commuters would have to get a connecting bus in Monasterevin. These Dublin bound busses can often arrive almost full to capacity.
"The previous route from Portarlington to Kildare needs to be reinstated as it provided an essential and affordable service for Portarlington people working in Kildare.
"I have contacted the NTA in this regard and requested they review their decision," he said.
Dublin Coach claimed that "declining passenger numbers" made the route "uneconomic to operate".