Bus Éireann Expressway ‘no show’ wiped away ‘Céad Míle Fáilte’ 

A Donegal MD Cllr has expressed his anger and frustration after what he said was another cancellation on the Bus Éireann Expressway X30 service to Donegal from Dublin airport last Friday.

Cllr Michael McMahon (SF) told the July meeting of the Donegal Municipal District yesterday that this followed on from previous cancellations earlier in the year by the same operator.

But at the height of the summer season, “it was totally unacceptable”, he stated.

Cllr McMahon said that visitors arriving at the airport, and then dragging luggage through the airport to a bus, only to find that it had been cancelled, “certainly wipes the céad míle fáilte away before you even land at the airport”. 

He said that at least 15 of the passengers were enroute to Donegal and Fermanagh, and who had just flown in from Brisbane in Australia, Germany and North America.

He castigated senior management at the company, as he said that it was known that the bus was not going to be run from Dublin, because of a driver issue and that an email was sent to passenger at 3.51am, when most of the passengers were in the sky “flying all night” and wouldn't have had internet access as they were in flight mode.

He added that Bus Éireann, especially in Dublin, had ample opportunity to make alternative arrangements to “get an alternative carrier” for the service that was to leave for Donegal at 8.20am, that morning. 

The next scheduled service on that route didn't leave until 9.50am and would have done little to portray Donegal or the country in a good light. He also pointed out that other visitors would have already booked seats on the later bus to Donegal for the later bus and it was not a special bus service for those that had been abandoned earlier.

“They had more than four hours to get this sorted and they didn’t,” he suggested.  

“We need an investigation as to the activity going on at Dublin airport from our national carrier. I am not blaming local management in this but we need Bus Éireann back in here. Quarter of the tourist season has already passed us by and I am not happy with how these people were treated. It is totally wrong and if the national carrier is not fit to look after its passengers, it is a very sorry sight. We need an emergency meeting,” Cllr McMahon added.

Cllr Micheál Naughton (FF) that he strongly seconded the proposal and there was support also from Cllr Noel Jordan (SF).

Speaking afterwards, Cllr McMahon added that it was a very sad state of affairs especially in light of Bus Éireann’s announcement the previous week, that they had introduced wheelchair access on the X30 route to Dublin.

In an email sent to Cllr McMahon, Bus Éireann apologised for the situation that had occurred.

“Bus Éireann deeply regrets that the 8am service from Dublin to Donegal on Expressway Route X30 was cancelled (on), 7 July 2023. The service was cancelled due to a driver, who was scheduled to depart from Donegal, being unavailable on short notice. Every effort was found to secure an alternative driver, but this was not possible on this occasion.

“I can confirm that all pre booked customers were notified of this cancellation via email at 3.51am (on), 7 July 2023, and offered a full refund. This cancellation was also advertised on the Service Updates section of the Bus Éireann website.

The email added: 

“Bus Éireann understands how frustrating cancellations are for customers particularly when travelling to and from airports. The next service to Donegal departed 90 minutes later.

“Expressway Route 30/X30 runs over 770 services per month connecting Donegal with Dublin, Dublin Airport, Cavan and Fermanagh. For 2023 to date, Expressway Route 30 has operated over 4,800 services with 99% of these operating fully, and 95% have departed Dublin punctually.”