Bus Éireann introduces improvements to its Expressway Route 23

  • More direct service to Dublin city and Dublin Airport using the M4 motorway
  • Enhanced level of service from Dublin city/Dublin Airport to Mullingar, Longford, Carrick-on-Shannon and Sligo
  • Six services a day each way between Sligo and Dublin Airport
  • Better connections travelling to and from Maynooth to Dublin Airport
  • Improved spread of Sunday and Public Holiday services

Bus Éireann has announced a new timetable on its Expressway Route 23 commercial service, operating via the M4 motorway, which will result in a more direct service between Sligo and Dublin Airport and Dublin city, with improved journey times of up to 10 minutes on some services. The revised Expressway Route 23 service will start from 7 October 2012.

From 7 October 2012, the 06:30 Sligo to Dublin and the 17:00 Dublin to Sligo services will serve Dromod and Rooskey on a daily basis. The morning service will depart Dromod at 07:32 and Rooskey at 07:35. The return service from Dublin will arrive Rooskey at 19:30 and Dromod at 19:33. These services to and from Dromod and Rooskey are being introduced on a trial basis for the next six months. They will then be evaluated based on customer usage from Dromod and Rooskey and the overall performance of Route 23 during that time.

The Route 23 will operate between Sligo and Dublin Airport/Dublin city via Boyle, Carrick-on-Shannon, Newtownforbes and Longford. After Longford, the service will travel via Edgeworthstown, Mullingar, Maynooth and Liffey Valley to Dublin Airport and Dublin city.

The services will depart from Sligo Bus Station to Dublin city and Dublin Airport at 01:00, 06:30, 08:00 (Mon to Sat), 12:15, 15:30 and 18:30. Three of the services will serve IT Sligo at Ash Lane. The service will depart from Dublin (Busáras) at 08:00, 11:00, 14:00, 17:00, 20:00 and 23:00 (Mon to Sat). Daily departures from Dublin Airport to Sligo will be at 08:20, 11:20, 14:20, 17:20, 20:20 and 23:20 (Mon to Sat).

There will also be improved levels of service to and from Maynooth. The services will depart Maynooth for Dublin Airport at 03:50, 09:05, 11:00, 15:10 and 18:25. For customers travelling from Maynooth to Sligo, the services will operate at 08:50; 11:50; 14:50; 17:50; 20:50 and 23:50 (Mon to Sat).

Customers travelling from Sligo to Dublin should be aware that it costs as little as €18 for an adult single or day return trip and €27:50 for an adult monthly return. There are also special midweek, student, family and child discounts available. Free Travel Pass holders may also use the service.

Customers should note that from 7 October 2012, the 06:30 Sligo to Dublin and the 17:00 Dublin to Sligo services will serve Dromod and Rooskey on a daily basis. The morning service will depart Dromod at 07:32 and Rooskey at 07:35. The return service from Dublin will arrive Rooskey at 19:30 and Dromod at 19:33. These services to and from Dromod and Rooskey are being introduced on a trial basis for the next six months. They will then be evaluated based on customer usage from Dromod and Rooskey and the overall performance of Route 23 during that time.

Our Expressway services are commercial services that receive no State funding and, as such, must be commercially viable. From 7 October, the Expressway Route 23 service will no longer serve Moyvalley, Clonard, Kinnegad, Ballinafid, Bunbrosna and Ballinafad due to the low number of customers using the existing services from these stops.

Customers travelling from Moyvalley, Clonard and Kinnegad to and from Dublin can still use our Route 20 Expressway service. The Route 20 service operates from Galway to Dublin city nine times a day in each direction. Customers travelling to and from Ballinafid can use the Bus Éireann Route 115 service to and from Longford, Mullingar, Kinnegad and Dublin.

The new Route 23 Expressway service will deliver a better travelling experience for the majority of our regular customers. We also want to encourage more people to see the benefits of using the bus by providing a convenient, quick and affordable direct coach access to Dublin city and Dublin Airport,” said Rory Leahy, Regional Manager North-West, Bus Éireann.

Regular commuting customers are advised that they can make savings of up to 52% on their annual and monthly Bus Éireann ticket with the Taxsaver Commuter Ticket. Customers can also avail of a Weekly (10 journey) Ticket, which is valid for 10 journeys as specified from the date of purchase.

The changes to the Expressway Route 23 have been approved by the National Transport Authority.

For more details, please visit buseireann.ie or contact your local Bus Éireann travel centre in Sligo on (071) 9160066.

Tuesday, 25th September, 2012