Bus Éireann boosts Western economy by €40 million in 2014
Bus Éireann boosts Western economy by €40 million in 2014
Bus Éireann boosted its service offering to customers in Galway, Westmeath and Roscommon in 2014 with the introduction of new and additional services. In Galway city, passenger journey numbers grew by an impressive 12%.
The company, which employs 360 staff in the West contributed in excess of €40m annually to the West economy. This included payments to a large number of local suppliers.
Following a review of public transport services in Galway undertaken by the National Transport Authority (NTA), Bus Éireann announced a revised Galway City bus network in early 2012 to provide customers with an improved level of service including more frequent services, increased reliability, clearer timetables, and a simplified network.
Since their recent completion, this network has gone from strength to strength, achieving exceptional growth in passenger numbers.
Revised network in Galway
The key features of the revised network are:
- A simplified network which is easier to understand and simplifies planning your journey throughout the city
- Better access to employment areas and industrial estates from residential areas
- Improved timetables
- More customer-friendly Information Displays
- More frequent services
- Consistent clock-face frequencies
- New Route numbers
Introduction of Leap Card
Bus Éireann Galway, in association with the NTA, introduced the LEAP Card on all Galway City services during September 2014. This pay-as-you-go smart card is used to pay for public transport services and can also be used in Cork and Limerick cities, as well as the GDA (Greater Dublin Area) - with a reduction of up to 20% on single trip journeys.
New Route 350 servicing the Wild Atlantic Way
In addition, as part of an ongoing review of public transport services in Clare and Galway undertaken by the National Transport Authority, Bus Éireann introduced a revised combined Route 350, Galway – Doolin – Ennis which commenced in May 2014.
This revised bus timetable was designed to combine the operations of the following routes:
- Route 50: Galway – Lisdoonvarna – Doolin - Cliffs of Moher
- Route 337: Doolin – Lisdoonvarna – Ennis
- Route 423: Galway - Kinvara
Enhancements to the 350 bus timetable include:
- Improved clock face frequency of services with earlier departures from Galway
- Enhanced summer timetable providing five daily services along the route
- Connections available at Galway and Ennis to the wider public transport network, including links to Shannon Airport
- Increased Saturday & Sunday services
This revised service Route 350 provides an enhanced service for the local community in West Clare, providing daily services to local hubs in Galway and Ennis. It also provides a vital public transport service which allows tourists to access the unique landscape of West Clare either as a day trip or for a longer visit. Public transport links are available at Ennis to Shannon Airport for our international customers.
Route 424, Galway – Carraroe was also revised during May 2014 offering customers a refined, more customer friendly clock face timetable.
Bus Éireann also introduced an enhanced Expressway Route 20/X20 Galway to Dublin city service in 2014. The enhanced Route 20 service now serves Dublin Airport.
Brian Connolly, Regional Manager, West said that the introduction of the Leap Card and new service improvements in Galway city had benefitted customers in 2014. “In 2015, we will continue to revise the network in the West and build on the strong level of services already in place for the travelling public.”
Friday, 2nd January, 2015