Bus Éireann contributes over €70 million to Cork and Waterford economies in 2014

Bus Éireann contributes over €70 million to Cork and Waterford economies in 2014

Bus Éireann was once again a major contributor to the local economies of Cork and Waterford in 2014.  The company employs over 726 people in the region, with €34m spent on wages and over €39m on the purchase of local goods and services during the year. In Cork city, passenger journey figures grew by 6% in the last 12 months, while in Waterford journeys were down by just 1%.

During 2014, Bus Éireann introduced enhanced services on a number of routes in Cork City and county to improve frequencies and provide extra departures. As part of an ongoing review undertaken by Bus Éireann and the National Transport Authority (NTA) on public transport services in Cork, revised timetables were announced on the following Cork bus routes:  202, 207A, 215, 216, 220, 221, 222, 223, 232, 243 & 245.

A half hourly frequency was introduced on Route 221 serving, Glanmire / Brooklodge / Hazelwood / Riverstown with four outbound services and five inbound services extended to Knockraha.  Further to positive growth on route 221, this was also extended to include Marwood and Glyntown.

 

 

Route 220/220A & new timetables

The new Bus Éireann Cross City and Suburban Route 220/220A (EMC - Ballincollig – City Centre – Douglas – Carrigaline – Crosshaven – Fountainstown) was introduced on Sunday, 31 August 2014, replacing Routes 222 and 232.

This new route provides the following enhancements to public transport in Cork:

•           Direct connections from Carrigaline & Douglas to U.C.C. & C.I.T.

•           Direct services from Ballincollig to Carrigaline via Cork City Centre

•           Improved frequency of services – 30 minute weekday service

•           Earlier and later departures to/from Cork City

•           Increased weekend frequency

 

A new timetable was introduced on Route 245 offering a standard hourly service to Fermoy and some extensions to Mitchelstown; a minor additional amendment was added later offering a nonstop morning service from Fermoy to Cork.

A new route was implemented on Route 216, via Carr’s Hill, Maryborough Woods, Maryborough Hill, The Borough, Landsborough, Garryduff, Coach Hill to Monswood / Clarkes Hill and return via the same route.

A new timetable was also introduced on Route 223 and this route now serves all city bus stops from City Centre to Douglas, Passage, Monkstown, Ringaskiddy, Haulbowline, National Maritime College and peak services in the morning and evening are operating directly to DePuy Synthes.

 

Introduction of the Leap Card

Over the course of 2014 “Leap Card” was successfully rolled out to Cork City (Red Zone) and Suburban (Green Zone) services, offering customers a 20% reduction on all Bus Éireann single tickets within the Red and Green Zones. Various products are available for Leap Card customers including 24 hour, Weekly and Monthly Products and these may be purchased from the Travel Centre, at Parnell Place bus station or from some Payzone agents in Cork. See leapcard.ie for further information.

 

The Parnell Place Renewal Scheme in the vicinity of the Bus Station, was completed this year.  The project has improved access for pedestrians to/from the Bus Station and has also provided additional bus lanes in Parnell Place. The project has given an excellent facelift to area around the transport hub, providing a safer operating environment for all Bus Éireann services arriving and departing from Parnell Place Bus Station.

 

Special services

A number of special services operated throughout the year to cater for events, festivals, matches and concerts.  Route 208 was extended to the Munster Agricultural Society Cork Summer Show/Food Fest in Curraheen on 13th, 14th, and 15th June 2014.  Extra services were provided for IL Divo Concert in Musgrave Park.   Shuttle services operated to Pairc UÍ Chaoimh for Munster Senior Football and Hurling finals.  Bus Éireann provided late night buses to Carrigaline, Ballincollig and Midleton for the Jazz festival in Cork and for two weekends before Christmas.  A Christmas Park and Ride operated between Sheares St. and County Hall from end November to Christmas.

Bus Éireann, Cork provided buses for Culture Night on Friday 19th September 2014, operating “Hop-on-Hop-Off” services on three routes throughout the city serving the various venues taking part in Culture Night - up to 3000 customers availed of the specially organised “Culture Buses”.

Double Deck buses were transferred to Waterford during the Summer to facilitate high numbers of customers travelling on Route 360 from Waterford to Tramore due to the glorious weather in Summer 2014.

Bus Éireann was also a corporate sponsor for the Community & Voluntary Awards in County Waterford, sponsoring the award for Social Inclusion.  The awards ceremony took place in Dungarvan on Thursday the 27th of November 2014.

Bus Éireann is an essential and integral part of Ireland’s transport infrastructure. We are continuing to build on that tradition of public service and transport expertise to give Ireland a bus and coach system which it can be proud of. In 2015, we will take some new PSO vehicles into the fleet, and continue with our programme of network improvements,” said Martin Walsh, Acting Regional Manager, South, Bus Éireann.

 

Friday, 2nd January, 2015