Bus Éireann Launches €18m Cork Development Plan

Bus Éireann today announced details of a major €18m development plan which has the potential to transform public transport for customers in Cork. The announcement was made by Minister Micheal Martin TD at 12.00hrs, today Thursday May 10th in the Clarion Hotel in Cork.

A significant increase in buses, routes and departures for the Cork Metropolitan Area is planned by Bus Éireann. The development plan is underpinned by Transport 21, the government’s ten year infrastructure investment programme, and also by CASP, the Cork Area Strategic Plan.

Bus Éireann is also exploring the feasibility of introducing bus trams to Cork City and revealed details of its current feasibility study at the event.

- Key Improvements Planned-

The key improvements in the Bus Éireann Cork Development Plan include:

  • More new low floor accessible buses and coaches for Cork
  • New Cork city bus services
  • Enhancements to existing Cork city and suburban bus services
  • New Cork Commuter services
  • Enhancements to existing Cork Commuter services
  • A new Town service for Ballincollig

     

    Speaking at the launch, Mr Joe Fitzgerald, Bus Éireann Regional Manager South said:

    “New buses provided to Bus Éireann under Transport 21 will enable us to deliver, in a short time frame, significant and tangible improvements for our customers in the Cork Metropolitan Area. The frequency of existing bus services is set to improve and new routes to growing areas will also be added to the Cork bus network. These will be provided on a modern fleet of low floor wheelchair accessible, bio fuel compatible vehicles.”

    New Buses and Coaches

    Crucial to the full implementation of the Bus Éireann Cork Development Plan are the new vehicles the Company is seeking under Transport 21.

    Bus Éireann plans for 2007 to 2009 are based on the introduction of 56 new buses to the Cork Fleet over the 3 year period - 36 replacement vehicles and 20 additional.

    32 of these new vehicles (19 replacement and 13 additional) have been approved by the Department of Transport under Transport 21 and will be arriving within the next 12 months.

    The Plan is underpinned by the introduction of these resources. The new vehicles will arrive on a phased basis, and service improvements will be introduced on a similar basis.

    Services improvements are contingent on the provision of licenses.

    All of the new vehicles will be low floor wheelchair accessible and will also be bio-fuel compatible.

    New Cork City Bus Routes

    New routes planned for Cork city include the provision of a new 10A service to run in parallel to the existing No 10. The 10A service will operate between the City Centre and Mahon Point, via Boreenmanna Road.

    A new No 16 service will operate between the City centre/Rochestown/Mount Oval/Maryborough Hill.

    City buses are currently on order by Bus Éireann and it is envisaged that these service improvements will be introduced in late 2007.

    Enhanced existing Cork City and Suburban services

    In line with the phased introduction of new vehicles, the next step will be to increase service frequencies on all the main existing city and suburban routes to meet the demand of the growing population. Existing routes will also be lengthened to provide services to a greater number of residential areas.

    Frequencies will be boosted on City service such as the:

      No 5 service from CIT to Kent Station via the City Centre
      No 7 service from Ballyvolane/City Centre/Donnybrook
      No 8 service from Bishopstown/City Centre/Mayfield
      No 14 service from CUH/Togher/City Centre

     

    Existing routes will also be extended to cater for more areas and passengers. For example, the No 3 service from Ballyphehane/City Centre/Farranree will be extended to Lehenaghmore.

    Similar frequency improvements will be introduced on Bus Éireann Cork Suburban services:

      221 Cork/Glanmire
      222 Cork/Carrigaline/Crosshaven
      223 Cork/Passage/Monkstown
      224 Cork/Blarney/Tower

    New Cork Commuter Services

      242A: Mallow Rail Feeder via Mitchelstown/Fermoy
      243A Cork/Whitechurch

    Enhanced Cork Commuter Services

      231 Cork/Macroom/Ballyvourney
        This service will be extended to Kenmare morning and evening
      245 Cork/Watergrasshill/Rathcormac/Fermoy
      249 Cork/Airport/Kinsale
      261 Cork/Midleton/Ballinacurra

    A New Town Service for Ballincollig

    In addition a new town service (Route 229) is planned for Ballincollig, earmarked for introduction in 2009. The service will operate between the growing number of housing estates in the residential areas of Ballincollig and Ballincollig Town Centre, where customers can link with a high frequency service to Cork.

    - Continued progress on Green Routes Vital to Plan -

    Speaking at the launch Mr Joe Fitzgerald of Bus Éireann stressed the importance of the continued roll-out of the Green Routes if the full value of the investment in public transport is to be realized.

    He stated: “For the full benefits of the type of investment we are discussing to be realised, a continued commitment to implementing the vital supporting infrastructure, such as Green Routes is very important.

    Bus Éireann in Cork works on a partnership basis with Cork City Council, Cork County Council and An Garda Siochana; and 6 of the proposed 10 Green Routes outlined in the Cork Area Strategic Plan (CASP) will be in place by the end of 2007.

    The Green Routes which are in place on certain city routes are shortening journey times for customers and are encouraging more people to use public transport. The solution to the problem of gridlock is twofold - not just the provision of buses - but also Green Routes. Together they are the only effective means of speeding up public transport, giving buses that vital head start which will encourage people out of their cars. I am delighted that Cork is leading the way in regard to the implementation of Green Routes.

    The Bus Éireann Cork Development Plan - the Key Benefits

    The Bus Éireann Expansion represents a €18 million investment and development package for public transport in the Cork Metropolitan Area and is underpinned by vehicles to be provided to Bus Éireann under Transport 21, the government’s ten year transport and infrastructure investment programme.

  • The new fleet will facilitate an additional 138 extra departures and 3 new routes on Cork city services as well as 38 extra departures and 2 new routes on Commuter services

     

  • Additional buses and more services will attract 4 million extra customers between 2007 and 2009 - displacing 1 million car journeys a year to 2016

     

  • Integration of city services with wider transport networks to include enhanced integration with rail, air and taxi services will be a priority.

     

    ‘Bus Rapid Transit’ & Bus Trams

    At the launch of the Cork Development Plan, Bus Éireann revealed it is currently examining the potential for the introduction of ‘BRT’ (Bus Rapid Transit), commonly known as ‘bus trams’ which are popular in the US, Canada and in a growing number of European cities.

    Bus Trams are regarded as suitable for operation in smaller sized cities.

    Bus Éireann is at present exploring the feasibility of operating bus trams in Irish cities including Cork and intends to enter some vehicles into service on a trial basis this summer.

    What are bus trams and what can they deliver?

    Bus trams are a bus/tram hybrid vehicle capable of delivering a high quality tram-style service in terms of capacity and reliability, coupled with the far lower costs associated with manufacturing and running buses.

    The attractiveness of Bus Rapid Transit lies in its potential to deliver a very high frequency service at a fraction of the cost of designing building and maintaining a full-scale tram system.

    Quality stations and ‘bus stops’ are provided at frequent intervals along the route featuring Real Time Passenger Information (RTPI), so customers know what time the next service is due.

    Bus Trams: the Benefits

  • Cost-effective - Bus trams have the carrying capacity of traditional trams at a fraction of the cost. BRT enables communities to address transportation needs quickly while leaving resources for other important priorities, like schools and parks. The high cost of traditional trams typically limits the amount that can be provided. Because of the cost effectiveness of BRT, many more services can be provided - to ensure wide-ranging provision.

     

  • High capacity - Ottowa, Ontario, operates one of the largest BRT systems in North America, with over 200,000 daily riders on the Ottowa Transitway, achieving peak capacities of 10,000 passengers per hour per direction. This has been cited as an example of the efficiency of BRT systems.

     

  • Quick and simple solution - Bus trams can operate on ordinary road space thus saving the lengthy time periods associated with constructing tram systems, delivering important benefits in a short time frame

     

  • Eco-friendly - Bus trams are capable of running on alternative, more environmentally-friendly fuels making them cleaner and quieter than traditional diesel buses. By relieving congestion on streets, they reduce emissions, noise levels and improve the air quality.

     

  • High quality design - Bus trams are low floor, wheelchair-accessible and are contemporary in design with comparatively spacious interiors.

     

  • Fast, high quality service - Because bus trams typically operate on dedicated bus way, the punctuality of service and reliability is significantly improved. The provision of real time passenger information also tells customers what time the next service is due.

     

  • High frequency service - A high-frequency, all day service can be provided with stops at frequent intervals to facilitate a large number of users.

     

    The cost of bus trams versus conventional trams systems is impressive

    Low construction costs, low maintenance costs

  • Infrastructure costs 10%
  • Vehicle costs 75%
  • Vehicle operating costs 80%
  • Infrastructure operating costs 0.5%

     

    Bus trams - ideal for medium sized cities

    BRT is regarded by transport experts as the ideal public transport solution for small to medium sized cities. The system is currently in operation in Eindhoven in the Netherlands which has a population of 550,000.

    BRT is being successfully introduced in a growing number of cities internationally including Edinburgh in Scotland, Ottowa in Canada and Brisbane in Australia.

    Bus Éireann Cork - Notes for Editors

  • Bus Éireann employs 556 people in Cork City and County including 330 Drivers and 77 part-time school bus drivers.

     

  • Approximately 16 million passengers traveled on Bus Éireann services in Cork City and County in 2006 - City/Suburban services 12.5 million, Commuter/stage carriage 2.5 million, Expressway passengers 1 million.

     

  • Passenger numbers on City and Suburban services has increased by 25% since 2000 and the number of daily departures in Cork City services has increased from 586 to 857 in the last 6 years (an increase of 46%) Similarly Suburban services have increased from 133 departures per day in 2000 to 206 per day departures in 2006 an increase of 55%.

     

  • The Bus Station at Parnell Place was completely refurbished in 2004 and formally reopened in January 2005 at a cost of €4.1 million, on time and on budget.

     

  • Over 3.3 million passengers availed of Bus Éireann services through Parnell Place Bus Station in 2006.

     

  • 92% of the Cork City fleet is now low floor fully accessible and with the arrival of the new buses in 2007/ 2008 this will be 100%.

     

  • Thursday, 10th May, 2007