Route 22, Dublin - Airport - Mullingar - Longford - Ballina, effective 7 October 2012

  • More direct service to Dublin city and Dublin Airport using the M4 motorway
  • Enhanced level of service from Dublin Airport to Mullingar, Longford and Ballina
  • Better connections travelling to and from Maynooth to Dublin Airport
  • More direct service to Dublin city and Dublin Airport using the M4 motorway
  • Enhanced level of service from Dublin Airport to Mullingar, Longford and Ballina
  • Better connections travelling to and from Maynooth to Dublin Airport

Bus Éireann has announced a new timetable on its Expressway Route 22 commercial service, operating via M4 motorway, which will result in a more direct service between Ballina and Dublin City/Dublin Airport, with improved journey times of up to 25 minutes on some services. The revised Expressway Route 22 service will start from 7 October 2012.

The new timetable will provide customers with an improved service between Mayo, Longford, Mullingar, Maynooth and Dublin Airport. All services between Ballina and Dublin city/Dublin Airport will operate via M4 Motorway.

From 7 October 2012, the 09:30 Ballina to Dublin and the 18:30 Dublin to Ballina services will serve Carracastle on a daily basis. The morning service will depart Carracastle at 10:14 to Dublin and will arrive in Carracastle at 21:30 on the return journey. These services to and from Carracastle are being introduced on a trial basis for the next six months. They will then be evaluated based on customer usage from Carracastle and the overall performance of Route 22 during that time.

Route 22 will operate between Ballina and Dublin/Dublin Airport via Foxford, Swinford, Charlestown, Ballaghaderreen, Frenchpark, Ballinagare, Tulsk, Strokestown, Tarmonbarry and Longford. After Longford, the service will travel via Edgeworthstown, Rathowen, Ballinalack, Mullingar (some services) and Maynooth to Dublin and Dublin Airport.

The services will depart from Ballina Bus Station to Dublin and Dublin Airport (Monday to Sunday) at 01:00, 06:30, 09:30, 12:30, 15:30 and 17:15. The services will depart from Dublin Airport to Balllina (Monday to Sunday) at 07:20, 10:20, 12:30, 15:30, 18:00 and 22:50.

There are improved levels of service to and from Maynooth. The service departs Maynooth for Dublin Airport at 04:15, 09:45, 12:45, 15:45, 18:45 and 20:30. For customers travelling from Maynooth to Ballina, the service will operate at 07:50; 10:50; 13:30; 16:30; 19:00; 21:30 (Sundays only) and 23:20.

Customers travelling from Ballina to Dublin should be aware that it costs as little as €20 for an adult single or day return trip and €29 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.

Our Expressway services are commercial services that receive no State funding and, as such, must be commercially viable.

Customers should note that from 7 October 2012, the 09:30 Ballina to Dublin and the 18:30 Dublin to Ballina services will serve Carracastle on a daily basis. The morning service will depart Carracastle at 10:14 to Dublin and will arrive in Carracastle at 21:30 on the return journey. These services to and from Carracastle are being introduced on a trial basis for the next six months. They will then be evaluated based on customer usage from Carracastle and the overall performance of Route 22 during that time.

From 7 October, the Expressway Route 22 service will no longer serve Moyvalley, Clonard, Kinnegad, Ballinafid and Elphin 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.

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 22 Expressway service will deliver a better travelling experience for the majority of our regular customers. For the people of Mayo, Longford and Westmeath, it will provide them with 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 22 have been approved by the National Transport Authority.

For more details, please visit buseireann.ie or contact your local Bus Éireann travel centre in Ballina on (096) 71800.

Thursday, 20th September, 2012