Bus Éireann begins dedicated COVID-19 vaccination shuttle service in Limerick

Limerick Vaccination ShuttleBus Éireann, Ireland’s national bus company, in conjunction with the National Transport Authority (NTA) announces a new shuttle bus service making travel easier for COVID-19 vaccination appointments, currently at the Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa and moving to Limerick Racecourse from 7 June 2021.

The special service begins today, Monday 24 May and will run every 20 minutes, seven days a week in line with the Vaccination Centre operating hours (08:00-20:00).

The first journey departs Colbert Station at 07.40am and the last trip returns from the Hotel (HSE vaccination centre) at 20.10. The last service departs the Hotel at 20.10 and arrives in Colbert Station at 20.30.

The new Limerick shuttle bus will serve the following stops:

  • Colbert Station
  • Henry Street (Dunnes Stores)
  • Ennis Road
  • Coonagh Roundabout (JFK School and Jetland)
  • Radisson Blu Hotel and Spa (HSE Vaccination Centre)

and is planned and funded by the National Transport Authority.

The Limerick shuttle bus service will provide customers with a safe, easy, and environment-friendly choice for those with HSE appointments to travel to and from their vaccination. The service will be operated using easily accessible low floor, bright interior shuttle double-deck buses, providing customers with comfortable seating, a dedicated wheelchair space, a separate designated child space, complimentary Wi-Fi, and CCTV security cameras throughout.

From 7 June 2021, the vaccination centre at the Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Limerick will relocate to Limerick Racecourse. The shuttle service will depart from University Hospital at 08:00 and arrive into Patrickswell Racecourse at 08:12. The service will operate every 20 minutes with the last service departing Patrickswell Racecourse at 20:20 and arriving into University Hospital, Limerick at 20:32.

Denis Maher, Services Manager, Bus Éireann Limerick said: “We are delighted to be able to support the great work of the HSE at the Vaccination Centre in Limerick. This new shuttle service operates every twenty minutes to and from the vaccination centre making it easy and very convenient for everyone to travel. It is very important to advise people that with 50% capacity limits on all public transport, the bus will only be able to carry a maximum of thirty-five passengers at a time.”

Professor Paul Burke, Chief Academic Officer of UL Hospitals Group, and the Group Lead for the three Mid-West Vaccination Centres welcomed the launch of the bus service between Limerick City and Radisson Blu Limerick Vaccination Centre: “Our effort to vaccinate the population of the Mid-West as part of the national Covid - 19  vaccination strategy has been on an historic scale, and wouldn’t be possible without the support from the community and our partners in public service. We’re particularly grateful today to acknowledge the support of the National Transport Authority and Bus Éireann in establishing this crucial public transport link between Limerick City and the largest of our three vaccination centres,” Prof Burke said.

“We look forward to working with the NTA and Bus Éireann in the weeks ahead, as we prepare to transfer the operations at the Radisson Blu Hotel to Limerick Racecourse, which is scheduled for opening on a phased basis during June,” he added. 

The shuttle service costs as little as €1.68 with a leap card or standard fare is €2.40. Free travel passes and TFI leap cards are accepted on this service. This is the second dedicated vaccination centre service implemented by the National Transport Authority with Bus Éireann, the other being in Waterford.

Bus Éireann would like to reiterate to passengers to plan their essential journeys and to be aware of the continuing 50% capacity limit on all public transport and that face masks must be worn.  Bus Éireann observes all public health guidelines, all vehicles are touchpoint cleaned throughout the day and deep cleaned overnight.

Customers travelling to a Covid 19 vaccination centre, please view the HSE guidelines here.

Wednesday, 26th May, 2021