Scottish Citylink has released its schedule of services for the 2024-25 festive period, covering operations from December 24 through January 3.
Christmas Eve services will operate to normal timetables during the day, with early evening finishes on most routes. The flagship Glasgow-Edinburgh service will conclude with final departures at 20:30 from Glasgow and 22:15 from Edinburgh.
On Christmas Day, a special service will operate on the Glasgow-Edinburgh route 900, with hourly departures from Glasgow between 08:30 and 20:30, and from Edinburgh between 10:15 and 22:15. No other routes will operate on Christmas Day.
Boxing Day sees the resumption of services across the network, though with modified schedules. The Glasgow-Edinburgh service begins early, with first departures at 04:00 from Glasgow and 05:45 from Edinburgh. Highland services include two return journeys between Glasgow and Fort William/Skye, departing Glasgow at 10:30 and 15:30. A special Glasgow-Oban service operates with one return journey, leaving Glasgow at 12:15 and returning from Oban at 18:15.
Regular service patterns resume between December 27 and December 30. There are early evening finishes on December 31, similar to Christmas Eve arrangements.
New Year’s Day features an enhanced service on the Glasgow-Edinburgh corridor, with route 900 operating every 30 minutes in both directions throughout most of the day. The first departures are at 01:00 from Glasgow and 00:45 from Edinburgh, with final services at 20:30 and 22:15 respectively. Airport services run hourly on New Year’s Day, with buses from Glasgow to Edinburgh Airport operating between 09:15 and 18:15, and return services from 10:25 to 19:25.
The intercity network maintains significant coverage on New Year’s Day, with regular services connecting Glasgow and Edinburgh with Perth, Dundee, Aberdeen, and Inverness. From Glasgow, services to Aberdeen operate between 08:20 and 20:20, while Inverness connections run throughout the day from 09:40. Edinburgh is provided with frequent departures to both destinations between 07:50 and 19:35.
Special fare conditions apply on both Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Standard concessionary travel passes, open return tickets, and multi-journey products are not valid. Regular child, student, and other promotional discounts do not apply on these days.
Normal service patterns resume from January 2, though some early morning exceptions may apply on this date. Full regular scheduling returns across all routes from January 3.
Passengers are advised to check specific timetables for their intended journeys, as timings and stopping patterns may vary from regular service. This is particularly important for connections and onward travel arrangements during the festive period.
As the year winds down and festivities ramp up, navigating public transport can become that bit more challenging, especially with altered schedules and early finishes. Thus, here’s a breakdown of D&G Bus arrangements this festive season, starting from Monday 23rd December 2024 and guiding you into the New Year.
Monday 23rd December 2024: A Balancing Act
The start of the festive schedule sees a mix of normal and adjusted services. Most routes, including the 11, 22, 33, and more, will run on normal service levels. However, other services, such as lines 2, 3, and 19/A, will follow a Saturday timetable. Travellers should note that a handful of trips will be suspended; notably, service 6 will not operate at all. Other adjustments are in place for services like 1/A, 5, 32, and 82, where select early morning trips are paused.
Christmas Eve - Tuesday 24th December 2024: Winding Down Early
Christmas Eve mirrors the previous day but anticipates early finishes on several routes to accommodate festive celebrations. While most services maintain regular operations, expect reduced activities post-7 pm. Notably, Service 11 and 22 will not run, and the last service for many lines, such as 8 from Wistaston Green or 12 from Leighton Hospital, will conclude their routes early.
Christmas Day & Boxing Day: A Pause in Operations
On both Wednesday 25th and Thursday 26th December 2024, D&G Bus will take a break. Travellers are advised to plan accordingly, as no services will operate on these days.
Friday 27th December 2024: Returning to Routine
With Christmas festivities over, services resume with slight modifications. Most routes, like the 5 and 82, will operate on their usual schedules, albeit with some minor trip suspensions similar to those observed on the 23rd. Service 6 and a few iterations of 32 remain non-operational.
Weekend of 28th-29th December 2024: Status Quo
Saturday and Sunday travel throughout Cheshire and nearby areas will follow the regular weekend timetables. Passengers can expect continuity in service as the larger schedule remains undisturbed over the weekend.
Monday 30th December 2024: Festive Runs Continue
As December draws to a close, the operation continues in much the same manner as previous post-Christmas days, providing a mix of normal and Saturday services, maintaining those early morning trip suspensions where previously indicated.
New Year’s Eve - Tuesday 31st December 2024: The Last Ride of the Year
Reprising the schedule of the 30th, New Year’s Eve also sees early finishes on select routes. Travellers should pay attention to the last trips of the day, particularly those on services 8, 24, and 38, ensuring urgent travels are completed without getting stranded along the way.
New Year’s Day - Wednesday 1st January 2025: Welcome the New Year with a Rest
As is traditional, New Year’s Day will see D&G Bus taking a day of rest, with no services scheduled.
Thursday 2nd & Friday 3rd January 2025: Resuming Regularity
The public transport service eases back into its typical rhythm for the new year. Slight deviations remain, notably the persistent absence of early journeys on specific lines like the 1/A, 5, and 82, but otherwise, regular service resumes.
Saturday 4th January 2025: A Return to Normal
By the first Saturday of the new year, D&G Bus returns to normal service, with all routes anticipated to follow their regular schedules. As the seasonal alterations phase out, passengers can expect business as usual.
As the holiday season approaches, planning your travel on Greater Manchester’s public transport network becomes crucial to ensure smooth travel. Whether you rely on trams, buses, trains, or local links, understanding the festive timetable changes can save you time and effort.
Trams: Schedule Adjustments for the Holidays
During the festive period, trams across Greater Manchester will see varied schedules. Here’s a breakdown:
Christmas Eve (Tuesday, 24 December): Services begin at 6am but wrap up earlier. The last trams will arrive at terminus stops around 9pm. It’s advisable to check the journey planner for precise details.
Christmas Day (Wednesday, 25 December): There will be no tram services available on this day.
Boxing Day to New Year’s Day (26 December - 1 January): Key routes like Altrincham to Etihad Campus and Manchester Airport to Victoria will operate, but peak services on some routes will not. Boxing Day services kick off at 7am, running every 15 minutes until midnight, with Manchester Piccadilly station closed but accessible via Fairfield Street to the Metrolink stop.
Changes on New Year’s Eve (31 December): Services operate every 12 minutes till 1am, with modifications in the late evening to accommodate the City Council’s fireworks at St Peter’s Square. Again, checking the journey planner is recommended for the last tram times.
New Year’s Day (1 January): Services resume at 7am, maintaining a 15-minute frequency throughout the day.
By 2 January, normal tram services resume.
Buses: Modified Services to Keep You Moving
Bus services also experience significant timetable changes through the festive period:
Monday, 23 December: Standard services will run, with some routes on a modified timetable.
Christmas Eve (24 December): Runs mostly on a weekday schedule, with many services ceasing operations from 6pm, although some Bee Network routes continue until 9pm.
Christmas Day (25 December): With the exception of Stagecoach’s service 43, there are no other bus services running.
Boxing Day (26 December): A curated list of routes will run, catering to essential travel needs.
New Year’s Eve (31 December): Similar to Christmas Eve, services will cease running from 6pm, but some Bee Network routes and special late-night services are available until 4am on select routes.
By 2 January, bus services generally return to normal, with some routes still on a modified timetable until 4 January.
Free Bus, Local Link, and Ring & Ride: Special Holiday Schedules
The Free Bus in the City Centre operates daily except Christmas Day and Boxing Day, with alterations on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
Local Link and Ring & Ride services will not operate on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day but run on normal schedules otherwise, with early finish times on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
Trains: Plan Ahead for Amended Timetables
Train travellers should be aware of limited services during the holiday season:
On Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, services will operate until early evening, with reduced frequency and select services winding down earlier than usual.
No train services will operate on Christmas Day or Boxing Day.
From Friday, 27 December, expect amended timetables with potential delays or diversions, especially for routes impacted by engineering works between Leeds and York over the weekend.
Regular scheduling resumes across train services by 2 January.
Customer Contact Centres and Ticket Offices: Operating Hours
For inquiries and support, the Bee Network Customer Contact Centre will be closed on Christmas and New Year’s Day, while other days have varied hours.
Information and ticket offices maintain reduced hours on key dates, with closures on Christmas and Boxing Day.
Conclusion
Preparing for changes in public transport schedules during the festive season can make a significant difference in your travel experience. By noting the specific adjustments in trams, buses, free bus services, trains, and customer support operations, Greater Manchester’s residents and visitors can better plan their journeys and enjoy a stress-free holiday period. Stay informed by frequently checking schedules on official websites and using journey planners to ensure you’re on the right track during this busy time.
As the festive season approaches, many are beginning to plan their travels, and for those relying on Irish Rail, understanding the schedule changes is crucial. This year, Iarnród Éireann has provided an overview of the rail service adjustments throughout the Christmas and New Year period, ensuring passengers are well-informed during this busy travel time.
In the lead-up to Christmas, Irish Rail has scheduled late-night DART and Commuter services to accommodate festive revellers. These services will run on Thursdays through to Saturdays from the 5th to the 7th, the 12th to the 14th, and the 19th to the 21st of December. Additionally, these late services will extend into the wee hours of New Year’s Eve, making post-celebration travel easier.
From Christmas Eve on the 24th of December to New Year’s Day on the 1st of January, there will be revised timetables across all routes. It is worth noting that no trains will operate on Christmas Day or St Stephen’s Day, providing a window for essential engineering works, particularly on the Dublin Connolly to Grand Canal Dock line. These works will necessitate service changes, including bus transfers between certain sections, notably impacting the Rosslare services which will require bus travel between Dublin Connolly and Bray.
On Christmas Eve itself, InterCity services will run with some reductions and alterations with final services departing between roughly 6:00 PM and 8:30 PM. DART and Commuter trains will follow a typical Saturday schedule until around 9:00 PM, after which the last trains to key destinations such as Portlaoise, Maynooth, and Drogheda will depart. The Cork Commuter services are aligned similarly with their last journeys to and from Cobh and Midleton concluding slightly earlier.
Between the 27th of December and the 5th of January, train schedules will persist with variations due to the ongoing engineering works, especially in Dublin’s central rail hubs. Improvements are well underway, necessitating the closure of the Dublin Connolly to Grand Canal Dock line, apart from limited shuttle options allowing for continued travel via alternative arrangements such as bus transfers, with Dublin Bus accommodating rail ticket holders between affected stations.
Moving into the New Year, while January 1st will see continued revisions reflective of the construction efforts, normal service is expected to resume by the 6th of January. For the New Year’s Eve celebrations, additional late-night services have been thoughtfully introduced, primarily departing from Connolly and Pearse stations, offering convenience to those celebrating in Dublin.
It’s essential for passengers to pre-book their InterCity services, especially during peak travel times, to ensure a stress-free journey. With the late-night services leading up to Christmas and the comprehensive timetable adjustments, Irish Rail provides robust solutions to navigate the holiday season while accommodating necessary infrastructure enhancements. Travellers are encouraged to check specific times before departing, especially given the frequent alternations during this period.
This thoughtful planning by Iarnród Éireann aims to blend holiday convenience with infrastructure progress, ensuring that passengers enjoy the festive season while also paving the way for sustained service improvements in the new year. Overall, it’s a time of celebration as well as transformation for Irish Rail as it balances holiday cheer with strategic enhancements to the rail network.
Bus Éireann has unveiled its holiday schedule, outlining service changes that will affect travellers across Ireland during the festive period. Understanding these modifications will help passengers plan their journeys effectively, particularly during critical travel days.
Christmas Eve Service Pattern
December 24 will see a carefully orchestrated reduction in services throughout the day. While the morning begins with normal Tuesday operations, services will gradually wind down as the day progresses. The first major changes affect Expressway routes, with intercity services beginning to conclude from mid-afternoon. The Waterford to Dublin Airport route marks the start of these reductions, with its final departure from Waterford at 14:45, followed by its last Dublin Airport departure at 19:15.
As the afternoon progresses, more routes conclude their service. From Wexford, the last bus departs at 17:00, while Ballina’s final service leaves at 17:15. The Sligo connection makes its last departure at 17:30 from Dublin, with a returning service at 18:15. Western routes, including the Limerick to Killarney service, finish with final departures at 17:35 and 18:00 respectively.
For those travelling later in the evening, the last possible Expressway journeys include the Dublin to Donegal service (changing at Cavan) at 21:30, and the final Dublin to Dundalk Route 100X departing at 21:44. Local services, including city, town, and rural routes, continue until approximately 21:00, with any journey that begins before this time guaranteed to complete its full route.
Christmas Day and St. Stephen’s Day Operations
All services pause completely on Christmas Day. However, St. Stephen’s Day (December 26) sees services resume with alterations to early morning journeys. While most routes begin at 09:00 following a Sunday schedule, several essential early services ensure travellers can reach their destinations.
The earliest departures on St. Stephen’s Day demonstrate Bus Éireann’s commitment to maintaining vital transport links. The Expressway network leads the way, with the first bus leaving Donegal at 04:00. Local services follow shortly after, with Route 190 departing Athlone at 05:20, and both Shannon Airport connections (Routes 330 and 343) beginning at 06:00.
Year-End Travel
The period between Christmas and New Year sees a return to regular service patterns from December 27 through December 31. New Year’s Day introduces another modified schedule, operating Sunday service levels before returning to normal operations on January 2.
Planning Recommendations
For passengers planning Christmas Eve travel, understanding the graduated reduction in services is crucial. Those needing to make longer journeys should aim for morning or early afternoon departures to ensure they reach their destinations. The systematic wind-down of services means that later connections may not be available on usual routes.
St. Stephen’s Day travellers benefit from early morning options but should note that services operate on a Sunday schedule. This means reduced frequency compared to weekday service, even though early morning connections are maintained on key routes.
From October 25th, Bus Éireann is introducing revised timetables for its Expressway Route 13 and Route 14 services, which operate between Limerick, Tralee and Killarney. The changes aim to improve reliability and punctuality by adjusting departure times according to traffic conditions. A new Sunday morning departure from Tralee to Limerick has been added, and some weekday and Sunday journeys have been withdrawn. Discounted online fares are available until the end of November and customers are encouraged to book tickets in advance to secure their seats.
18:47, October 9th, 2026
The National Transport Authority, in partnership with Clare County Council, has introduced a new Ennis Town Bus Service, which will begin operating on 18th October 2026 as part of the Transport for Ireland network. The service includes two routes, NS1 and NS2, connecting key areas of Ennis such as the town centre, Ennis Hospital, Ennis Bus and Rail Station and surrounding residential areas. Both routes operate every 30 minutes throughout the day, with a 15-minute frequency along a shared central section and run from early morning until late at night.
The buses are low-floor, fully accessible and high capacity. Standard fares apply, with discounts available for Leap card users and free travel for certain groups. This development is part of the NTA’s Town Bus Programme, which seeks to provide sustainable and accessible public transport in regional towns across Ireland.
Posted on December 18th, 2024
