On Trains & Buses

From 17^th April 2025, a new bus route has been introduced linking Knockraha with Cork City, running to Parnell Place Bus Station and calling at places such as Crestfield and Hazelwood Shopping Centres, Glanmire Business Park, Glanmire Community College and John O’Callaghan Park. It replaces the previous Route 214 journeys that served Knockraha and increases provision to a 90-minute frequency with nine return trips each day across weekdays and weekends. The service also strengthens onward connections at Parnell Place and Kent Station for rail services and other bus routes, including the option to change at Kent Station for Route 205 to Cork University Hospital, University College Cork and Munster Technical University.

Bus Éireann has announced enhancements to Dundalk’s town bus service, effective from 13^th April 2025. Routes 174, 174A and 174B will benefit from expanded operating hours, including new early morning and late evening services, with all routes now offering comprehensive Sunday services. The improvements, funded by the National Transport Authority as part of the Transport for Ireland Network, will provide service every thirty minutes on each route, with Route 174 operating between Dundalk Bus Station and Grange Drive Muirheavna, Route 174A connecting the bus station to Fatima, and Route 174B running to Bay Estate.

Bus Éireann has announced adjustments to their Easter travel services for 2025. Services will run as follows: Good Friday will operate a normal Friday service for all Expressway, Commuter, City/Town and Rural routes; Saturday and Sunday will follow their regular schedules; and Easter Monday will operate a Sunday service across all routes.

Changes to D&G Bus services around Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire will come into force from 14^th April 2025. This includes two new weekday services supported by Stoke-on-Trent City Council using the government’s Bus Service Improvement Plan scheme and a withdrawal due to low passenger numbers. In addition, one service, 8A, sees journeys retimed to improve reliability. The new routes are Service 27, serving Bentilee, Meir Hay and Longton and Service 96, which connects Packmoor, Turnhurst, Tunstall and Middleport. Service 40 will be withdrawn after Friday 11^th April due to low passenger numbers, though First Bus will continue to operate Saturday journeys on this route.

Changes are being made to Cheshire East bus services, notably the reintroduced 71, 72 and 73 rural services, which now provide a direct link between Nantwich, Wrenbury, Audlem and Leighton Hospital. Furthermore, the frequency of the northern section of the 391 and 392 services is being increased to run every hour, rather than every two hours, between Poynton and Stockport, following a significant rise in passenger numbers over the past year. These revised and restored services are due to commence on 31 March.

Part of the B5470 between Rainow and Kettleshulme has collapsed, affecting the bus service that passes along this road. Such is the complexity of the situation that no timeline has been given for any resolution.

The result is that High Peak Buses routes 60 and 60A have been divided with one section between Macclesfield and Rainow, and another between Kettleshulme and Hayfield. Only a limited number of through journeys operate between Macclesfield and Hayfield, possibly for commuting and with an extended diversion around by the A537. For now, we have an emergency timetable in operation.

Bus Éireann has announced enhancements to the Sligo town bus services, introducing a new seven-day S3 route from Markievicz Road to Finisklin, along with improvements to the S1 and S2 routes. Starting on Sunday, 2^nd February 2025, Route S1, running from Cartron to Cairns Road, will offer increased evening services from 18:30 to midnight, including additional stops at Hollymount and Clarion Village. Route S2, from Strandhill to Rosses Point, will follow a revised route with new stops at Rosses Point Promenade, Oyster Island, and Wine Street.

Bus Éireann will resume full timetabled services for Cork City Routes 202/202A, 205, and 208 beginning 2^nd February 2025, after reduced frequency timetables were implemented in October 2024 due to driver recruitment challenges. Since then, ongoing recruitment efforts have strengthened the pipeline for the driver training school.

Route 202/202A will return to a 20-minute frequency, Route 205 to every 15 minutes, and Route 208 to every 10 minutes. The 220 service is under review for improvements in punctuality and reliability, with a new timetable anticipated by April 2025.

Expressway, Bus Éireann’s long distance coach service, announces an improved timetable for Route 30 from 26^th January 2025. With thirteen trips each-way daily, the updated schedule offers more frequent and punctual travel. Significant benefits include consistent arrival and departure times, a 10-minute comfort break in Cavan and increased service frequency for Beleek, Bellanaleck, Derrylin and Belturbet, moving from a three-hourly frequency to an hourly one. Passengers will see changes to departure times, with all services operating under the Route 30 pattern, eliminating the X30 route and Butlersbridge being served. The new timetable accommodates varying traffic conditions and operates on a different basis from Monday to Friday versus what happens during weekends and public holidays.

Due to a road closure on the R477 in County Clare, service 350 is temporarily diverted onto the N67 until 14^th March 2025 between Ballyvaughan and Lisdoonvarna. During the diversion, an additional route, numbered 350C, will provide a shuttle service up to four times a day along the R477 between these locations.