PEOPLE from Passage protested outside the Capwell bus depot on Saturday afternoon to highlight ongoing problems with the bus service to and from their area.

Local councillor Michael ‘Frick’ Murphy, who organised the protest, said unreliable buses were having a serious impact on the lives of people in Passage.

“On Friday the bus was supposed to arrive at 11.40am, it arrived at five past 12 and there were about 15 people waiting there,” he said. “There was a no-show the other morning, the 9.20am bus to Passage and then the 9.40am bus from Passage never showed. There was a lady alongside me in the queue last week and she had to phone a taxi, the bus was late and she had to be in work. Another man I know uses the bus to get to hospital and he has been late and missed appointments because of it.”

In a statement to the Evening Echo, Bus Éireann apologised to passengers and said every effort was being made to operate to schedule.

“Route 223 is a high capacity route, which from time to time can experience service disruption. This disruption is mainly due to traffic congestion in the city centre and on approaches to the city,” the statement said.

“Douglas village, for example, is a traffic pinch point, which can be even more challenging in the winter weather conditions as more people take to their cars.”