Cork Bus Éireann passenger numbers increased by 27% last year

PASSENGER numbers on Bus Éireann routes in Cork City and county increased by 27% last year compared to 2022, according to the National Transport Authority (NTA). Passenger numbers exceed pre-pandemic levels.

In 2023, 17.7m passenger journeys were recorded on the bus routes in the city and county, compared to 13.9m in 2022, 8.7m in 2021, and 8.3m in 2020.

Meanwhile, passenger numbers in 2019 were 16.8m.

Labour Party candidate in the city’s South East ward Peter Horgan said it was good that patronage on Cork buses had exceeded the pre-pandemic figures, but he urged more progress for Cork public transport, including a speedier roll-out of next-generation ticketing.

“We have a congestion crisis in Cork City and in the suburbs,” Mr Horgan said.

“It’s great to see votes of confidence in our public transport bus network, but we need to do more.

“And we need to do more faster.

“Digital next-gen ticketing is here and it shouldn’t take a year for the fleet to be fitted with the capability that is second nature in most European public transport hubs,” he said.

Mr Horgan reiterated his call for a €9 climate ticket —which would give people unlimited usage of public transport anywhere in Ireland for €9 a month — to be trialled in Cork.

The introduction of a climate ticket has been sought by the Labour Party in its recent alternative budgets.

“If introduced, our climate ticket would help people make the move to public transport, save costs on fuel, and help Ireland meet our emission targets,” Mr Horgan said.

“Imagine the impact that would have in Cork City of reducing the traffic jams.

“It’s not anti-car, it’s pro-commuter to help with costs and ensure they are supported,” Mr Horgan said.

Separately, Honore Kamegni, the Green Party local-election candidate for Cork City South East, has contacted the NTA to request immediate action to improve bus services in the city.

Mr Kamegni shared confirmation from the NTA that they are working with Bus Éireann to assess the feasibility of interim measures that he suggested.

He said, “I would like to share an update on the work I am doing to improve the bus service in the Ballinlough, Ballintemple, Beaumont, Blackrock, Donnybrook, Douglas, Mahon, Maryborough, and Rochestown areas.

“I contacted the National Transport Authority (NTA) to request that interim measures be put in place, with more frequent and reliable buses, particularly in the mornings up to 10am, until the new bus network comes into effect, due in 2025-2026.

“I welcome confirmation from the NTA that they are working with Bus Éireann to assess the implementation of interim measures, focused on improving punctuality, capacity, and reliability for the 220/220x, the 225/226, the 236/237/239 and the 219.”

The Green Party candidate thanked the NTA on behalf of residents and commuters, saying that these improvements “are vital to modernising the transport system to minimise journey times and unlock the development of the many new houses we need”.