Future of Cork city 203 bus route questioned after incidents

Persistent issues with the 203 bus have seen stones thrown through the window and drivers racially abused or threatened with physical violence, as a union rep says there are concerns that the whole route will need to be re-evaluated.

At the end of last month, the back window of one bus was reportedly smashed by a stone.

The 203 route runs from Manor Farm, down Pouladuff Rd to Patrick St, then heads north down Coburg St, through Blackpool and Fair Hill before terminating at Parklands Drive.

A Garda spokesperson told The Echo that an investigation was ongoing into “an incident of criminal damage that occurred in the Parklands Drive area, Cork city, on Friday, January 31, 2025, at approximately 7pm on a bus.”

National Bus and Rail Union’s (NBRU) general secretary Dermot O’Leary told The Echo: “It is, unfortunately, an ongoing issue.

“Our reps are talking to the company,” he said, adding that for people in Farranree, the service was curtailed on the night of Wednesday, February 5, at Blackpool Shopping Centre.

“Despite our members’ best efforts to provide a public service, the route may have to be looked at in its entirety.

“It’s more than just stone-throwing, there’s racial abuse and threats of physical violence, now we are running the risk that there will be no service,” 

Mr O’Leary said. “Transport police needs to be looked at; we had a commitment in the programme for government, and we need to see it implemented in Cork soon.”

Mr O’Leary claimed that it is largely the same people causing repeated problems, saying: “There’s definitely a role for the gardaí here, but they can’t be everywhere all the time.”

Andrew Quigley, who represents Bus Éireann Siptu workers, said: “There have been a few incidents, and ongoing antisocial behaviour issues on that particular route. A female bus driver was verbally threatened and abused whilst in service and that did result in services being suspended for a period of time on Wednesday [February 5].”

Mr Quigley also claimed that it is the “same perpetrators all the time”, adding that the company is liaising with the trade union and seeking meetings with gardaí about the issue, and that they will continue working to address the problem.

Bus Éireann told The Echo: “There has been no reduced timetable or route curtailments introduced to the 203 service.”

It added: “In the rare event that there is a need to curtail services due to an incident of unacceptable or criminal behaviour and related risks to others, then we make that regrettable but necessary decision to curtail services for a defined period.

“The safety of our passengers and staff is of paramount importance to Bus Éireann and any incidents reported are taken very seriously and are fully investigated.”

Sinn Féin TD for Cork North Central Thomas Gould met with Bus Éireann management on Friday, and told The Echo: “Bus Éireann have said they are engaging with the gardaí daily.

“They’re not talking about withdrawing any service, but they have to get the protection they need. It’s sad when you have a couple of individuals causing havoc for communities.”