'Transformative' improvements to be made on more than 20 Cork bus routes  

Potentially “transformative” punctuality and reliability improvements are to be put in place on 21 Cork bus routes over the next four months, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has said.

It stated that the route improvements will be rolled out over April, May, and June.

Driver recruitment and training have been accelerated, and minimum driver levels have been achieved, the NTA said. This follows a period of reduced timetables on certain routes in Cork city last October, “as a result of driver shortage, which was particularly acute in the Cork region”.

Full service frequency

In April, the 220, 220x, and 225L will see improvements, including the 220 returning to full service frequency, as the October reductions are still in effect for this route only.

In May, there will be improvements on the 203, 205, 206, 207, 214, 219, and 31; in June, they will be put in place on the 201, 202, 202a, 207a, 212, 213, 215, 215a, 216, 223, and 223x.

Labour councillor Peter Horgan said that the return to full service on the 220 was welcome, but added: “There’s a massive amount of work for Bus Éireann and the NTA to do to rebuild confidence in the Cork bus network.”

“Many people that I speak with have no confidence now in using public transport as their main method of travel.” He suggested a public relations campaign to encourage people to use the bus, but said it must be underpinned by punctual and reliable buses.

BusConnects

Mr Horgan added: “We now need to look seriously at the drivers needed for BusConnects, and see that introduced.

“Encouraging people onto public transport, reducing traffic numbers — that’s the way to reduce congestion. We also need to see next-gen ticketing fast-tracked in Cork.”

Sinn Féin TD Thomas Gould, who received the figures in response to a parliamentary question, told The Echo he was hopeful that the changes would make a difference, but that they should have been put in place sooner.

“In December 2023, Bus Éireann recognised a need to review certain routes, particularly the 220 and the 214. These timetable changes could be the most transformative intervention in our bus service possible, given current infrastructure. 

"The timetables, as they exist, do not recognise that we live in a modern city that does battle with traffic congestion.”