Bus Éireann to review adding a stop to busy north Cork town

Bus Éireann is to undertake a review of its number 40 expressway service with a view to potentially establishing an additional stop for the town of Macroom.

The 40 expressway Bus Éireann service connects the southeast and southwest of Ireland, running both directions from Tralee to Rosslare, stopping in between at locations including Waterford and Killarney, with a stop also in Cork city centre.

Currently the 40-expressway service stops in the centre of Macroom town at the main bus station.

Cork Fine Gael county councillor Ted Lucey is calling for the No 40 Bus Éireann express service to now also include another stop for Macroom in the Millstreet road area of the town. 

Mr Lucey is campaigning for this new stop for the expressway service in Macroom because of the proximity of the new Millstreet road bus stop to the new N22 bypass.

ACCOMMODATE

Mr Lucey also feels a stop of the Millstreet road for the expressway service would accommodate the increasing number of residents living in that particular area.

A spoksperson from Bus Éireann told The Echo: “All expressway routes are subject to ongoing commercial and operational review as part of normal business planning.

“In relation to the proposed stop on Millstreet Road, Macroom, this proposal from Cork County Council is currently being progressed in conjunction with the National Transport Authority.

“Any changes to licensed commercial services are subject to regulatory scrutiny and approval by the NTA, in line with the conditions set out under the commercial licence framework.”

Bus Éireann is to provide a further update on the outcome of the discussions between themselves and the NTA in next few weeks to the Macroom municipal district officer Marie O’Leary.

Mr Lucey told The Echo: “There is a bus stop up there on the Millstreet road in Macroom for the last 12 months.

“I fought for a number of years to get it because half of the population of the town are living up there. We got that bus stop, which is being used.

“But since the bypass change, the number 40 express bus is coming off the bypass and down the Millstreet road.

“I brought it up a number of months ago about would the council write to the TII and would the express bus stop there.”

Mr Lucey added: “It is great that they are reviewing it. If that comes through it would be great for that side of the town because that is the only other bus stop in Macroom, besides the main bus station itself.

“Now the service is there and all it is now is just to agree to stop there. If there is people there, to pick them up and continue on.”