Cork city to see major boost in buses from February as service reductions to lift on some routes
Cork city will have nearly 700 more buses a week across four of its five high frequency services from the beginning of next month, Bus Éireann has announced. Picture Larry Cummins
Cork city will have nearly 700 more buses a week across four of its five high frequency services from the beginning of next month, Bus Éireann has announced.
Following the introduction of reduced frequency timetables on a number of routes in Cork city in October due to driver recruitment challenges, the company has announced a resumption of full timetabled scheduled services for routes 202/202A, 205 and 208 from Sunday, February 2.
This will mark exactly 15 weeks since the changes were implemented, despite a commitment to unions that the service reductions would be lifted in 12 weeks.
Services will not yet return to their previous timetable on the 220 service, as it “is currently undergoing a timetable review which will address the punctuality and reliability issues on this key route”.
For now, the route will remain operating as per the current timetable, and Bus Éireann anticipate a new 220 service timetable will be in place by late April.
The 24 hour route 220 went from every 15 minutes to every 20, a total of 174 less buses a week.
However, 698 buses will be back from February 2, as the 202 and 202A will return to every 20 minutes from every 30 minutes; the 205 will return to every 15 minutes from every 20 minutes and the route 208 will return to every 10 minutes from every 15 minutes.
Bus Éireann shared: “As a result of ongoing intensive recruitment efforts, we have developed a strong pipeline ing our driver training school and are now at a point where we can resume full service on the 202/202A, 205 and 208 routes,” though did not specify how many drivers they had hired.
The company said that they will continue to work with all stakeholders to secure additional bus prioritisation measures, and are working closely with the National Transport Authority (NTA) to facilitate the rollout of BusConnects Cork.
They added: “We would like to apologise to our customers for any inconvenience caused over the last number of months.” Cork city transport chair, Labour councillor Peter Horgan welcomed the resumption of the 202, 208 and the 205 routes, but said: “I have significant concerns now that the most used route in Cork, the 220, which has seen the most impact in my view with service reduction, now will not be known until April.
“This was our marquee route - the first 24 hour bus route in the country - [with] enger number topping over three million in 2023. The desire is there for this route and more.
“Current bus commuters and potential bus commuters are now let down by this sop of a timetable review as congestion mounts daily.”
Sinn Féin TD for Cork North Central, Thomas Gould, said: “I am deeply frustrated that, despite multiple questions to Bus Éireann, we still don’t know how many drivers they are short or how they expect bus drivers to deliver the impossible timetables they have set.
“Without knowing the status of recruitment and with no changes to unrealistic timetables, I am very sceptical.”
He added: “We are still awaiting an update on the app. People tell me it is as unreliable as ever but we were given a commitment by the NTA that these issues would also be resolved.
“Alongside this, the 220 will remain on a reduced timetable until April.
“This is one of the busiest buses in Cork and we are now regularly seeing full buses drive past stops in Ballincollig.
“I cannot understand why timetable changes would take over a year to complete. I was told these were happening in December 2023.”
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