Bus Eireann has announced that some of the evening services connecting multiple South Galway towns will be restored from Friday.
Last month Bus Eireann announced that it was cutting back evening and night time buses on Expressway Route 51 Galway – Cork, which serves the city, Oranmore, Clarinbridge, Kilcolgan, Adrahan, Labane, and Gort.
From Friday, June 25, that route will be partially restored to the levels in place before the cutback, due to increased demand as restrictions ease.
The last bus from Galway City will now leave at 7:05pm, and addition of one evening bus to the 5:05pm cut off point in the reduced timetable.
Coming from the other direction, the last bus leaving Gort remains at 7:55pm in the evening.
“As demand increases with the reopening of society, and with greater opportunities to work and socialise, we know this late service from Galway is important particularly to people in south Galway and Clare.”
“We have worked with the National Transport Authority and are glad to reinstate this trip as the safe reopening of society continues,” said Brian Connolly, Western Region Operations Manager, Bus Éireann.
Concerns were raised by local politicians about Bus Eireann’s decision last month, with Ciaran Cannon describing it as mystifying, and saying that it would leave large areas of south Galway without any connection to the city in the evening time.
Brian Connolly said this week that it was always intended that these “necessary temporary suspensions” would be reviewed based on the demand for the route.
Buses are still only permitted to go to 50% capacity due to COVID-19 social distancing requirements, meaning they can carry up to 23 people, depending on the vehicle in use.
Guaranteed seat booking for this service will be available at expressway.ie within a week of resumption, and is currently live for all other Route 51 services.
The new timetable for Expressway Route 51, effective from Friday, is:
