Carlow town bus service thrives, but not everyone’s happy
Carlow town bus service has been a remarkable success story, but the promised review hasn't happened
Two years after launching to unprecedented success, Carlow’s town bus service has carried over 400,000 passengers in the first year alone, but questions remain about expansion plans, electric buses and access to key destinations.
Carlow Town Bus Services CW1 and CW2 have proven to be a resounding success since their launch in late July 2023, with the National Transport Authority (NTA) reporting over 400,000 passenger journeys in 2024 alone – averaging almost 1,100 trips per day.
The service has exceeded all expectations, with cllr Andrea Dalton describing how Carlow’s bus was reportedly “the most successful implementation of a bus service in Ireland and the strongest uptake of a bus service” during its first year, adding that she thinks it has been “a phenomenal success”.
Independent research by marketing consultants Ipsos B&A reveals the depth of the service’s impact on the local community. An impressive 85% of users rely on the service more than once a week, with 38% stating they couldn’t have made their trips without it. The service has particularly resonated with younger demographics, students and women.
The buses serve multiple purposes, with 27% using them to commute to education or training, 26% for work commutes and many others for shopping and social activities. Significantly, 72% of users report being “a lot more likely to visit the town centre” since the service became available.
Local businesses have noticed the positive impact, with anecdotal reports of increased weekday footfall as older residents can now access the town centre independently rather than waiting for weekend assistance from family members.
Despite the success, significant gaps remain in the service. The initial route planning covered 94% of Carlow’s population within 800 metres of a bus stop, yet several areas remain underserved.
Commenting on social media, residents have been calling for stops at key destinations, including Carlow Train Station and Tesco, with one user commenting that the lack of train station access is particularly difficult “for not-as-able-bodied people who find the hill on the Station Road difficult”.
Graiguecullen residents have been particularly vocal about limited coverage, with calls for service extensions to areas near St Fiacc’s National School and Aldi. The Four Lakes retail park and Castle Oaks housing development also lack direct access despite their significant populations.
“Even just to review what’s there, little tweaks that could be made. For example, one route goes out to MSD, but it comes onto the Dublin Road and takes a right to get there. If it went left first up to Castle Oaks and then went back out to MSD, it would take in the whole of Castle Oaks, which is a huge population area, and the Four Lakes retail park, too,” said cllr Dalton.
At the heart of current frustrations is the absence of a promised comprehensive review. Cllr Dalton noted that “when we got the bus service, we were told it would be reviewed after a year and that review hasn’t happened”.
The NTA committed to this review at the service’s launch, with particular focus on route optimisation and potential expansion. However, two years later, the review has yet to materialise.
“It’s only until it’s reviewed that we’ll know how we can improve it,” cllr Dalton explained to , suggesting potential improvements, including covering more of Graiguecullen and extending towards Monacurragh and the Athy Road.
Another source of disappointment has been the failure to deliver on promised electric buses. Instead of the environmentally friendly fleet initially promised, Carlow received older diesel buses that cllr Dalton described at a recent council meeting as “cast-offs from Athlone”.
This has created particular frustration, given that Athlone, a smaller town than Carlow, operates a fully electric bus service. Cllr Ken Murnane noted this disparity at the same council meeting, emphasising that the NTA had committed to electric buses at the launch.
Despite these challenges, there are signs of potential progress. Director of services Kieran Cullinane confirmed recently that discussions are ongoing regarding bus access to the train station, although this remains subject to funding and planning permission from Iarnród Éireann.
The NTA maintains that it “continuously monitors all town bus services, making timetable and route alterations as appropriate, subject to resources and funding being available”. However, NTA communications officer Aoife Smith confirmed to that there are “no immediate plans for an additional Carlow town bus route”.
User satisfaction remains remarkably high, despite the service gaps. The Ipsos B&A research found that 41% of users rate the service as excellent, with only one in ten rating it as poor. The primary improvement request from 57% of users is more frequent services.
As the second anniversary approaches, the Carlow town bus service stands as both a remarkable success story and a reminder of unfulfilled promises. With over 400,000 journeys completed in the first year and strong community support, the foundation for expansion appears solid – if the political will and funding can be secured to deliver on the original commitments.
