Withdrawal of bus route 4 ‘showed total disregard for its customers’

A GOVERNMENT minister has said that the withdrawal of Expressway route 4, which used to run from Dublin Airport to Waterford, via Carlow, had reduced capacity and connectivity between Carlow and Waterford.

Jerry Buttimer TD, the minister of state at the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, also accepted that communication with passengers about the route changes and replacement buses has been inadequate.

The minister was replying to Carlow/Kilkenny TD John McGuinness’s calls for the restoration of the Route 4 Expressway Service after he claimed that the replacement arrangements had failed to address the needs of communities throughout south Kilkenny and the wider region.

Speaking in the Dáil, deputy McGuinness said that he had attended several public meetings in recent weeks, including a large meeting in Mullinavat, where residents had expressed their anger and frustration at the loss of the service and the failure for the National Transport Authority (NTA) and Bus Éireann to properly engage with those affected.

“The people who rely on this route every day have simply been ignored,” deputy McGuinness told the Dáil.

Deputy McGuinness said that the interim TFI 365 bus service from Waterford to Carlow does not replace the convenience and accessibility of the former route.

“People are now expected to change buses in Carlow, creating additional inconvenience, uncertainty and longer journey times. That is not what passengers had before and it is certainly not the level of public transport rural communities deserve.” Deputy McGuinness also criticised the way the service was withdrawn.

“Bus Éireann showed a total disregard for its customers in the way this decision was made and communicated. People were given little explanation and no meaningful opportunity to have their concerns heard before the route disappeared.” 

In response, the minister committed to raising deputy McGuinness’s concerns directly with the National Transport Authority and confirmed that if the replacement route 365 service does not meet passengers’ needs, the situation would have to be reviewed.

Deputy McGuinness welcomed the minister’s acknowledgement but said the government must now ensure that action follows.

“The government continues to encourage people to leave their cars at home and use public transport in order to reduce emissions. Yet removing well-used rural bus services runs completely contrary to that objective.” 

Deputy McGuinness said he will continue pressing both the government and the National Transport Authority until a satisfactory solution is delivered.