Changes to Bus Eireann services announced
Bus Éireann in conjunction with the National Transport Authority has announced the introduction of an enhanced bus service along the M3 Corridor and in particular the towns of Dunshaughlin, Navan, Kells, Virginia and Cavan,to come into effect on 17th September. This follows the Bus Éireann/National Transport Authority review of services along the M3 Corridor and takes account of the feedback received from members of the public.
Bus Eireann posted the following details of the changes on its website:
This service change will see the current Route 109: Cavan – Virginia – Kells – Navan – Dunshaughlin – Dublin divided into three separate routes which will individually focus on certain sections of the corridor to provide an enhanced service offering including higher frequency, longer operating hours and quicker journey times to all our customers along the whole corridor. These changes will complement the improvements introduced on Route 109a: Kells – Navan – Dunshaughlin – Ratoath – Ashbourne – Dublin Airport – DCU – City Centre during the second half of 2016 and deliver a 24/7 bus service from Kells, Navan & Dunshaughlin to/from the city centre.
Route 109: Kells – Navan – Dunshaughlin – Bracetown – Navan Rd - City Centre
This service will follow the routing of the current Route 109 and will provide an hourly service linking Kells to the City Centre via the R147 via Navan, Dunshaughlin, Clonee, Blanchardstown & the Navan Rd terminating at Busaras. Additional services will operate in the morning & evening peak with some of these services extended to UCD.
Route 109X: Cavan – Virginia – Kells – M3 Motorway – City Centre
This service will follow the routing of the current Route 109 between Cavan and Kells before accessing the M3 Motorway south of Kells to continue its journey to the city stopping at Blanchardstown before entering the city via the Finglas QBC & O’Connell St before terminating at Busaras. This service will operate an hourly frequency from 04.45 from Cavan until 22.45 from the city centre. Additional services will operate in the morning & evening peak.
Route NX: Navan – M3 Motorway – City Centre – Wilton Terrace
This service will provide a fast, frequent and regular service from Navan to both the city centre and south city business zone. It will operate an extended routing in Navan to better serve residential areas before accessing the M3 Motorway to continue its journey to the city centre stopping at Blanchardstown before entering the city via the Finglas QBC, & O’Connell St before terminating at Wilton Terrace close to Leeson St. The service will operate every 20 mins from 05.40 until 20.00 and then every 30mins until last service at 23.30
Route 109a: Kells – Navan – Dunshaughlin – Ratoath – Ashbourne – Dublin Airport
This route will continue to operate as at present and provide an hourly service 24/7
A summary of how these service enhancements will impact on your individual towns is outlined:
Navan
Navan to the City Centre – Your main service will be Route NX which will provide 98 daily services to/from the City Centre. Combined with Route 109a this will provide a 24/7 public transport link to the city.
Route 109 will continue to provide an hourly link to the City Centre via the R147.
Local linkages to Kells & Dunshaughlin – Route 109 & 109a will provide a service every 30mins for local trips between these towns and locations in between.
Dublin Airport – Route 109a will continue to provide an hourly service to Ratoath, Ashbourne & Dublin Airport 24/7
Dunshaughlin
Dunshaughlin to the City Centre – Your service to the city will be provided by Route 109 & 109B which will provide a service every 30mins throughout the day
Local linkages to Kells & Navan – Route 109 & 109a will provide a service every 30mins for local trips between these towns and locations in between.
Dublin Airport – Route 109a will continue to provide a service every 60 mins to/from Ratoath, Ashbourne & Dublin Airport 24/7
Kells
Kells to the City Centre – Your service to the city will be provided by Route 109 & 109x which will provide a service every 30 mins throughout the day to/from the city centre
Local linkages to Navan & Dunshaughlin – Route 109 & 109a will provide a service every 30mins for local trips between these towns and locations in between.
Dublin Airport – Route 109a will continue to provide a service every 60 mins to/from Ratoath, Ashbourne & Dublin Airport 24/7
Cavan & Virginia
Cavan & Virginia to the City Centre – Your service to the city will be provided by Route 109X which will provide a service every 60 mins throughout the day to/from the city centre with earlier and later departures.
The departure times from Cavan & Dublin will now be at 00.45 mins to the hour
Local linkages to Navan & Dunshaughlin – A limited number of Route 109x services will operate via Navan and at other times you can interchange onto Route 109 & 109a at Kells which will provide a service every 30mins for local trips between these towns and locations in between.
Services to the Mater Hospital
As part of these service changes Route 109, 109x & XN will provide enhanced linkages to the Mater Hospital. However the location of stops for certain services will change:
Route 109 – This service will continue to serve the stops at Berkeley Rd & North Circular Rd.
Route 109X – This closest inbound stop to the Mater Hospital will be Phibsboro & outbound at Lower Dorset St. Both stops are a short walk to the hospital
Route NX – This closest inbound stop to the Mater Hospital will be Phibsboro & outbound at Lower Dorset St. Both stops are a short walk to the hospital
Services to Third Level Colleges
All Route will provide close connectivity to numerous third level colleges including the following
Dublin City University – Route 109a operates directly to the university from Kells, Navan & Dunshaughlin. Customers from Cavan & Virginia can interchange onto this route in Kells.
Blanchardstown Institute of Technology – Route 109, 109x & NX all serve the Blanchardstown Slip Rd stop which is a short walk from the college.
Trinity College – Route NX stops at Westland Row adjacent to the University
University College Dublin – Certain Route 109 & 109x peak hour services operate direct to the campus
Dublin Institute of Technology – Route 109x & NX stop at Broadstone a short walk to both the Bolton St & Grangegorman Campuses, while all 3 routes stop at O’Connell St close to the Cathal Brugha Street Campus
All our city centre stops are located close to Dublin Bus & Luas stops to facilitate interchange on these services to travel to other third level institutions
If you have any feedback in relation to the revised service offering please forward your comments to customercare@buseireann.ie
Bus Éireann would like to thank our customers for their continued support of the public transport network along the M3 Corridor and we look forward to welcoming you on board our improved services in the near future.
The service enhancements on Route’s 109, 109X & NX will be introduced on Sunday, 17 September 2017 and have been approved by the National Transport Authority.