New bus service between Cavan and Kells launched

A NEW bus service between Cavan and Kells extending to Baile Ghib will be operational from 21st October.

This service is part of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan which is a major national public transport initiative developed and funded by the National Transport Authority (NTA.

Route 186 will provide six daily return services to Kells, including three return trips from Monday to Thursday that extend to Baile Ghib. On Fridays and Saturdays, there will be eight daily return services, with four of those extending to Baile Ghib.

Additionally, on Sundays and Public Holidays, the route will operate three daily return services, all of which extend to Baile Ghib.

The new route will improve connectivity to the towns and villages of Kells, Moynalty, Mullagh, Virginia, Ballyjamesduff and Cross Keys. It will also offer peak-time and evening services for passengers and connectivity to Cavan Town, Cavan Bus Station and regional bus services.

The new route connects Baile Ghib and Cross Keys to the public transport network for the first time and offers a new direct route from Ballyjamesduff and Mullagh to Cavan.

Speaking ahead of the launch, TFI Local Link Cavan Monaghan Manager Padraic Smyth said: “We are very aware that this particular route has been in demand for quite some time, and are delighted that the collaborative work between ourselves and the NTA has now resulted in this new service. We are looking forward to seeing the success of the service as it develops and hope that all of the communities along the route will benefit, as we believe that this type of connectivity will help sustain these areas.”

Meanwhile, Navan Cllr Emer Tóibín has hit out at the plight of bus users who have to stand in all weathers without the protection of bus shelters.

Aontú Cllr Tóibín who has been calling for the provision of more bus shelters at certain bus stops in the town for the past 5 years, but says that she and the beleaguered public are becoming “more and more frustrated as the wheels of progress on this important piece of infrastructure grind ever so slowly”.

“Two bus stops at the Ardboyne Hotel, Navan are conspicuous by the absence of a bus shelter. These stops are the collection, and drop-off stops for Bus Éireann routes 109, 109A and various private buses and coaches going to and coming from Dunshaughlin Community College, Maynooth University and Dunboyne College of Further Education”.

“Large numbers of passengers are to be seen daily standing at these stops and it exemplifies poor planning by the NTA and Meath County Council that despite all the focus and funding on active travel and public transport, service users must wait for buses, often in the rain, without shelter”.

“According to a response from the NTA, each local authority is being requested to prepare a prioritised programme of bus stop enhancements in their administrative area for design and delivery on a phased basis.

“The NTA is now engaged with individual local authorities in relation to the development of their programmes for 2024 and subsequent years. The council is charged with carrying out preparatory works like kerb and footpath changes, road markings and underground services. Through a central supply contract, the NTA will provide the bus shelter to the local authority and will also make available the NTA’s bus shelter contractor to undertake its installation and to maintain the bus shelter subsequently”.