TD calls on Bus Eireann to reverse route changes

A Meath TD has called on Bus Eireann to reverse proposed changes to Route 105 which will see services terminate at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, and will no longer bring commuters from Duleek, Kentstown, Ashbourne and Ratoath into Dublin city centre.
Ratoath Fine Gael TD Regina Doherty said it was “absolutely ludicrous” for Bus Eireann to make proposed changes to the route which will see hundreds of Meath people unable to travel directly to Dublin city centre every day.
“I am also beyond disappointed that Bus Eireann appears to have failed to adequately communicate these proposed changes to their customers,” she said.
She added that time was of the essence and she had requested a meeting with Bus Eireann as a matter of utmost urgency to call for the reversal of the proposed changes to route 105.
“Commuters who travel seven days a week on this Bus Eireann service consist of students, professionals and old age pensioners; should these changes be implemented, hundreds of passengers will essentially be left stranded at Connolly Hospital every day,” she claimed.
A Bus Éireann spokesperson said the changes follow a review of services on the N2 corridor carried out in conjunction with the National Transport Authority (NTA) in recent months, taking account of changing travel patterns, customer feedback and the changing demographic profile of both Ashbourne and Ratoath.
The changes are to be implemented in the first quarter of this year and the spokesperson said changes will be communicated to customers well in advance with leaflet drops to houses, customer notices on all vehicles, Bus Eireann website, social media and local media.

Route 103 (Ratoath – Ashbourne - Dublin)
On Route 103 all services will now serve Ratoath providing a bus every 20 minutes from Ratoath to Dublin City via Finglas.
A greater part of Ratoath will be served such as Steeplechase and all buses will be double-deckers.
A revised route will operate in the city centre via Phibsboro, Constitution Hill and O’Connell Street. The route will also operate to/from Townsend Street, close to Trinity College.
A Route 103X limited stop service will operate in the morning and evening peak periods providing a direct service from Duleek, Kilmoon and Ashbourne to the city centre and onwards to UCD.
Local connectivity from Duleek and Kilmoon will be provided by an enhanced Route 105 service which will provide frequent connections to Dublin at Ashbourne

Route 105 (Drogheda – Duleek – Kentstown – Ashbourne – Ratoath – Blanchardstown – Connolly Hospital)
Route 105 will no longer operate to the city centre in its current format. It will be replaced by a service that will operate between Drogheda and Connolly Hospital. There will be an hourly service linking Drogheda to Connolly Hospital via Duleek, Kentstown, Ashbourne, Ratoath and Dunboyne as well as a 30min service linking Ashbourne to Connolly Hospital via Ratoath and Dunboyne.
A Route 105X limited stop service is planned in the morning and evening peak periods providing a direct service from Ashbourne and Ratoath to the city centre and onwards to UCD via the M3 corridor.
“The revised Route 105 will provide a greater range of local links connecting customers to employment, retail, education and health facilities, in Blanchardstown as well as north Meath and Drogheda, as well as facilitating interchange onto Route 103 in Ashbourne,” the Bus Éireann spokesperson said.

The current service from Kentstown to Dublin will be maintained but will be supplemented by a revised Route 105 which will provide an hourly service to both Ashbourne and Drogheda.