Bus Éireann, NTA to discuss public transport, rail freight links with Joint Committee on Rural and Community Development

The witnesses scheduled to speak at 10:30 a.m. in Committee Room 4 are:

• Anne Graham, chief executive officer of the National Transport Authority, and
• Ray Hernan, chief executive of Bus Éireann.

Topics for discussion include:

• limited provision of bus services, including LocalLink, in rural areas;
• poor connectivity between rural bus and rail services;
• modernising and simplifying fare structures, and
• developing heavy rail connections and “inter-modal” capabilities for transferring freight at Dublin and Shannon airports.

The Committee is particularly concerned that the Ballina-Waterford rail freight service closed in May. Wednesday’s meeting will consider how to boost rail freight as part of Ireland’s climate change mitigation programme.

 “Protecting and revitalising rural Ireland means we must, as a nation, invest more in making our public transportation network a viable option for every town and village in Ireland. Too often this is simply not reality and citizens can experience unacceptable delays and extra expenses due to poor connectivity,” said Committee Chairman Joe Carey.

“The Committee is determined to identify new opportunities for developing and funding services that allow residents of towns, villages and rural areas to access bus and rail routes that link properly together,” Deputy Carey said. “A top priority must be to reduce people’s reliance on private cars to reach our airports, given that their only other option in many cases is a much slower journey involving multiple transfers and taxis.”

The meeting can be viewed live here. 

It also can be viewed live on Android and Apple devices using the Houses of the Oireachtas app.