Decision to cancel Galway to Dublin bus route deemed a 'failure by Government'
People Before Profit Galway City Central representative Adrian Curran said public transport in Galway was being 'decimated' under Transport Minister Eamon Ryan and the cutting of public bus routes was 'unsustainable'. Picture: Sasko Lazarov / RollingNews.ie
Aircoach’s decision to cancel its Galway to Dublin route has been described as a "failure by the Government" by People Before Profit Galway candidates.
The termination of the 706/706X route includes the terminus point at Galway Coach Station and all intermediary stops between Galway and Dublin Airport.
Aircoach will exit the route at midnight on April 7.
Bus Éireann cancelled its 20/X20 route, which served Galway to Dublin on July 29, 2021, and Aircoach debuted its 706/706X service on the same day.
A spokesperson for Aircoach told the the route had proven to not be “commercially viable.”
Aircoach managing director Kim Swan said: “It is with regret that we intend to exit the Dublin to Galway route in its current form.
“In the meantime, we wish to express our gratitude to all our valued customers, dedicated employees and relevant stakeholders who enable the daily functioning of this route.”
People Before Profit Galway City Central representative Adrian Curran said public transport in Galway was being "decimated" under Transport Minister Eamon Ryan and the cutting of public bus routes was "unsustainable".
“The Bus Éireann 20/X20 route was cancelled in 2021, effectively privatising a public bus route, and a successor operating route by a private operator has now been cancelled for not being profitable.
“As I argued in 2021, this is a further illustration of public transport in Galway being decimated on Eamon Ryan’s watch, and we are now seeing the consequences of this for communities and climate.”
People Before Profit candidate for Ballinasloe Andrew Mannion is disappointed to see the town lose another form of public transport and believes the Aircoach option was an “unacceptable” alternative to the Bus Éireann Expressway service it replaced in 2021.
”The 20 and X20 Bus Éireann Expressway routes had been eroded for many years prior to being cancelled, with the stop in Creagh closed in 2018,” Mr Mannion said.
“The Aircoach 706x service was already an unacceptable replacement for the Bus Éireann Expressway routes when they were scrapped in 2021, leaving Ballinasloe with a reduced service and Aughrim with no service.”
Mr Mannion said commuters would have no choice but to use cars as a mode of transport, which is littered with “irony” under a Green Party Transport Minister.
“The Government should respond to the climate emergency by investing in free, frequent and fast public transport between towns like Ballinasloe and Loughrea, villages like Kilreekle and Aughrim, and major urban centres like Dublin and Galway, all of which were served by the former Bus Éireann routes.
“This will improve connectivity, reduce emissions, cut journey times, reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality,” Mr Mannion added.
It is understood there is no real threat to the Cork to Dublin Aircoach route.
A spokesperson for Aircoach said customers with existing bookings to travel on April 8 or thereafter will be individually contacted and alternative travel options provided by competitors are available along the Galway to Dublin route.
The only Galway to Dublin bus available to commuters from April 8 will be the Citylink Route 763 service.
