Saturday night lights on Cork's only 24-hour bus

As plans to massively increase  public transport capacity gain momentum amid calls for a dedicated transport police service, Ellen O'Regan spends the wee hours of Saturday night on the country's first 24-hour bus route, the 220 from Carrigaline to Ballincollig  in Cork

An early-morning bus picks up passengers on the bridge in Carrigaline, Co Cork. From midnight on  January 13 the Ballincollig to Carrigaline bus service is to become a 24-hour service and will operate on a 30 min/60 minute frequency. Picture: David Creedon

It’s 2am on Saturday night, and a double decker bus trundles down Washington Street in Cork City, carrying a few bleary eyed stragglers. I'm one of them.

A student with an apparent vendetta against Bus Eireann launches an impressive karate kick against my window, toppling himself to the ground.