Black Ash bus hub to boost public transport to Cork Airport, UCC, and hospital
An artist's impression of the proposed bus interchange project at the Black Ash park-and-ride site on Mick Barry Road, off the South City Link Road in Cork city.
Cork City’s first and only public park-and-ride facility is set to become a major bus interchange for new routes that promise better links to the city’s airport, train station, largest hospital and UCC.
The plans for the Black Ash park-and-ride site off the South Link Road are outlined on Friday in a Part 8 planning notice published by Cork City Council in collaboration with the National Transport Authority (NTA).
The notice sets out how the council and NTA plan to adapt the Black Ash to operate as a vast new bus interchange to cater for six additional bus services that are among those proposed as part of the new bus network which was published in 2022 as part of the wider BusConnects Cork project.
If approved, it would see hourly capacity at the Black Ash site more than quadruple — from six bus services an hour to 26.
The park and ride, which recently marked its 20th anniversary, accommodates the 213 service only, which runs on a loop from Black Ash to St Patrick’s Street via Parnell Place and Merchant’s Quay, returning along Grand Parade and the South Mall. It runs six times an hour, Monday to Saturday.
The new BusConnects Cork network promises higher frequency, an extension of bus services to areas currently without a bus service, and easier interchange between bus routes seven days a week.
The planning notice shows how the council and the NTA plan to adapt the Black Ash site by building four new bus bays, new entrance and exit points onto the Mick Barry Road, new bus shelters, seating and sheltered bike parking, as well as new pedestrian paths for passengers using:
- The proposed new Route 6 from Grange Road, Douglas Road to UCC, running every 15 minutes on a two-way loop, via the Black Ash interchange;
- The new Route 13 from Cork Airport to Kent Railway Station, via Black Ash;
- Route 14 running every 15 minutes from Mahon Point, via Black Ash, to Cork University Hospital Route 23, an hourly service from the Old Youghal Road to Ballyphehane, via the interchange;
- Route 42x from Fountainstown/Carrigaline to Kent Station, every hour, via the interchange;
- Route 13b from Kinsale to Kent station, again via the Black Ash interchange.
The interchange has been designed to provide ease of interchange for bus-to-bus users, bike-to-bus and car-to-bus users while enhancing connectivity between the city, county and key locations such as Cork University Hospital, UCC, Cork Airport and Kent Railway Station.
The new routes are due for phased introduction later this year, and early 2026. They are being introduced independently of the strategic transport corridors, for which An Bórd Pleanála approval will be sought later this year.
The 213 park-and-ride bus will continue to operate during the site upgrade works.
Lord Mayor Cllr Dan Boyle welcomed the plan.
“This planned interchange at the upgraded facility will allow passengers to seamlessly, conveniently and safely transfer from one bus route to another or from their car or bike to any of the bus routes providing greater public transport coverage to key destinations across the network,” he said.
Council chief executive, Valerie O’Sullivan, said the interchange is a key element of the wider BusConnects Cork scheme.
“It demonstrates the integrated nature of the wider project which is aimed at providing regular, reliable and integrated public transport services as well as enhanced walking, cycling and bus infrastructure,” she said.
Labour Cllr Peter Horgan, who chairs the council’s transport committee, said the development of a modern interchange hub will help reduce congestion and prioritise public transport.
“I’d encourage the public to engage fully with the proposals which can be a far-reaching new chapter in the Black Ash’s 20 year plus history of public transport provision in Cork,” he said.
But he added: “The model the Black Ash site has used with Virgin Media Musgrave Park matches and concerts should be replicated with significant games in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh and Páirc Uí Rinn and events like Live at the Marquee as well as creating a dedicated transport lane into the city centre.”
The deadline for public submissions on the Part 8 planning notice is April 10, at which point the issues raised will be dealt with in a report to council, where councillors will ultimately vote on whether to proceed with it or not.
