Cork bus complaints surge past 2,700 as busiest routes hit by delays and cancellations

Key Cork routes plagued by delays and cancellations as pressure mounts for urgent improvements to city’s bus network

The 214 CUH to Glyntown in Glanmire via Patrick St, which is also a major route for students and workers, saw 209 complaint. Picture Larry Cummins

The transport minister said he is “acutely aware” of concerns around public transport in Cork City, after figures showed that there were more than 2,700 complaints in just 12 months.

The most troubled route, with 317 complaints, was the 208 Ashmount to Curraheen, which journeys through the heart of Cork’s northside, and is a major mode of transport for students of University College Cork (UCC) and Munster Technological University (MTU), and patients and staff of Cork University Hospital (CUH).

The 220 Ballincollig/Douglas/Carrigaline route, which is one of the most used in the city and surrounding areas, had 245 complaints, while the 215 Mahon Point to Cloghroe route had 240 complaints.

The 214 CUH to Glyntown in Glanmire via Patrick St, which is also a major route for students and workers, saw 209 complaints — backing up anecdotal evidence on local online community forums, which have outlined countless examples of work and college days being ruined for weary passengers because of its unreliability.

The 203 from Manor Farm in the southside to Parklands in the northside had 190 complaints.

The figures were released to Sinn Féin TD for Cork North Central, Thomas Gould. He said that the number of complaints showed a transport system which was “not functioning”.

“The crisis in Cork City’s bus service has jumped from chaos to catastrophe over the last two years. I cannot count how many times I have heard of people left waiting at bus stops for ghost buses or for hours on end because of cancellations.

“People missing appointments, work, education and important events because of a bus service that cannot meet the demand.

“No service that receives more than 2,000 complaints in 12 months is functioning. Every single route received complaints, with the 208 receiving more than one complaint a day. How is that acceptable?” he said.

The most troubled route, with 317 complaints, was the 208 Ashmount to Curraheen, which journeys through the heart of Cork’s northside. Picture Larry Cummins

In response, the Department of Transport said that minister Darragh O’Brien was “acutely aware” of the pressures on commuters in Cork, which he said, “has been experiencing significant reliability issues for a combination of reasons including driver availability, mechanical, and traffic congestion issues”.

The department said that the minister has responsibility for “policy and overall funding in relation to public transport”, but the day-to-day operations of public transport lie with the National Transport Authority.

Figures provided to the Public Accounts Committee last month showed that Bus Éireann was penalised more than €735,000 for poor punctuality within Cork City.

In an update to the committee, the Department of Transport said performance payment deductions had been capped in 2024 “to avoid putting Bus Éireann into a loss-making situation in relation to contracted services”.

The department said that the Government is “committed to ensuring that public transport services can continue to operate reliably and sustainably in the face of growing passenger demand nationwide and increased operational costs”.

It comes as it was confirmed that the preferred route for the Cork Luas is due to be published later this month.

It is expected to contain a number of significant changes to the earlier emerging preferred route, published last year.

Among the changes understood to be included are a 2km extension at the western end, a rerouting in Bishopstown to travel behind CUH instead of in front of it, and what have been described as “minor” adjustments in Ballinlough.