Carlow councillors vent frustration over two-year delay to town bus review

A number of Carlow councillors have expressed their frustration over a two-year delay to a planned review of the town bus.

Members were briefed on the status of the bus review at the January meeting of the Carlow Municipal District.

Pádraig O’Gorman, Director of Services at Carlow County Council, acknowledged that councillors have continually been asking for the review to take place.

He highlighted the success of the service, citing a figure of 400,000 trips per annum on the two routes.

Mr O’Gorman said he was in contact with the National Transport Authority (NTA) with regards to the review.

READ NEXT: EXCITING NEWS! Biggest ever Mr Price store opening in vacant Carlow shopping centre unit

It is understood that the review will look at boarding trends, demand, punctuality, reliability and a number of other factors.

The NTA will consult with the council and also take on board any correspondence it has received from the general public

Mr O’Gorman added that he has already raised a number of issues with the NTA that the council believes should be looked at.

These include the linking of the bus service to Carlow Train Station and the possible expansion of the two existing routes.

The conversion of the bus fleet to electrically powered vehicles has also been suggested.

Mr O’Gorman concluded that he expects the review to get underway in either May or June of this year.

While councillors welcomed the fact that the review will be taking place, they expressed frustration that it has taken so long.

Fine Gael councillor Fergal Browne said: “It’s long overdue and I think we’re being treated with a little bit of contempt by the NTA in this regard.

“We were told we’d get electric buses, we never got them. We were way later getting the service in the first place than we were meant to get it.

“The review is happening way later than it was meant to happen as well. So I think it’s time to take the gloves off with the NTA.

“We’re only looking for what we’re entitled to get. I welcome the review but it’s long overdue and I think it’s time the NTA steps up to the mark in regards to other parts of the bus service.”

Fianna Fáil councillor Andrea Dalton described the service as “one of the most successful bus schemes implemented in the country” but also highlighted the delays to the review.

Cllr Dalton said: “The NTA promised us a review of the town bus service one year after it was implemented.

“It’s going to be three years [that] it’s been in operation in July of this year. They overpromise and underdeliver.

“We were told we’d have our electric buses, we were told we’d have our review. What we have is great but so many minor tweaks could be made to make it even better.

“So I hope the NTA are not just coming for the sake of coming but they will come and listen to us and make the changes that we know will make the bus route more effective and will serve more people.

“I’m really disappointed it’s taken three years to get what the NTA actually promised us would happen within one year.”

Meanwhile, her party colleague, Cllr Fintan Phelan, suggested that a third route be implemented as part of the scheme.

Cllr Phelan said: “If we can try and get a third route to service areas that aren’t already serviced that would be very welcome.

“There’s a few tweaks with the bus service that could make a massive difference.

“For example, it currently doesn’t serve Castlewoods, the Castleoaks housing estate, the Sue Ryder Home for Independent Living and the Range and that shopping centre there.

“I think some things like that can be worked out as part of this review very easily and I think that’s to be welcomed.”

Mr O’Gorman said that when the review does kick off, it is likely that NTA officials will be invited to a meeting of the Carlow Municipal District.