Appeal for U-turn on axed Kildare bus route

Pressure is growing for the restoration of an axed bus service from Portarlington to Kildare Village, after an announcement that only half the route will be reinstated.

There was considerable annoyance when the ‘Green Bus’ from Portarlington to Kildare Village via Monasterevin was cancelled with effect from 30 November, leaving local people who live and work in Kildare Village without transport.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) announced on 9 December that the 816 route from Portarlington to Kildare Village, operated by Dublin Coach, would be replaced by a new 806 service, which would travel only from Portarlington to Monasterevin.

The announcement caused disappointment and frustration for local commuters.

Laois Independent TD Brian Stanley has appealed for a U-turn on the decision, saying that the NTA proposal "falls well short of what is required".

When it cancelled the 816 service, Dublin Coach said the decision was due to declining passenger numbers, which made the route "uneconomic to operate". 

The assessment is disputed by local passengers, who say the bus was regularly full and had to leave people behind.

The NTA said that it assessed the route corridor to determine whether there was a Public Service Obligation (PSO) to provide a service.

The NTA said: "Our assessment has concluded that a PSO does exist. As such, the NTA is now working on proposals to provide bus services between Portarlington and Monasterevin. The route number for this service will be route 806.’"

The partial restoration means that commuters from Portarlington to Kildare Village will have to take two buses instead of one.

Deputy Stanley said: “The failure by the NTA to reinstate route 816 leaves Portarlington commuters without a proper service. 

"A large number of workers from Portarlington and surrounding areas depend on this service to get to work in Kildare."