'Significant enhancement' announced for bus service in Kilkenny City

The National Transport Authority (NTA), in partnership with City Direct, has today announced a significant enhancement for the Kilkenny City Bus Service.

From Sunday July 27, passengers will benefit from an additional 104 weekly services, representing a more than 12% increase in service levels.

The enhancements aim to provide a more reliable and frequent city bus service for the local community, strengthening connectivity across Kilkenny.

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These improvements will support travel for work, education, and leisure, while also making it easier to access onward connections with national bus and rail networks.

Route KK1 will see an additional 26 weekly return services, while Route KK2 will benefit from an increase of 26 return services.

On weekdays, KK1 will operate 17 more return services, and KK2 will add 20 weekday return services.

Saturday services will also improve, with KK1 increasing by 4 return trips and KK2 by 3, while both routes will gain 4 additional return services on Sundays.

These additional services will include new early morning and late-night services from Monday to Thursday, as well as extra early morning services on Fridays and Saturdays.

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Passengers will also benefit from new early morning and late-night services on Sundays, providing greater flexibility and accessibility.

Furthermore, the departure times for Route KK1 southbound from the Glenbawn terminus (formerly known as the N77 roundabout stop) will change to depart on the hour and half-past the hour, replacing the current schedule of departures at a quarter past and a quarter to the hour.

Since its introduction in 2019, the KK1 and KK2 bus services have carried over 1.4 million passengers, with annual ridership growing steadily from 107,000 in 2020 to more than 404,000 in 2024.

With nearly 150,000 passengers already in 2025, the service is now being enhanced to meet rising demand and improve regional connectivity.

John Nott, Head of Public Transport Service Planning at the National Transport Authority said that the expansion of the Kilkenny City bus network 'marks another important milestone in our commitment to delivering better public transport services for cities and towns across Ireland'.

"These additional 104 weekly services will provide more flexibility, greater frequency, and improved connectivity for the people of Kilkenny," he said.

"Whether it’s commuting to work, getting to school or college, or simply accessing local shops and amenities, these enhancements are about making everyday journeys easier and more sustainable.

"This investment underlines the NTA’s ongoing efforts to support vibrant, well-connected communities through high-quality, reliable public transport."

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Jonathan McDaid, Operations Director at City Direct Bus Ltd added that the company are commitment to delivering better public transport services in Ireland.

"These additional services will be very beneficial and improve connectivity for the people of Kilkenny to all types of public transport," he said. "We welcome this investment by the NTA into reliable public transport."                                                   

Both services are integrated with the TFI Live App, enabling real-time journey planning and supporting cashless payments through the Leap Card fare system. Free travel passes will also be accepted on applicable services.

This enhancement builds on the successful launch of the Portlaoise Town Bus Service and the enhancement of the Sligo Town Bus Service earlier this year, as part of the NTA’s Town Bus Programme.

For further information on the Kilkenny City Bus Service, including updated timetables and route maps, please visit: transportforireland.ie/getting-around/by-bus/kilkenny-city-services

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