Improvements sought for rural Kilkenny bus timetables

Kilkenny councillor Maurice Shortall has put forward the following motion to Castlecomer Municipal District, “to ask Transport for Ireland (TFI) to have a look at the Athy/Carlow/Kilkenny route to see if there can be amendments made to the existing timetable to align the bus service with more time to catch the trains to Dublin. Also, in light of no direct bus from Castlecomer to Dublin City and Dublin Airport, is there a plan to run a direct service that includes Castlecomer, Newtown, Crettyard and Ballylyman.”

Councillor Shortall added that some of the turnaround times in the services that bring people to train stations are ‘too short’, and said that he'd like to see TFI make changes to the existing timetable so that people can arrive on time.

Councillor Mary Hilda Cavanagh supported the motion, saying that reliable public transport must be provided if people are expected to use their cars less.

Councillor Pat Fitzpatrick supported the motion, saying that “there needs to be better communication or notice so that the likes of the other bus services can rework their routes.