Journey numbers have reached a record high, with people now using TFI Local Link bus services more than 100,000 times a week across rural Ireland, including 5,150 passengers in Carlow Kilkenny Wicklow.
These bus services are provided for the National Transport Authority (NTA) by 15 Local Link Offices around the country. There were 105,986 passenger journeys on TFI Local Link services in the week ending 13 October 2024. This represents a more-than five-fold increase compared to January 2022, when weekly passenger numbers were at 19,982.
Passenger journey numbers have been increasing consistently for over three years now. The weekly national average was 16,745 in 2021; 36,664 in 2022; and 78,892 in 2023. Now it has surged to 100,000 – a new high.
This dramatic increase in numbers coincides with the rollout of the NTA’s Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan, from January 2022. Since then, over 110 new and enhanced TFI Local Link routes have been introduced under the plan, covering every county.
In Carlow Kilkenny Wicklow alone, passenger numbers have increased more than seven-fold, driven by the introduction or enhancement of five key routes. These include:
• Routes 800/885: Baltinglass to Sallins
• Route 183: Arklow to Sallins
• Route 897: Kilkenny to Athy
2024 is the third year of a five-year implementation plan for Connecting Ireland. Some 60 percent of the proposed services are now in place, with the remainder to be introduced in the coming years.
The new and enhanced services are proving to be very attractive to a new set of customers in rural Ireland, who are choosing TFI Local Link services to get to work, education, healthcare, and social activities.
Speaking on the results, TFI Local Link Carlow Kilkenny Wicklow Manager, Jackie Meally:
“It’s fantastic to see so many people using the Local Link RRS services now, 100,000 passengers every week is making a very positive impact on the lives of rural people, from young to elderly people and all in between, connecting to school, college, work and leisure activities. This is also contributing to the reduction in carbon emissions and a better environment for the future”
