North Mayo residents welcome today's opening of new 7-day-a-week bus service
Communities between Ballina and Castlebar are happy to welcome the opening of the new Route 454 local link bus service, which commences today, Monday, October 30.
Operating seven days a week (including public holidays except Christmas day), 3 times a day, the new route will connect communities such as Ballina, Ardagh Cross, Crossmolina, Lahardane, Bofeenaun, Massbrook, Pontoon, Caurane, Parke, Turlough and Castlebar.
Lahardane resident and member of the Social Democrats Aidan Browne has welcomed the expansion of public transport in the area, “The introduction of regular, fixed schedule public transport to this area was long overdue but I’m glad to see it finally come about. Previous to this, the only public service operating on Lough Conn’s west bank was a single “pensioner’s bus” that ran late mornings on Fridays. This new service, which includes an early morning run, finally makes commuting to work in Castlebar by bus a viable option for those living in its northern hinterland such as Parke and Massbrook, as well as many other possibilities. The service running to both Castlebar train station and the hospital is both sensible and prudent.
Although I’m now driving for many years, I myself once used to have to hitchhike to work from Lahardane to Castlebar, something that was completely unreliable, so I understand personally how important an inter-town bus route is.
For the young, the elderly, the disabled and anyone else lacking private transport, this is a major boon. Actions such as these are also fundamental to a fair transition when it comes to fighting climate change, if governments are going to seek to decrease the amount of petrol and diesel cars on the road, they need to offer communities alternatives such as these. This is the right direction to go in, but it took the influence of a centre-left party (Greens) to get us here.”
The new service can be used in conjunction with a free travel pass, aiding holders such as retirees and carers. Leap cards will be available from local vendors such as Coynes of Bofeenaun and Barrett’s of Lahardane.