New Bus Network for Galway
The National Transport Authority (NTA) published its final new bus network for Galway in December 2023. The redesign of the bus network is one of the eight key elements of BusConnects Galway that aims to fundamentally transform the city’s bus system, making public transport more useful to more people.
In 2022 the NTA carried out an extensive review of the bus network in Galway, in collaboration with Galway City Council, Galway County Council, local bus operators, and with the specialised expertise of transport designers Jarrett Walker and Associates. In April 2023, a draft new network was published, and the feedback and submissions received informed the final new bus network published in 2023.
Benefits of the new network
The key benefits of the final new network include:
- An approximately 50% increase in the amount of bus services in Galway city, Bearna and Oranmore.
- The extension of bus services to new areas with more routes with frequent services and an enhanced weekend timetable.
- A new 24-hour bus service, to be known as Route 9, would operate from Knocknacarra through the city centre to Doughiska and Parkmore.
- More residents of the city and its suburbs having access to the public transport network with Upper Ballymoneen Road, the Coast Road between Galway City and Oranmore and Oranhill among the areas to benefit.
- More routes running cross-city, and the main point of interchange located at Eyre Square.
- Simpler fares that will make interchange seamless.
To view the New Bus Network for Galway in Irish click on the following link Tuarascáil ar an Líonra Nua.
The New Bus Network report, summary report, frequency table, maps and summary of public feedback appendix are all available to download below.
To view the Galway New Network use the online map at the link below.
The key benefits of the final new network include:
- An approximately 50% increase in the amount of bus services in Galway city, Bearna and Oranmore.
- The extension of bus services to new areas with more routes with frequent services and an enhanced weekend timetable.
- A new 24-hour bus service, to be known as Route 9, would operate from Knocknacarra through the city centre to Doughiska and Parkmore.
- More residents of the city and its suburbs having access to the public transport network with Upper Ballymoneen Road, the Coast Road between Galway City and Oranmore and Oranhill among the areas to benefit.
- More routes running cross-city, and the main point of interchange located at Eyre Square.
- Simpler fares that will make interchange seamless.
The new bus network will enable more people to avail of public transport resulting in increased access to a greater number of schools and workplaces across Galway City, Bearna and Oranmore. Overall, 67% of residents will live within 400 metres of a high frequency bus route (running every 15 minutes or better).
What Happens Next?
Dates for implementation of the new services have not yet been set but it is currently anticipated that the changes would happen in 2027. As part of BusConnects, the NTA are also advancing work on the Sustainable Transport Corridors which will improve travel times on the bus network and improve connections for pedestrians and cyclists. Other parts of the BusConnects programme, like simpler fares, will be delivered with the new bus network.
Draft Bus Network for Galway – Public Consultation April 2023
The National Transport Authority (NTA) published its draft new bus network for Galway in April 2023. Consultation on the draft network ran for 6 weeks and closed on the 2nd June 2023. An online consultation process allowed members of the public to provide their feedback on the proposals. A number of information events took place to explain the proposed network in more detail. To view the documents from the public consultation on the draft bus network for Galway click on the links below.