Bus users up by 770,000 in Cork in 2016
PASSENGER journeys on the Bus Éireann network in Cork grew by an impressive 6.6% in 2016.
In fact, in the Rebel county, the total number of passenger journeys undertaken in Cork in the last year jumped from 11.75 million in 2015 to 12.52 million in 2016.
This represents an increase of 770,000 extra passenger journeys in 2016, compared to 2015.
The significant growth was fuelled by a number of factors including enhanced services, and extra fleet capacity, which were funded by the National Transport Authority (NTA).
In 2016, almost 70 new jobs were created by Bus Éireann Cork - who also contribute €46 million to the local economy annually, via payroll and procurement of goods and services.
Figures from the National Transport Authority (NTA) show Cork City had the fastest growing bus service in the country over the past four years. The number of bus journeys in Cork increased by 20% since 2012.
In particular, there were improvements to service frequencies that provided extra departures in Cork in 2016 which included route 202 to Apple and to Mahon Point. Route 208 which takes in Curraheen –Bishopstown route into the city centre as well as the Mayfield to Ashmount to Lotabeg. However, the service now operates both in and out of Curraheen road directly to provide a more direct journey to and from Bishopstown. This route has also been extended to serve both Ashmount and Silversprings.
Bus Éireann Regional Manager South Martin Walsh said the company was very proud of the huge uptake in services across the Cork network in 2016:
“We have worked hard with the NTA to continually improve the service offering for our customers. The fact there were almost 800,000 extra passengers journeys made in the Cork region this year shows we are reaping the rewards of this,” he said.