New 24 hour commuter service for East Meath

Commuters from east Meath will enjoy new enhanced bus routes from Sunday (7th May) including a full 24 hour 101 service.

Route 101 from Drogheda to Busáras via Dublin Airport and serving Julianstown, Whitecross, Mosney and Gormanston will become a full 24-hour service, with 293 departures each way per week, operated on a fleet of new, fully accessible double and single deck coaches.

Passenger numbers on this route are currently running 37 per cent ahead of 2019 and it is projected that this route will carry a record one million passengers this year.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) and Bus Éireann announced the improved bus services for passengers in County Meath today.

Route 101x from Drogheda to Wilton Terrace in Dublin via east Meath will see the frequency of services maintained, with services operated on a greater number of accessible single deck buses and double deck coaches in response to increased passenger demand.

Bus Éireann was announced as the operator of the routes following a competitive tender process. These two enhanced routes will operate on new, fully accessible vehicles provided by the NTA. The newly enhanced services will run from Sunday and full details and timetables are available at buseireann.ie

Following fare reductions on public transport services last year, public transport has become more affordable than ever. A single, adult Leap Card fare from Julianstown to Dublin is just €5.04. Fares for people aged 19-24 years who have a Young Adult Leap Card will be just €2.52.

Bus public transport in Ireland is going from strength-to-strength, with Bus Éireann delivering 89.5 million passenger journeys in 2022, a return to pre-Covid levels and with unprecedented growth in demand in recent months.

"With passenger numbers on bus transport growing apace, we are delighted to deliver this new investment in public transport for Meath,’’ said Anne Graham, CEO of the NTA. ‘’We know that where new and enhanced services are made available, people respond positively and choose to travel by bus."

"The new, enhanced East Coast Commuter Corridor marks a step-change in bus transport in County Meath – with greater frequency, improved capacity and an entire fleet of new, fully accessible vehicles to service increased passenger demand."

Stephen Kent, CEO of Bus Éireann; "We are absolutely delighted to have been selected to operate the newly enhanced East Coast Commuter Corridor bus services, having delivered these essential routes to communities for many decades. As Ireland’s national bus company, Bus Éireann has a proud record of providing public transport services to communities both urban and rural. We are excited to partner with the NTA on these new and enhanced services and are committed to providing frequent, reliable and accessible bus services for our passengers in County Meath – and across the country.

“This will be achieved through a commitment to delivering transformative sustainable public transport services, through investments by the NTA in new services, new vehicles and through the reduction in public transport fares. This new investment will mean a greater number of commuters, tourists, students, airport passengers and Free Travel Pass customers having the option to travel more sustainably by bus. Our mission to achieve a best-in-class customer experience is working, with our customer satisfaction rating above 90% for the last 12 months."