Number of Navan town bus service trips drops 20,000 in the past year

Frequent breakdowns and delays in the Navan Town Bus service has seen a drop in the number of trips taken over the past year.

Some 394,000 trips were taken on buses in Navan over the past twelve months, down by 21,000 on last year, according to figures provided to Cllr Eddie Fennessy by Meath County Council.

The fall comes following years of increased numbers using the service, which had been much improved in recent years.

Cllr Fennessy said the local bus service was a vital piece of sustainable transport infrastructure. "However, the vehicles provided to serve the route are not up to the standard required to deliver an efficient service.

"I lobbied the NTA, Bus Éireann and Meath County Council over the past few months to improve the service by investing in newer, more reliable buses.

“Sinn Féin’s elected representatives met with the NTA in Leinster House recently, I was unable to attend. However, my colleagues raised concerns I have with stock condition and with potential future investment.

“When asked about the condition of vehicles on the service the NTA claimed that buses provided are seven years old with a twelve-year life expectancy."

Cllr Fennessy said this was not the case; that the buses used in Navan were thirteen years old with over 750,000 miles on them.

"They breakdown regularly and this impacts the schedule resulting in fewer stops being met.

“The NTA’s response to queries on future investment was again framed in terms of the life expectancy of the existing vehicles and an expectation that they will provide five more years use, which was somewhat of a confusing answer, given that those buses are thirteen years old and well past their sell by date," he said.

“394,000 trips were taken on buses in Navan over the past twelve months. This figure is down by 21,000 on last year. I can’t say for certain that bus breakdowns are the cause for such a drop. However, I know from personal experience that a lot of services have been missed this year due to breakdowns. And I can safely say that the condition of the existing buses is a contributing factor.

“A key plank of the council’s transportation strategy is to encourage active travel. Public transport is an integral part of that plan and increased early morning work and school transport use is one of its key objectives.

“The local bus service, in its current state, is not meeting the most basic of those objectives. For it to do so, we need the NTA and Bus Éireann to invest in better quality buses for public transport users in Navan," he added.

Bus Eireann and the NTA have been approached for comment.