Minister pledges improvements to bus services for Meath

The Minister for Transport has acknowledged the overwhelming reliance of Meath commuters on bus transport and pledged that alongside the major rail projects planned for the county, improved bus services are on the way in 2027.

The Minister was speaking in Dunboyne yesterday (Wednesday 28th October) to announce that the first major infrastructure enabling works on the DART+ West project will begin this weekend.

There will be some some disruption to rail services this weekend with track lowering works on the M3 Parkway line commences to facilitate future electrification.

"It's great to be here in Dunboyne, and we're going to see the electrification of the line out to M3 Parkway and Kilcock," said Minister O'Brien.

"We'll have this, we'll have Dart+ South also, and effectively you're looking at an additional 50 kilometres of Dart track and that's going to double our capacity from about 26,000 passengers an hour to 52,000.

The Minister said he was delighted to back in Co Meath just months after unveiling the preferred route for the Navan Rail Line.

"We're committed to reopening Navan rail line, that will happen as well. Meath is a big growth area, as residents of Meath will know, it needs to be supported by improved public transport, and rail is going to play a major part in that. So these projects are funded by this Governmental National Development Plan.

"We're going to deliver them. The significance of being here today in Dunboyne is that these enabling works are now starting. So we'll see work this weekend, 24-7, 140 Iarnrod Eireann employees will be working on this in relation to the change in track formation, work on the bridges to allow for electrification here as well, and actually in the coming couple of weeks I'll be bringing forward these projects to Cabinet to get them out to tender.

But we've started the CPOs, engaging about 200 landowners all the way across the various different routes, including here in Co Meath. So a really exciting time and looking forward to delivering it."

The impacts of regular delays, breakdowns, timetable chaos and ageing fleet issues have dogged passengers travelling between Meath and Dublin for years and while improvements and milestones in improved rail services for the county are welcome, the completed projects of Dart+ and Navan Rail lines are still some years away.

Minister O'Brien said he would be meeting with the National Transport Authority (NTA) in relation to improving capacity for 2027.

"I am conscious of that and I know we have rail capacity in Meath but I also know people are very dependent on roads and in particular on buses. But I am due to meet with the NTA in relation to the 2027 Service Plan.

"I've received additional funding in the budget and I know there's the fare determination that came through as well (which will see fare increases of 15 per cent on average take effect from next January) following consultation with operators on implementation timelines. And so my focus will be on delivering improved and additional services, particularly in the commuter belts across the country.

"So we're targeting about 140 improvements and new routes for 2027. That will include Meath as well. We haven't agreed on the final list yet, but I have the meeting with NTA next week and we will have these projects funded, these additional services funded for 2027.

"We've got to continue to roll out new services. If we do 140 next year, that'll be the most significant expansion of public transport and bus services in particular in a long number of years.

Meath East Independent TD Gillian Toole, in attendance at the Dart+ enabling works launch in Dunboyne said it was her "lived experience as someone who uses public transport as much as possible, that there were still "deficits" with service provision in the county.

On a positive note Deputy Toole highlighted imminent frequency improvements coming this Sunday, (1st of November) on the 105X route but said serious issues such as capacity and ageing fleet remained and needed to be addressed.

"There is a pilot reconfiguration of the 105X service from Ratoath connecting to the M3 Parkway and then heading on towards Dublin and the reverse again at peak times. That will be welcome. Again, the feedback from the commuter on that will be so important, I know people are concerned, will they make that connection to the train departing from the M3? (More information below)

Deputy Toole said the age and condition of the fleet serving the county seemed to be the nub of the issue now and said a new repair facility based in Kells would go some way to alleviating pressure in Dublin's Broadstone depot. (Bus Eireann has been contacted for comment in relation to this.)

"We've previously had a shortage of drivers, a shortage of mechanics, fleet buses are ageing out, a new depot for repairs is being constructed at Kells, so that will take fleet from Broadstone, that will take the pressure off there for the turnaround time for repairs. They'll actually be on site in County Meath at the Kells end of the 109 route."

She said the major housing developments under construction in places such as Dunboyne and Ratoath necessitated properly functioning transport infrastructure.

"The planning piece of that, matching the construction, the commencement notices with the NTA planning piece, linking to TFI if necessary for the roads infrastructure and ultimately the funding coming from the Department of Transport and bringing all of that together is very much dependent on the public representatives in the area, working together, feeding back that information, collaborating with the council, being aware of what the council has applied for, being aware of what Bus Eireann management needs from the NTA, similarly Irish Rail.

"The silo operations of the past, we can't do that anymore. We've seen in the area of disabilities where disjointedness leads to a serious impact for families on the ground. Similarly, the impact on the commuter and people who are trying to be conscientious and use public transport, lessen the emissions."

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New departures 06:45 from Ratoath, and 19:15 from M3 Parkway Park and Ride

The extended service being introduced include a 06:45 departure from Ratoath to M3 Parkway Park and Ride and a 19:15 departure from M3 Parkway Park and Ride to Ratoath.

To improve journey times and provide a more rapid, reliable service, Route 105X will now operate via the M3 motorway.

As a result, the following stops will no longer be served by the 105X:

Bullstown

Newtown Commons

Coolquay

Ward Cross

Broughan

Kilshane

Kildonan

Kilshane Cross

The 103 will continue to serve these stops.

Bus Route 105X with improved public transport connections

Speaking on the additional services on route 105X; John Nott, Head of Public Transport Services Planning at the National Transport Authority, said:

“We are pleased to roll out these amendments to Route 105X. The revised timetable will provide commuters in Ratoath and the surrounding areas with improved public transport connections, including greater access to rail services via M3 Parkway Park & Ride. These changes will offer more travel options and support growing demand for sustainable transport in the area.”