Cork East Fine Gael TD, David Stanton has called on Bus Eireann to review its commuter services in Cork. Deputy Stanton would like to see the commuter suburban & city services extended to include Midleton/Ballinacurra and Fermoy and all stops on these routes.
“Currently, Bus Eireann Commuter tickets are available to persons living from many towns around Cork City such as Carrigaline, Blarney, Crosshaven and Glanmire. Commuter tickets allow for travel from these areas into the city on a normal suburban service and then for an onward journey on a city bus service. Monthly, weekly and daily tickets are available which offer a significant reduction in bus fares to those who can avail of them.
“Commuter tickets are also available to persons who are travelling to Cork from Cobh and Midleton by train and then using a Cork city bus service, but the deal does not extend to those travelling to Cork from Midleton and Cobh by bus. This does not make sense to me.
“I would like to see the commuter tickets made available to Bus Eireann passengers using the suburban services from Midleton/Ballinacurra including Carrigtwohill and also to passengers travelling from Fermoy and Rathcormac. I am sure that a large number of people travel from these towns to Cork city and its environs for work and college every day and I am confident that if commuter tickets were available this would encourage more people to use public transport.
“In addition to the extension of commuter tickets to these areas, I would also like Bus Eireann to consider reviewing the timetables of suburban services to both Midleton and Fermoy. Services from Midleton/Ballincurra have been greatly improved in recent years with a very regular and efficient service but I understand from some constituents in the Fermoy and Rathcormac areas that their bus service is more sporadic with large gaps during the day which can make it difficult for commuters.
“I have made contact with Bus Eireann in the past regarding the extension of commuter tickets to the Midleton service and I intend to follow up the matter again to see if Fermoy can also be included. When examining this, I would hope that Bus Eireann might also review the frequency of buses with a view to improving scheduling to increase service users.
