Two bus routes serving the Knocknacarra/Rahoon area should have earlier start times on Saturday and Sunday mornings to bring them into line with other similar city services.
This is the view of Fianna Fáil Galway City West candidate John Connolly, who has called on Bus Éireann to introduce earlier start times for the 402 and 405 routes, describing the 405 as “one of the city’s busiest services, serving the Mervue and Ballybrit Industrial estates”. The 402 routes serves Merlin Park, while both service UHG and NUIG.
Both these routes start at 8am, in contrast to the 401 route, which has a 6am start on a Saturday and a 7.20am on Sunday; while the 409 route, which has a 10 minute frequency, starts at 7am on both Saturdays and Sundays.
“Many people who work in these areas start work at 8am on both Saturday and Sunday,” said Mr Connolly. “Currently they cannot take public transport to work on these mornings. If we are to generate the behavioural change needed to encourage more people to take public transport then we must provide the options that people expect.”
