With an overall investment of €3 million, 35 employment positions created and filled and a super competitive new service, the development of the brand new transport operator, GoBus, is certainly a welcome business story in a somewhat gloomy economic climate.
GoBus has recently employed 25 professional, highly qualified, and skilled drivers, with 10 additional people employed to work in a range of areas, such as administration, ticketing, cleaning, and coach maintenance.
The company was set up by Jim Burke of Tuam who has over 30 years experience in the transport business. With the development of the new motorway covering almost two-thirds of the distance between Dublin and Galway, Mr Burke quickly identified a lucrative business opportunity for a competitive, non-stop, return route connecting the two destinations and simply had to go after it.
In early 2006, he applied to the Department of Transport for a licence to run 14 non-stop return services from Galway to Dublin, with an optional add-on to Dublin Airport, which was granted earlier this year.
“We are the first in the country to offer a point-to-point service,” said Jim Burke, Managing Director of GoBus. “ Our focus is on time efficiency, safety, and comfort, with a particular emphasis on value for money.
“A single ticket to Dublin or Galway is only €10, and when you take into account that commuters travelling by car have to pay €2.90 each time they pass the M4/ M6 toll booth in addition to fuel costs, we really believe our service is much more cost-effective” added Burke.
Commuters travelling with GoBus, will do so in the height of comfort as the Volvo 9700, which is the model that GoBus has opted for its fleet, won Coach of the Year 2008.
GoBus coaches offer superior passenger safety and comfort, including toilet facilities, WiFi, a climate control ventilation system, excellent legroom, three-point safety belts, adjustable head and foot rests and low interior noise.
The service operates from the brand new, LAMA award-winning coach station on Fairgreen Road in Galway, where morning departures begin as early as 00.45am, almost hourly until 19.45pm.
Buses leave Dublin from 06.15am, again almost hourly, right up until 23.15pm. GoBus also provides online booking where passengers can purchase their ticket in advance to guarantee their seat.
For more information on time-tables or to book your seat online, visit www.gobus.ie or call (091 ) 564 600.
