ronan fagan
A landmark occasion for public transport in Athlone, Minister for the Environment, Deputy Eamon Ryan, visited the town on Friday last to launch the country’s inaugural all-electric bus service.
Athlone has the honour of being the chosen town for the initial roll out of the all electric bus service and its implementation within the community will benefit the town from an environmental perspective in the times to come.
Operated by Bus Éireann and funded by the Department of Transport through the National Transport Authority (NTA ), physical works to transform the town bus service into a 100% electric operation began last year with the service due to commence operations on January 29.
The project, a €10 million investment by the NTA, is the first to launch under the Government’s Pathfinder Programme, a package of exemplar transport projects to be delivered by state agencies and local authorities around the country within the next three years. This Pathfinder project will see 11 new state-of-the-art electric buses operate Athlone town services.
The new fleet will reduce CO2 emissions by 400,000kg annually and will deliver a quieter, cleaner bus service for the town and passengers. Over 540,000 kilometres are operated on the Athlone town bus service each year, with over 10,000 passengers now using the service weekly, a 20% increase on 2019 figures.
The new buses will be charged using newly-installed charging infrastructure supplied with power from the newly-constructed electricity substation within the Bus Éireann depot on Station Road.
In preparing for the commencement of operations, Bus Éireann drivers and mechanics have undergone a comprehensive training programme on the driving, maintenance and operation of the new buses which will deliver emission-free public transport.
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At a well attended launch, Athlone-Moate Municpal District Mayor, Cllr Vinny McCormack, noted the “honour” bestowed upon Athlone being chosen as the town in which an all-electric bus fleet would provide an initial passenger service.
“Athlone is truly honoured today to be in possession of the first fully electric town bus service in the country. I believe the operation of this service in the years to come will be a benchmark for the implementation of greener public transport solutions throughout Ireland.
“As it stands the existing A1 and A2 services in Athlone account for over half a million passenger journeys annually. The introduction of this new fleet will hugely enhance this existing offering with greater accessibility for wheelchair users and parents with prams, while also providing a smoother journey with zero tailpipe emissions benefiting passengers, pedestrians and residents alike.
“Through the acquisition of new vehicles and the installation charging infrastructure at the depot, Athlone’s public transport network is benefiting from a €10 million investment in its infrastructure and our shared goal of carbon reduction across our society. As a town with a population of some 21,000 residents and a student population of some 7,000 at TUS, this hugely important piece of infrastructure marks a key phase in the town’s future development.
“As we look to the future growth of our regions, Athlone will always be a key link between east and west. It is crucial that the town continues to develop in a green and sustainable way. This is a first, but hugely important step in this development. I have every confidence that through combined efforts from our Government, local authority, various state agencies and the people of Athlone, we can build on our development and environmental goals in equal measures over the coming years.
I want to pay a huge tribute to all of the team at Bus Éireann in Athlone for bringing the project to this point, particularly the team of mechanics and all of the drivers. I am sure you will all do a tremendous job in managing this new technology going forward.
“I would also like to offer our condolences to all in Bus Éireann on the recent tragic loss of your colleague Michael Gill in such tragic circumstances in the line of duty recently. It is a great testament to Mr Gill and all of the driving team at Bus Éireann that he made every effort in his time of need to ensure the passengers on board of his bus emerged relatively unharmed from this terrible incident.
“This is a truly significant day for the town and I look forward to the success of our new electric bus fleet,” Cllr McCormack stated.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Ryan stated that the launch of the new all-electric town buses was important on numerous fronts.
“The launch of these new electric town buses is important because it will give Athlone town a new, quieter, cleaner bus service and the occasion marks the first of our 35 Pathfinder Projects to be delivered, just months after we first launched the programme.
“I’m also delighted that this change to electrification is starting in Athlone because the other big difference afoot is the upscaling in rural transport that is happening. In 2022, we connected 67 new towns with buses and that number will continue to climb. I would like to commend Bus Éireann and the National Transport Authority for all the work they are doing across the country, and I look forward to many more bus services and depots going electric over the coming years,” Minister Ryan stated.
