To encourage maximum uptake of it's Christmas Park and Ride Service, which begins on Saturday December 3, Galway City Council is keeping the fare at a highly competitive level of just €2 per car irrespective of the number of passengers.
This all-in fare incorporates all day parking at Galway Racecourse and return bus travel for the car driver and all his/her passengers to and from the city centre. The service was launched by Mayor of Galway City Cllr. Hildegarde Naughton on Tuesday in Eyre Square, marking the near perfect fit of the Park and Ride Service for visitors/shoppers wishing to explore the Galway Christmas Continental Market en route to the wider shopping experience of Galway City Centre.
This year the Park and Ride service will be provided by Bus Éireann and as with previous year's the service will offer fifteen minute frequency during the operating hours of 7:00 to 21:30 Mondays to Saturdays and 11:00 to 19:00 on Sundays. Aimed at alleviating traffic congestion in the run up to the busy Christmas period, the service will run right up to Christmas Eve on Saturday December 24, 2011 in an effort to encourage motorists particularly those travelling along the N6, M6, N18, N17 and Monivea Roads to park at the Racecourse and enjoy a more relaxed journey to the City Centre by bus. Signage will be available along these routes to direct customers to the service at Ballybrit Racecourse.
Commenting on this project, Joe Tansey (Head, Galway Transportation Unit ) said that this year the Council aims to increase customer uptake on last year in an effort to shuttle as many passengers as possible to the business and shopping experience on offer in Galway City Centre.
“To do so, the fare is deliberately set at a highly competitive level to increase its attractiveness as a travel option for those wishing to access the City Centre. We are highly confident that we are offering an excellent customer service based on our annual customer surveys where for example last year 93 per cent of passengers carried rated the service as excellent. We are inviting all motorists who have not yet experienced Park and Ride to make the change,” he said.
This year Galway Transportation Unit has again teamed up with Bus Éireann, Iarnród Éireann and An Taisce Green Schools Travel Programme to encourage the public to use sustainable travel options during the run up to Christmas.
As part of this initiative, Bus Éireann has introduced €10 return bus fares from numerous town in Co Galway to Galway City Centre and Iarnród Éireann is offering promotional return fares from Athenry to Galway City Centre.
For example, during this sustainable travel initiative adults travelling to Galway City from Athenry after 9:00am can take the train for just €6 return thereby making a saving of €5.30 on the usual fare.
In addition, Galway Transportation Unit in conjunction with An Taisce Green Schools Travel programme is again encouraging everyone to walk, take the bus, cycle, park 'n stride and carpool to school in the run up to Christmas.
