A new six month pilot park and ride service based at Galway Airport in Carnmore opened this week, with bus service to and from the city centre every 20 to 30 minutes.
The new service, which will operate for the next six months, opened on Monday. The airport has parking for more than 600 vehicles and is accessible and signposted from the Tuam Road, the Monivea Road, the M6 Motorway, and the Dublin Road from Oranmore.
Commuters can park their car at no charge and continue their journey into the city, taking advantage of the bus lanes. Buses operate Mondays to Fridays between 7.20 am and 7pm. Park and Ride services will run every 20 minutes from 7.20am to 9am at which time the frequency will change to every 30 minutes.
The 30 minute frequency will continue until 4pm whereupon it will revert to every 20 minutes, until the last service each day which will leave the city centre at 6.40pm.
The park and ride service will bring passengers into the Galway Coach Station at the Fairgreen. It will also depart from the coach station back to the Galway Airport. The services are direct (no stops ) in both directions and journey time under normal traffic conditions is expected to be 15/20 minutes.
The airport car park is constantly monitored by staff during opening hours. Overnight parking is not permitted. The cost of the service is €2 per day bus fare, each way, ie €4 return fare. Family fares and weekly tickets are also available.
The service has been initiated by Galway Airport and the Galway Chamber of Commerce with the support of Galway City Council and the National Transport Authority. See www.galwayparkandride.com
