Four new evening bus services are to be created to help further connect rural communities in Wicklow.
Local Link, Wicklow’s rural transport company, has received funding from the National Transport Authority (NTA) for a number of evening bus services for the county.
Wicklow Uplands council has welcomed the announcement: “The strategy of connecting rural communities will lead to greater social opportunities and will also assist local businesses and the building of a wider tourism sector throughout the Wicklow Uplands.”
Social Democrats Councillor Jennifer Whitmore said “This is great news for Wicklow’s rural communities and businesses, and will enable people to be able to get out and about of an evening without the need to have their own transport.”
It is expected that the services will commence by mid-June with a tender process for local bus operators now open.
The four pilot routes are:
- 1) Moneystown-Trooperstown-Laragh-Annamoe-Roundwood (return) on Sunday evenings.
- 2) Glendalough-Laragh-Roundwood-Ashford-Rathnew-Wicklow Train Station- Wicklow Town (return) on Friday evenings.
- 3) Coolkenna-Shillelagh-Tinahely-Aughrim-Woodenbridge-Arklow (return) on Friday evenings.
- 4) Dunlavin-Donard-Stratford-on-Slaney-Tuckmill-Grangecon-Baltinglass (return) on Saturday evenings.
