A NEW, seven days per week bus service serving Tralee, Spa, Kilfenora and Fenit will begin this summer. The new bus will run multiple services and will be operated by Local Link Kerry.
The new service was highlighted at the launch of two new fully electric buses which will serve Dingle and West Kerry. Local Link Kerry have published the route number and are currently finalising the timetable for the new 278 route.
Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan, speaking following the electric bus launch in Dingle said:“We’ve just launched two new electric buses for West Kerry, a new service from Dingle to Inch and on to Killarney, and now we have more good news for Tralee, Spa & Fenit.”
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The new service is due to start in a number of weeks. Local Link Kerry will publish the timetable on its own website and a service announcement will be made shortly.
Anluan Dunne, local election candidate in the Tralee electoral area, warmly welcomed the announcement: “I’m delighted to announce this new bus service, the 278. The new bus will run every day, several times a day, and I understand the last bus in the evening will run at around 11pm. For people living in Fenit it provides a cheap, safe way to head into Spa or Tralee for dinner and get back home. For those of us living in Tralee it means being able to head to the beach, or the cafes and restaurants and not have to worry about parking.”
FOUR new bus services for the Tralee area have been announced as part of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan for 2023 launched today by Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan TD.
There are 67 new or enhanced Connecting Ireland bus services proposed, strengthening existing services and connecting more towns and townlands across the state.
The Tralee area will have four new bus services: Castlegregory to Fenit via Tralee, Tarbert to Tralee, Tralee to Ballybunion and an additional Tralee to Killarney commuter bus.
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Welcoming the news, Anluan Dunne, Green Party Representative for the Tralee Area said: “This is fantastic news for Kerry and in particular the Tralee area where we will have four new bus services. This is Green Party policy in action and will provide much needed, low cost, transport options for across Kerry.
“This is a massive scaling up of rural public transportand these buses are a genuine alternative to driving. I’m pushing hard for increased frequency on all of these services and for electric town buses in Tralee and Killarney.”
These services are provided on behalf of the NTA by 15 TFI Local Link offices nationwide.
Below is the list of proposed new and enhanced routes under the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan for 2023 in Kerry:
.Bus Éireann and TFI Local Link Kerry personnel with local tourism and development representatives on Dingle pier this week where they welcomed new and enhanced bus services in Kerry, connecting Tralee with the Dingle Peninsula. Front: Alan O’Connell, General Manager TFI Local Link Kerry; Paddy Kennedy and Bus Éireann driver Wayne Moriarty. Back: Bláithín McElligott, Local Link Programme Manager NTA; Fiona Connolly, Bus Éireann; Local Link Kerry Board Member Cllr Breandán Fitzgerald; Tom Fitzgerald, Dingle Hub Community Engagement Officer; and Caroline Boland of Dingle Peninsula Tourism Alliance. Photo by Declan Malone
BUS Éireann and TFI Local Link Kerry have welcomed a new and enhanced bus services in Kerry, connecting Tralee with the Dingle Peninsula.
The Bus Éireann route 275 and TFI Local Link route 277 will connect Tralee to Dingle and Dingle to Dunquin respectively, operating seven days a week providing greater connectivity for the towns and villages along the route.
The TFI Local Link Kerry services are timed to connect with the Bus Éireann 275 bus allowing people to complete round-trips from Tralee to Ballydavid, Dunquin, Ballyferriter or Ventry.
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The expanded services include;
• Bus Éireann Route 275 Tralee – Blennerville – Camp – Annascaul – Lispole – Dingle (Monday to Sunday)
• TFI Local Link Route 277 Dingle Daingean Uí Chúis – Fionntrá / Ventry – Baile an Fheirtéaraigh / Ballyferriter – Dún Chaoin / Dunquin (Monday to Sunday)
• The 2 TFI Local Link bus services listed below will operate on a Demand Responsive Transport (Door to Door) type model:
• R73 – Dingle Daingean Uí Chúis – Gallarus /Gallaras – Mhuirioch / Murreagh – An Fheothanach / Feohanagh – Baile na nGall / Ballydavid (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday)
Alan O’ Connell, General Manager, TFI Local Link Kerry said: “TFI Local Link Kerry was focused on providing regular connections to and from Dingle Daingean Uí Chúis that would benefit local residents and tourists alike.”
Alan continued; “these enhanced bus services offer greater access for people to go about their daily lives, to access essential services in Dingle and Tralee, or to visit the many beautiful villages, locations, attractions and spectacular scenery, beaches and walks that the peninsula is world renowned for. There is nothing stopping people visiting the Dingle Peninsula using public transport.”
Frances McCarthy, Assistant Services Manager, Bus Éireann, said: “Bus Éireann is a vital part of Kerry and its community, making more than 411 daily trips across the county, carrying more than 900,000 passengers a year prior to the pandemic.
The enhanced Bus Éireann services on Route 275 from Tralee to Dingle now connects our customers with TFI Local Link services west of Dingle, providing better transfers and links with the towns and villages of Kerry.”
Bláthín McElligott, TFI Local Link Programme Manager with the National Transport Authority said: “It is great to see these improved services by Bus Éireann and TFI Local Link Kerry up and running. The expansion of these services are a real win for the communities along the routes. Our constant aim is to improve mobility in rural areas by improving existing services, adding new services, and enhancing the current Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) network.
By working together to fill any potential gaps in the public transport network we can offer greater access for people to go about their daily lives, access essential services, or to visit the many beautiful villages, locations and attractions the peninsula is renowned for without the need for a car.”
Adult, student & child fares available. Children under 5 years and holders of free travel pass travel free. Buy a TFI Leap Card when travelling with Bus Éireann and get 30% discount on all single fares – www.leapcard.ie
Updated timetables are available at www.buseireann.ie for Route 275 & www.locallinkkerry.ie/timetables for Route 277, R73 & R74.
.At the launch of the new Local Link Kerry bus service for Ballymac residents were, at back; Pat McCarthy (Half Way), Fionnan Fitzgerald (Secretary of Ballymac Community Alert) and some of the passengers from the today’s service, with on the front right; James Ryall (Operator of the R72) and Aidan Savage Business Development Manager Local Link Kerry.
A NEW bus service for Ballymac residents was officially launched this morning at the Halfway Bar in Ballymac.
The Local Link Kerry service to and from Tralee will operate every Friday, starting from today.
It will offer collection services in Gortatlea, Edenburn, Kilsallagh, Coolgarriv, O’Riada’s Bar and Restaurant, Maglass, Rockfield, Ballydwyer, Gortshanavalla, Cloghermore, Knockavinnane with drop-off points at Manor West, University Hospital Kerry, Casement Station and Denny Street.
Cost of travelling is €5 single or day return, free travel pass is accepted. Under 5s travel free and age 6-12 is €2.50. See timetable below…
LOCAL Link Kerry (LLK) have enhanced the Route 283 Bus timetable to include a stop in Denny Street for those wishing to go down town for work, shopping or for the students attending the Kerry College for Further Education campus that is opening in Denny Street.
The revised timetable also sees an additional service coming into Tralee during the day.
This Route will service Currow, Currans, Kerry Airport, Farranfore, Firies, Ballyfinnane, Farmers Bridge into Tralee. This Route will offer a 4 inbound and 2 outbound services to/ from Tralee 6 days a week – Monday to Saturday.
This service provides travel options for people living in the areas to access employment, education, health services and social. Passengers can also make onward journeys from Farranfore or Tralee with Irish Rail, Bus Eireann or Kerry Airport.
There are multiple ticket options with Adult, Student and Child single, day return or weekly tickets and the Free Travel Pass will be accepted on this service.
Local Link Kerry operates as an agent of the National Transport Authority (NTA) with a primary role to manage and co-ordinate the delivery of a combination of scheduled Public & Community Transport Services in Co. Kerry. LLK also coordinate a range of services for Agencies and Organisations around the County.
Local Link Kerry currently provide over 160 return services weekly across all of Kerry under the Rural Transport Programme. These services are being delivered by over 40 Local Operators and in 2017 over 135,000 passenger trips took place.
Local Link offices play an important role as Transport Coordination Units tasked with embedding integration within transport service planning, primarily by co-ordinating travel needs for access to employment, health, social and education opportunities.
‘Rural Transport plays a major role in combating rural isolation and is a model of partnership where key sectors actively engage in planning and developing transport services that ensure equality of access for all.
“If you can identify the need for a public transport service in your area please contact us,” said Carmel Walsh. For details please contact our office at 066 7147002 or check us out on www.locallinkkerry.ie or email info@locallinkkerry.ie
LOCAL Link Kerry are commencing bus services operating from Tralee along the north shore on the Dingle Peninsula to Brandon, with stops along the way in Blennerville – Derrymore – Camp – Aughacasla – Castlegregory – Sandy Bay – Fahamore – Stradbally – Cloghane – Brandon, with three inward and three outward journeys.
This bus service will support greater connectivity and linkages for the local population and tourists who wish to visit the area. LocalLink it will be ideal for people and families to get out and about and travel along the area with stunning scenery and loads to do.
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The bus is designed as a hop on, hop off whereby you pay €3 (children under 5 travel free) each time you get on so you could decide to get off in a village spend a couple of hours and then travel to the next village and do the same and then travel back home or to Tralee in the evening.
Meanwhile, Local Link Kerry are also continuing the Beach Services from Tralee to Banna & Fenit for the month of August www.locallinkkerry.ie/banna-fenit-beach/
Queries ring 066 7147002 Monday to Friday 9.00 to 17.00 or on a Saturday & Sunday ring 087 9662948.
HERE’S some great news if you want to head to the beach over the coming weeks…once we get the weather!
Local Link Kerry, in Partnership with Tralee Chamber Alliance, is running a Pilot Bus service, two days a week from Tralee to Fenit and two days a week from Tralee to Banna Beach, for the month of August.
Even better, they are running ‘Kids For Free’ for two weeks on all regular services, including the Banna and Fenit routes, as part of a National Campaign taking place from the 14th to the 27th August.
The service to Banna will operate on Wednesday and Fridays and Fenit Service will operate Thursday and Saturday with five pick up points in Tralee town with the last pick up point at 10.55am and will depart the Beach at 14.25.
The usual cost of service is Adult €5, 13yrs to 19 yrs – €3, 4 to 12yrs – €2 under 3 Free and Free Travel Pass accepted.
However, on August 16, 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25 and 26, people under the age of 19 can head to the beach for free. Adults are €5 return.
This initiative is to promote access to the Beaches and Recreational activities for all ages.
Currently there are in excess of 140 regular bus routes operating all over Kerry under the management of Local Link Kerry.
Local Link Kerry (LLK) manage and co-ordinate the delivery of a combination of scheduled Public and Community Transport Services in Co. Kerry. LLK also coordinate a range of services for Agencies and Organisations around the County.
Local Link Kerry is the Trading Name of Kerry Community Transport CLG and is an agent of the National Transport Authority.
Kerry Community Transport CLG is an Independent Company with Charitable Status and is a non- profit organisation. There are 17 Local Link offices nationally.
Please ring Local Link Kerry on 1890 528 528 for queries on existing bus services or if you can identify the need for a transport service in your area.
FOUR new bus services for the Tralee area have been announced as part of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan for 2023 launched today by Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan TD.
