TFI Local Link launches new daily bus service connecting Waterford and Tipperary

The new 356 Dungarvan to Clonmel bus service hwill begin operating in less than a week, with services starting on Monday, June 12th it has been confirmed.

This new route is part of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan, which is a major national public transport initiative developed and funded by the National Transport Authority (NTA) as part of the Transport for Ireland (TFI) Network.

Route 356 will operate five daily return services seven days a week, creating a brand new connection from Dungarvan in to Tipperary University Hospital. The route from Dungarvan to Clonmel will offer enhanced connectivity to villages and areas such as Ballinroad, Touraneena and Ballymacarbry.

This new bus service will also provide increased frequency between Dungarvan town and Ballinroad, improved connectivity to rail services in Clonmel and a peak-time service for commuters. 

Speaking ahead of the launch, TFI Local Link Waterford Manager, James O’Donoghue said: “We are delighted that the NTA continues to support the ongoing development of local bus services under the Connecting Ireland Plan and are confident that the Dungarvan to Clonmel service will be well supported by the local communities en route.

"The expansion of public transport services across county Waterford will open up opportunities not only for local residents to make connections for employment, health, education and recreational opportunities, but also allow visitors to access the many areas of historic interest and natural beauty across the county. 

"The timetable is designed to allow people travelling from Dungarvan and other locations to get to Clonmel before 9am, with five return services Monday to Sunday.

"The first service to Clonmel will leave Ballinroad at 7.30am and the last return service in the evening will leave Clonmel at 9pm, creating a vital link between the two towns. 

"The route will also provide a service between Ballinroad and Dungarvan. We believe that there is a significant demand for a public bus link from Ballinroad and it will now have ten services from Monday to Saturday and five on Sundays to Dungarvan,” Mr O'Donoghue said.

Waterford Fine Gael Senator John Cummins welcomed the launch of the new bus service.

Senator Cummins said: "Route 356 will operate 5 daily return services 7 days a week creating a brand new connection from Dungarvan to South Tipperary Hospital in Clonmel. The route from Dungarvan to Clonmel will offer enhanced connectivity to villages and areas such as Ballinroad, Touraneena and Ballymacarbry. This is something which residents in these areas have raised with me while I have been out engaging with communities on various issues and I have no doubt this new route will prove very popular in both directions.

"This route is just one of the 67 new or enhanced rural bus services which government are rolling out this year as part of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan. Other routes which will be developed in 2023 are the Youghal to Dungarvan via Villierstown (357) route and the Carrick on Suir connection to the 354 route which operates from Portlaw to Dunmore East. The new 356 route being launched today will also increase the frequency of service between Ballinroad and Dungarvan which is something I know the community will really welcome".

Críostóir Ó Faoláin, above, the Local Green Party candidate in Dungarvan said: "I’m delighted to see this new route finally going ahead. I was involved in a working group that was examining this proposal early on and it’s great to see this bus now getting on the road. The Green Party in Government has really boosted rural public transport through the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan. We have invested a lot more money in public transport, and new routes like this one are the result". 

"This new service will benefit a lot of people. Residents in Touraneena and Ballymacarbry have been asking for a bus service for a long time and I’m delighted that it’s happening now. This new route will also expand the connection between Ballinroad and Dungarvan, adding an extra 5 services a day.

"Over 10% of households in Dungarvan don’t have a car and until now there was no straightforward way to travel between the two towns without a car. This new service will be a real benefit for these people. It's mad that it has taken this long to link these towns by public transport. It was an obvious missing link for a long time, but I'm glad it's finally going to be put right.”

“Adding new public transport routes is a small step in the overall picture of climate action, but it is part of the long journey that we need to take to get to a sustainable world that is fit to call home. We have a lot more to do, but this is a step in the right direction," Mr Ó Faoláin said. 

For route and timetable information, call (058) 22076 or visit www.locallinkwaterford.ie