THE National Transport Authority (NTA) is about to award a two year contract for a new operator to provide a replacement bus service for the Castletroy to Limerick City Centre route that was suspended by the Dublin Coach company last July.
That’s according to Limerick City East Labour Party councillor Elena Secas who told the Limerick Post that the NTA Service Planning section have designed a timetable to fill the Public Service Obligation on the Castletroy route.
“They are recommending 35 services each way per day, Monday to Sunday, operating from Sarsfield Street to the University of Limerick and Castletroy, terminating at the Plassey Building in the National Technology Park,” Cllr Secas explained.
“I understand that this timetable is still being discussed with a potential commercial operator, who it is hoped will introduce this timetable as a new service which will be known as the 310 route
“There are a number of issues still to be resolved, including driver availability, issues with stop locations and administrative items which are currently being finalised, but it is hoped the new service will begin operation in a short number of weeks.”
“I am disappointed that the whole process to replace the suspended 307/308 bus service is taking so long. Meanwhile large parts of the fastest growing suburb of Limerick are left without any bus service at all,” she added.
“I hope that we will see the 310 bus on the roads in Limerick City East sooner rather than later”.
“The NTA has advised that the contract may be of up to two years in duration, including any extension periods and that the longer-term needs of the area will be considered as part of the planning for the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy.”
“I would urge the NTA to start considering the longer-term needs of the area as soon as the 310 bus service begins operation to ensure that at the end of the two year contract, Castletroy will not be left without a bus service again,” Cllr Secas concluded.
