New Local Link bus service from Shercock to Dundalk
A new Local Link bus service from Shercock to Dundalk is set to commence on Monday, July 24, although it will result in the withdrawal of Shercock to Cavan services on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in the Autumn.
The reconfiguration of services is part of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan, a national public transport initiative funded by the National Transport Authority (NTA) as part of the Transport for Ireland (TFI) Network.
Route 171, is the first of two routes, in a phased roll out of new Local Link and Bus Éireann bus services in Cavan, Monaghan and Louth.
Combined, they aim to offer a consistent route, provide a higher combined frequency of bus services, quicker journey times from Dundalk to Carrickmacross, later journey times and a new Sunday service.
Speaking ahead of the launch TFI Local Link Cavan Monaghan Manager Padraic Smyth said: “We are very excited about the introduction of this service, not only for what it brings to the communities, but it will be the first service in Cavan Monaghan to be operated using electric vehicles."
The existing Bus Éireann 166 service will be replaced by the new Local Link 171 service and new regional Bus Éireann 170 service.
Route 171 will operate between Shercock and Dundalk, via Carrickmacross and Inishkeen. Route 170 will operate between Dundalk and Cavan, via Carrickmacross, Kingscourt and Bailieborough but will not operate via Inishkeen or Shercock. As a result of the proposed changes, there will be more frequent services operating between Carrickmacross and Dundalk.
The new route 170 service will be launched later in the autumn. The existing Bus Éireann 166 service will not be withdrawn until the new route 170 service is operational.
Following the withdrawal of the existing 166 route, there will be no direct bus services between Shercock and Cavan on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Passengers travelling between Shercock and Cavan will have to transfer between route 171 and route 170 at Carrickmacross.
Route 171 will operate five return services Monday to Saturday and four return services on Sundays and Bank Holidays between Dundalk and Shercock via Inniskeen and Carrickmacross. The route will be serviced by two fully accessible electric vehicles, which will deliver a cleaner, quieter and more comfortable journey for passengers.
It will provide people from those areas with sustainable public transport options to access employment, education, retail, social services and onward travel connections from Dundalk Train and Bus Stations.
TFI Local Link Cavan Monaghan accepts Leap and TFI Go App facilities on its services, and passengers on the new 171 service can also avail of these ticket options.