Record high numbers using TFI Local Link bus services
Journey numbers have reached a record high, with people now using TFI Local Link bus services more than a 100,000 times a week across rural Ireland.
These services are provided for the National Transport Authority (NTA) by the 15 Local Link offices around the country.
5 fold increase in weekly numbers
There were 105,986 passenger journeys on TFI Local Link services in week ending 13 October, 2024. This represents a more-than five-fold increase compared to January 2022 when weekly numbers were at 19,982.
Passenger journey numbers have been increasing consistently for over three years now. The weekly national average was 16,745 in 2021; 36,664 in 2022; and 78,892 in 2023. Now it has surged to 100,000 – a new high.
This dramatic increase in numbers coincides with the rollout of NTA’s Connecting Ireland – Rural Transport Programme, from January 2022. Since then, over 110 new and enhanced TFI Local Link routes have been introduced under the programme, covering every county.
2024 is the third year of a five-year implementation programme for Connecting Ireland. Some 60 per cent of the proposed services are now in place with the remainder to be introduced in the coming years.
The new and enhanced services are proving to be very attractive to a new set of customers in rural Ireland who are choosing TFI Local Link to get to work, education, healthcare, and social activities.
Thanks to the TFI Local Link offices, operators, and passengers
Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan also acknowledged the milestone and the efforts behind the scenes, stating:
“We have seen a transformation in public transport across rural Ireland and going by the numbers, people really like it. Reaching this milestone of 100,000 passengers a week is incredible but I’d like to think of it as just the beginning. We need to have buses cris-crossing this country and reaching into towns and villages everywhere. This is only the beginning.”
“I want to extend my thanks to the TFI Local Link offices, operators, and passengers who have made this achievement possible. The exponential growth we’re seeing – up four or five fold in just four years in many places – highlights the importance of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan in delivering improved access and inclusion for rural Ireland. We are building not just a better-connected Ireland, but a more sustainable, equitable, and vibrant one—thanks to the hard work of everyone involved.”
Connecting Ireland transformative for rural communities … and we’re not finished yet!
Anne Graham, CEO of the National Transport Authority (NTA), expressed her gratitude for the collective effort:
“This achievement is a direct result of the dedication and hard work by a whole range of people and the continued support from passengers who have embraced the service.
“Reaching 100,000 passengers per week would not have been possible without the incredible commitment of the TCUs and their staff as well as the drivers and the local bus operators, and I’d like to thank everyone who is involved.
“I was always optimistic that Connecting Ireland would prove to be a transformative programme for rural communities, but honestly I’m completely blown away by the success story that it has become across the country. And we’re not finished yet!”
Additional Information
For more information about TFI Local Link services, please visit TFI Local Link – Transport for Ireland or contact your local TCU (Transport Coordination Unit).
Local Link Offices
There are 15 Local Link Offices around the country providing local transport services, primarily for rural communities. Each provides services across one or more county, and all are funded by NTA.
The partnership between Local Link offices, NTA, and local operators has been key in driving significant improvements in rural connectivity, offering vital transport services to communities across Ireland.
Regular rural services
The figures above relate to Regular Rural Services (RRS). These are scheduled services operating along a fixed route according to a published timetable.
Some Local Link offices also operate Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) services where vehicles alter routes for each journey, responding to particular transport demand without using a fixed route or timetabled journeys. These vehicles typically pick-up and drop-off passengers in locations according to passengers particular needs.
Passenger numbers for DRT services are not included in today’s figures.
The Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan is a major public transport initiative developed by NTA with the aim of increasing connectivity, particularly for people living outside our major towns and cities. The plan aims to improve mobility in rural areas by providing frequent and affordable transport services that offer freedom to travel and sustainable transport connections. This includes:
- Adding new high-frequency services;
- Enhancing existing services; and
- Providing improved connectivity to the wider transport network
These improvements are creating a more effective and integrated system, which brings people in rural areas to where they want to go, when they want to get there.