Bus Éireann announces Mayo Expressway service to be withdrawn

In a blow to public transport users in Mayo, Bus Éireann have announced that they are withdrawing their Route 52 bus service from Ballina to Galway.

Bus Éireann confirmed that they notified the National Transport Authority (NTA) and customers that from Sunday, May 24, they will be withdrawing three of their Expressway services, including the Ballina to Galway Route 52 service.

In a statement, Bus Éireann explained that the measures are in response to 'continuous significant losses being incurred on these services'.

“Expressway is a commercial service, which receives no State subvention. The measures announced are in response to the continuous significant losses being incurred on these services. While disappointing, it is clearly unsustainable for a commercial operation. The decision to consolidate our Expressway network and withdraw from a small number of routes is aimed at safeguarding the Expressway network.

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“Given the scale of our operations, there will be no impact on jobs given our current recruitment needs.

“Any customer who has a prebooked journey on any of the impacted services will be contacted and provided with a full refund,” the statement concluded.

The Route 52 service currently operates six services departing from Ballina and Galway every day. Departing from Ballina Bus Station, Expressway Route 52 also passes through Foxford, Castlebar and Claremorris before arriving at Galway Bus Station.

Last year, Expressway, Bus Éireann’s premium coach service, announced that its revised timetable for its Route 22 service from Ballina to Dublin would no longer service the village of Carracastle in east Mayo.