Moves to extend new Dublin Airport bus service to Westport welcomed

TWO companies operating a new bus service from Castlebar to Dublin Airport have applied to extend their route to Westport.

In a letter sent to Westport-based representative Cllr Christy Hyland, Frances Cahill, Regional General Manager of City link, confirmed that Citylink and Go Bus have asked the National Transport Authority (NTA) to amend their license to allow them to add Westport to the route.

However, Ms Cahill said that the NTA were ‘unlikely’ to grant the amendment for a few months. She estimated that, if granted, they would be able to add Westport to the new route in February or March.

There have already been over 2,000 bookings made along the route, which she said was ‘a true testament to the fact that a service to Dublin Airport is needed’. Dublin Airport Route 721 comes into effect on September 25 (Monday).

When operational, the route will be accessible seven days a week with six return journeys per day.

Cllr Hyland had previously called publicly for the new route to be extended to Westport, citing the large amount of tourist footfall in the West Mayo town.

The Independent councillor has welcomed the reply he received from Citylink, saying that extending the route would provide ‘a great service’.

The route, which will be jointly operated by Citylink and Go Bus, was officially launched by Minister of State for Transport, Jack Chambers, on September 1 and was welcomed by representatives from the Castlebar area.

The stops along the route will also include Claremorris, Tuam, Athlone and Dublin city.