Expressway service from Ballina to Dublin to bypass east Mayo border village

AN east Mayo village has been omitted from the revised timetable for the Expressway bus service from Ballina to Dublin.

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

Under the current timetable, the Expressway service going in the direction of Dublin stops in Carrcastle once a day at 10.26am while the bus going in the opposite direction stopped at 4.08pm and at 9.42pm.

The Expressway service is a fully commercial operation which receives no state subvention. Bus Éireann stated that the revised timetable will come into effect on August 24, 2025 and passengers on Route 22 will see refinements to certain stops, with Mullingar no longer served as well as Carracastle and Dublin’s North Wall Quay.

“The updated schedule has been designed to simplify the timetable structure offering a clear distinction between weekday services and weekend/public holidays, reflecting traffic patterns,” the Bus Éireann statement read.

“Popular destinations Liffey Valley Shopping Centre and the Lucan Spa Hotel will now be served by all trips on Route 22, in a welcome addition for those seeking a shopping trip or a relaxing break. Passengers in Maynooth will also continue to benefit from direct connectivity to Dublin Airport on Route 22.”

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The timetable change will also see the introduction of a merged Sunday evening service – the previous 5.15pm and 6.15pm departures from Ballina are now merged into a singular 5.30pm departure. Additionally, the 7am departure from Dublin now starts at Dublin Airport, serving Busáras and Heuston Station, then continuing via the N4 to avoid early morning delays. The 1am departure from Ballina now terminates its journey at the Airport, no longer continuing into the city.

Speaking on the changes, Head of Expressway, Andrew Yates said: “The upcoming Route 22 timetable changes are designed to simplify timetable structure while improving punctuality and customer experience, including arrivals into Dublin Airport. Departure times have been altered to provide for customers during the busiest period, ensuring availability when it is needed most. All of the changes introduced have been customer centred and driven by feedback to ensure smoother, more reliable journeys.”

The revised timetable can be accessed online via Expressway website - https://www.expressway.ie/routes-and-timetables. Physical timetables will also be available at stations, stops, and onboard Route 22 services.