BusConnects Cork Faces Delays Due to Driver Shortage
corks BusConnects Plan Faces Major hurdle: Driver Shortage Threatens Enterprising Project
Cork, Ireland – A key component of Cork’s ambitious BusConnects plan is facing a meaningful roadblock: a severe shortage of bus drivers. Bus Éireann, the company responsible for implementing the new network, has confirmed it needs an additional 120 drivers to make the project a reality.
sinn Féin TD for Cork North-Central, Thomas Gould, expressed grave concerns about the situation, stating, ”To actually deliver the current routes, they need 50 extra drivers. They can’t recruit drivers as it is. In my opinion, right now, BusConnects in Cork is dead in the water.”
Gould highlighted the dire consequences of the driver shortage, pointing to recent instances where commuters have been left stranded due to cancelled services. He cited an example of a man who was 90 minutes late for college because of consecutive cancellations on the 214 bus route.bus Éireann attributed the cancellations to delays on the CUH to Glanmire service, which resulted in the return route being scrapped. However, Gould argued that the issue lies not with the drivers but with unrealistic timetables.”I am sick and tired of outlining to the NTA that these timetables are not deliverable,” Gould said. “Bus drivers on this route have three minutes to travel the Lower Glanmire road with four stops,and one minute to drive into Kent Station,stop,and then get to the next stop,all in peak traffic. All of the bus drivers in the world won’t fix the issues with the timetables.”
While acknowledging the challenges, Bus Éireann maintains a positive outlook. In a statement, a spokesperson said the company is “working closely with the NTA to facilitate the rollout of BusConnects Cork, with a target launch date of late 2025 or early 2026.”
They also highlighted ongoing recruitment efforts, stating, “We currently have 21 trainees progressing through our driver training school in Cork. We will be increasing our recruitment campaigns in early 2025 to ensure we are in a position to deliver BusConnects to the people of Cork City.”
The future of Cork’s BusConnects project hangs in the balance, with the driver shortage posing a major obstacle. Weather bus Éireann can successfully recruit the necessary personnel and address concerns about unrealistic timetables remains to be seen.
Cork’s BusConnects Faces Major Hurdle: Driver Shortage Threatens aspiring Project
Cork, Ireland – A key component of Cork’s ambitious BusConnects plan is facing a significant roadblock: a severe shortage of bus drivers. Bus Éireann, the company responsible for implementing the new network, has confirmed it needs an additional 120 drivers to make the project a reality.
Sinn Féin TD for Cork North-Central, Thomas Gould, expressed grave concerns about the situation, stating, “To actually deliver the current routes, they need 50 extra drivers. They can’t recruit drivers as it is indeed. In my opinion, right now, BusConnects in Cork is dead in the water.”
gould highlighted the dire consequences of the driver shortage, pointing to recent instances where commuters have been left stranded due to cancelled services. He cited an example of a man who was 90 minutes late for college because of consecutive cancellations on the 214 bus route. bus Éireann attributed the cancellations to delays on the CUH to Glanmire service, which resulted in the return route being scrapped.Though, Gould argued that the issue lies not with the drivers but with unrealistic timetables. “I am sick and tired of outlining to the NTA that these timetables are not deliverable,” Gould said.”Bus drivers on this route have three minutes to travel the Lower Glanmire road with four stops, and one minute to drive into Kent Station, stop, and than get to the next stop, all in peak traffic. All of the bus drivers in the world won’t fix the issues with the timetables.”
while acknowledging the challenges, Bus Éireann maintains a positive outlook. In a statement, a spokesperson said the company is “working closely with the NTA to facilitate the rollout of BusConnects Cork, with a target launch date of late 2025 or early 2026.”
They also highlighted ongoing recruitment efforts, stating, “We currently have 21 trainees progressing through our driver training school in Cork. We will be increasing our recruitment campaigns in early 2025 to ensure we are in a position to deliver BusConnects to the people of Cork City.”