Route 819 officially launched

The new 819 Mullingar to Athlone rural bus service began operating yesterday morning, Monday, and is now running five times a day, seven days a week.

On Thursday last, the low-floor accessible bus, which can carry up to 33 passengers, stood glinting in the autumn sunshine at Belvedere House, about to depart on a practice run.

“A lot of people may not have used a rural transport bus before so today we’re demonstrating to local people how the service will operate, and it also gives us a chance to check the timetables, ticket machines,” said Damien O’Neill, manager TFI Local Link Longford Westmeath Roscommon.

“It’s a 2021 low-floor Iveco Crusader we have today, it’s one of two new vehicles that will be coming on this route. The first service is leaving Athlone at 5.40 in the morning, so if you’re working early in Mullingar, or you need to catch a train in Mullingar, it will get you in just before 7.10am. And the last service that runs into Athlone at night will be at 13 minutes past 12,” says Mr O’Neill, adding that the route will also service Belvedere House and Gardens three times a day between April and September.

Commencing in Mullingar, the route takes in Ballinea, Dysart, Castletown Geoghegan, Loughnavalley, Killare, Ballymore, Drumraney, Walderstown, Mount Temple, and Baylin on the way to Athlone.

“People who have travel passes can now use this route for free,” said Mr O’Neill. “It will also help students from those villages going to college, and those travelling to work – they can leave the car at home and not have to worry about parking. The fares are reasonable as well, the most expensive fare is an adult single between Athlone and Mullingar and that is €6. We’d advise people to use the TFI Go app, or the TFI Go Leap card, as they give discounts and are the cheapest way to travel.”

Local ministers, TDs and councillors were present on Thursday to inspect the new service.

Minister Peter Burke said: “The service really opens up access in rural areas – which has been a challenge. I think it will be a huge asset because we’re looking at five departures from Mullingar to Athlone per day, serving so many of the villages along the route. Students, workers, and people wanting to socialise – I’ve heard young people saying already that they can get the bus into town from Castletown Geoghegan at night time, which will reduce traffic on the road and it’s a safer form of transport.

“The fact that it’s wheelchair accessible is an asset as well, the floor can lower to help the elderly and wheelchair-bound board the bus.”

In agreement that it was a “good news story” for rural Westmeath was Deputy Robert Troy, who said he hoped it would encourage people to leave cars at home.

“It’s a good quality bus service that’s going to connect the two major county towns, and support all the villages in between, which is probably even more important,” he said.

“Bus Éireann is already connecting Mullingar to Athlone, but the disconnect was between the villages in between. And there is people of the older generation that will benefit from it who may no longer feel confident to drive into town, or people who don’t own a car, and, given that it’s such a frequent service, we’re hoping that people who actually do have a car will make the change to public transport because it’s going to be an efficient, affordable, and reliable service on a quality bus.”

Green Party councillor, Hazel Smyth, says it’s a positive move towards reducing carbon emissions.

“I think it’s absolutely fantastic. It’s really positive for Mullingar and Westmeath to give people the option to leave the car and sit back and relax, and take the bus instead.

The fact that’s it’s a regular service is really great as well. It will help us reduce our carbon emissions – which is essential, but there’s so many reasons – it’s positive for tourism, for students, workers and those who can’t drive, the option to head into town is a lifeline,” said Cllr Smyth.

“I have had so many people contact me who live in the likes of Ballinea or Dysart who find it really hard to get into Mullingar, even though it’s not that far, it’s just there was no option before. Now there’s a bus service, so it’s really positive news for people, and hopefully we’ll see more routes rolled out in the future,” she said.

Demand

The cathaoirleach of Westmeath County Council, Cllr Liam McDaniels, said it’s something rural people have been “crying out for”.

“It’s providing a great new service giving people in rural areas an opportunity to travel to and from our major towns. This is a service that people have been crying out for, for a long time, and it’s more than welcome. I congratulate all who had a hand in bringing this to fruition.”

Cllr Tom Farrell, who was on the board of rural transport for a number of years, said the service will suit both young and old. “It’s all about connection. Mullingar and Athlone as towns are working a lot closer together now, it’s going to buoy up both towns, for tourism it will be absolutely fantastic – Belvedere, the Hill of Uisneach.

“For education, you have the TUS in Athlone, the schools in Mullingar, and all the schools along the route, national schools. I’ve been talking to people in Castletown Geoghegan, Drumraney and Baylin and they’re all excited about this new service,” said Cllr Farrell, adding that “it’s a win-win” as, “it’s also important to get cars off the road to a certain extent”.

Cllr Paul Hogan again highlighted the benefit to business and education, and hoped people would make use of the service. “I live in Castletown and I work in Athlone, in the college, I can now leave the car at home if I want to. It also provides an opportunity for Athlone people to travel to Mullingar hospital, or for those who live in Athlone and work in Mullingar.

“From a business perspective, and an education perspective, students from Mullingar can now access TUS Athlone five times a day, and back,” said Cllr Hogan. “The first bus leaves at 20 to six in the morning, and the last bus ends at quarter past 12, so it is a fantastic service. It operates the free travel pass, and it’s free for under five years (of age), so I hope it’s well used and word spreads quickly that this service exists.”