Bus Connects

As part of the National Transport Authority's Bus Connects network redesign project, in 2017 and 2018 a US-based consulting firm (Jarrett Walker + Associates) were employed to review and redesign the daytime bus network in and around Dublin. The purpose of the network redesign was to improve network functionality and increase bus ridership in the Dublin Metropolitan Area, an area which encompasses over 1.4 million people over several counties. It was noted that the traditional Dublin Bus network was good for many radial routes (i.e. taking people from the suburbs into the city core) but lacked orbital accessibility (i.e. getting from suburb to suburb).

The initial network proposal was released for public consultation in summer 2018, and the revised proposal was released for public comment by October 2019. The NTA began implementing the new network in stages, starting in 2021. It will improve the existing Transport For Ireland network by providing enhanced bus services with high frequency spines and new local, orbital and radial routes.

As part of their contract, Jarrett Walker + Associates were not tasked with the expansion of 24-hour and night-time bus services in Dublin, as this was a separate decision taken by the NTA without their involvement. 

Date of implementation: November 28th 2021

• New services - 52, C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, L51, L52, L53, L54, L58, L59, P29, X25, X26, X27, X28, X30, X31, X32

• Discontinued - 25, 25A, 25B, 25D, 25X, 66, 66A, 66B, 66E, 66N, 66X, 67, 67N, 67X, 239

• Alterations - 1, 15A, 15B, 15D, 25N and 26

On the November 28th, the TFI 90 Minute Fare was also introduced. This alongside the short fare streamlined TFI Leap Card fares in the Dublin Area.

Date of implementation: May 29th 2022

• New services - N4, N6

• Discontinued - 17A, 31D

Date of implementation: October 16th 2022

• New services - 60, G1, G2

• Discontinued - 25N, 79, 79A

• Alterations - 40

Date of implementation: June 25th 2023

• New services - W4, W61, W62

• Postponed - W6

The W61 and W62 were introduced on a temporary basis until infrastructure works were completed at the Grand Canal in Hazelhatch. Once these were completed the services were discontinued and the full W6 service was implemented from November 24th 2024.

Date of implementation: November 26th 2023

• New services - 44D, 74, L25, L55, S2, S4, S6, S8, W2

• Discontinued - 17, 17D, 18, 61, 75, 75A, 76, 76A, 175

• Alterations - 14

Date of implementation: September 29th 2024

• New services - N2

Date of implementation: January 26th 2025

• New services - 11B, 19, E1, E2, E9, L1, L2, L3, L12, L14, L15, L26, L27, X1, X2

• Discontinued - 46A, 46E, 63, 63A, 84, 84A, 84X, 143, 144, 145, 155, 184, 185

• Alterations - 4, 11, 13

Date of implementation: tbd 2025

• New services - O