Bus co under pressure to halt non-stop Dublin service

Date Published: 30-Oct-2009

ONE of Galway’s leading coach companies is coming under pressure to stop its direct service from the city to Dublin.

Citylink currently runs 15 bus journeys daily leaving the Forster Street Coach Station which are non-stop from Galway to Dublin city, which then continue on to Dublin Airport. However, the Department of Transport has ordered for this service to stop, saying that the company does not have the appropriate licence to run such trips.

“Citylink currently hold a number of licenses to operate multistop services between Galway and Dublin City/Dublin airport. However, they are currently operating a number of non-stop services in addition to their licensed services,” a spokeswoman from the Department of Transport said.

“A meeting took place with representatives of Citylink (on Tuesday of last week) at which Department officials outlined the company’s responsibilities to comply with the legislative provisions pertaining to the operation of bus services generally.

“They were instructed to cease the operation of the unlicensed services. The Department has referred the issue of the operation of unlicensed services to the Gardaí for investigation.”

Spokesman for Citylink Mark Bushell has rejected any allegations that the company does not have a licence for the direct service, labelling current regulations surrounding bus service licences as “archaic” and adding that, to his knowledge, the company has had no contact from the Gardai.