Limerick becomes Ireland's first all-electric city as new bus fleet launches

LIMERICK has become Ireland's first regional city to see a fully electric bus service launched as part of a €54m investment.

Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan, along with Stephen Kent, CEO Bus Éireann, and Anne Graham, CEO National Transport Authority (NTA), launched Limerick’s electric service this Friday in Colbert Station on April 12, 2024.

The new services include 55 state-of-the-art double deck electric buses to be introduced as part of the NTA investment.

It also includes reconfiguration of the Limerick’s Roxboro bus depot, the installation of 35 charging stations, an electric substation to power the fleet and a comprehensive driver and mechanic training programme.

Speaking at the launch, Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan said: "Bus passenger numbers in Limerick city went up 15% last year and already up another 5 or 6% in the first three months of this year. And what we're going to do is not just electrify the buses, the city buses, but increase the capacity by 70% in the next two years.

"I think more than anything else, it's about the growth and the prosperity and the sense of community than anything else, it's about the growth and the prosperity and the sense of community in Limerick city."

Limerick-based Green Party TD, Brian Leddin spoke to Limerick Live, saying: "Limerick is the first city in Ireland that's going to get a fully electric bus fleet. I live on Clancy Strand, and there's lots of buses going up and down, [and] this has actually made a really big difference to the local environment [as] we don't have the noisy buses anymore, we have these quiet electric ones."

Limerick-based Sinn Féin TD, Maurice Quinlivan, also said: "It's great to see the redevelopment that has went on with the train station as well, to see the number of people using the buses. But I believe there's issues across the city where some of the services have really improved in the last number of years but some have went backward.

"I grew up in Ballynanty and in that area the bus ran from half an hour back to one hour and unfortunately it doesn't always come so well. If we want people to get on buses, we're serious about this, we have to make the bus services safe, secure, affordable and reliable."

The service will be operated by Bus Éireann, and funded by the National Transport Authority.

The investment follows Ireland’s first ever all-electric town bus service, which was launched in Athlone in January 2023.

Stephen Kent, CEO Bus Éireann says: “Our mission is to help make life better and this transformative €54m investment in new zero emission fleet and charging infrastructure, funded by the NTA, helps us reduce greenhouse gas emissions, providing a cleaner and greener public transport solution for everyone in Limerick city.