Limerick bus glitch solved as saver tickets accepted
Semi-State bus provider confirmed day and period saver tickets now being accepted on route 310
SAVER bus passes are now being accepted on Bus Éireann's Route 310 service after a ticket validation issue prevented passengers from using them following the route's transfer from Dublin Coach.
The semi-State bus provider took over the running of route 310, which links Limerick city centre to Annacotty, Castletroy, plus Ballysimon Road and the new Towlerton development.
However, the Limerick Leader has learned that until recently, saver tickets – valid on every other city bus service – were not being accepted on the 310.
Instead, passengers were asked to pay €1.35 for each journey on a Leap card, or €1.90 if opting for a paper ticket.
Following a query from this newspaper, the National Transport Authority (NTA) - which afforded the contract for the running of the route to Bus Eireann – has confirmed this is no longer the case.
Bus Éireann took over operation of the route in April.
Prior to that, the service had been operated by Dublin Coach, and passengers had complained of delays, and no-shows, plus the fact cash was not accepted on-board.
A spokesperson for the NTA said: “Bus Eireann has confirmed there was an issue with validation of period tickets on route 310. A fix was deployed on May 18 and subsequent testing carried out in the days afterwards showed period tickets validating.”
Twenty-four hour day passes are available for €3.80 for passengers using a pre-paid Leap card.
These allow unlimited travel on all bus services across the city area. There are also more expensive tickets which give unlimited travel for seven-day and one-month period, while annual taxsaver tickets are also available.
Speaking ahead of the start of the new contract in April, Jeremy Ryan, director of public transport services at the NTA said: “The introduction of a new contract for Route 310 ensures the continued delivery of this key service for communities in Limerick. As part of the TFI network, the route will continue to provide a reliable and accessible public transport option, with service enhancements and fully electric vehicles supporting an overall better experience for passengers”
A total of 10 bus services cover the city and its suburbs. Additional services also operate into rural parts of Limerick, albeit on less frequent timetables.