National Transport Authority to consider new public bus route for Kildare college students

Several students in Newbridge attend college in Maynooth University

placeholder image — Several students in Newbridge attend college in Maynooth University

If approved, the bus route would run between Newbridge and Maynooth University

The National Transport Authority (NTA) has said that it will consider a new public bus route aimed at assisting college students based in County Kildare.

The announcement from yesterday (May 13 last) forms part of the NTA's plans to carry out a review of the bus network for Newbridge.

Specifically, the NTA will consider a public bus route between Newbridge and Maynooth University as part of this review of the bus network.

The news has been welcomed by Labour Party TD for Kildare South, Mark Wall, who previously was among a number of local representatives in Kildare who raised the need for a public bus route for students commuting from Newbridge to Maynooth University.

After raising the matter through a parliamentary question, the NTA replied that while there are no current plans for a public bus route between Newbridge and Maynooth, they would consider the proposal as part of their review of the overall bus network in Newbridge.

Reacting to the news, Deputy Wall said: "I welcome the NTA’s decision to consider my proposal for a public bus route in their review of the bus network in Newbridge.

"Students in Newbridge are being severely let down with no public bus option available to get them to college in Maynooth."

He continued: "A student travelling from Newbridge to Maynooth University using public transport is having to rely on multiple modes of transport with travel times of up to 90 minutes.

"Private transport operators can also be costly for students and journeys take nearly as long as public transport, with a typical journey taking at least 70 minutes... travelling that amount of time is completely unsustainable for anyone.

"With the college year finished these summer months now provide the best opportunity for the NTA to plan for implementing a public bus route for students travelling from Newbridge to Maynooth University."

Mark Wall TD (Labour Party). File photograph