Some Kildare residents wait 50 minutes for a bus

A review is needed of all bus services operating within County Kildare.

There is a waiting time of 50 minutes for some services, according to Cllr Chris Pender.

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KCC was asked to request the National Transport Authority “and other relevant organisations” to review and realign the services.

Cllr Pender and Cllr Pat Balfe say the assessment is needed for people who rely on public transport, including for education and work.

At a KCC meeting, they said it may be necessary to adjust local bus timetables to align more effectively with train departure and arrival times “across key stations to ensure practical and reliable connections.”

They want morning and evening services to match school start and finish times as well as standard working hours, particularly in areas with limited transport alternatives.

The councilors have also called for gaps in services to be addressed, especially during off-peak periods.

This is needed, they say, to make public transport a more consistent and viable daily option for communities across the county.

Cllr Pender said all bus users need to be looked after including in towns like Suncroft, Robertstown and Rathangan - and not just people who want to go to Dublin.

He said people wanting to go from Rathangan to Kildare town wait 50 minutes for a bus.

Cllr Nuala Killeen said the vast majority of waiting times for buses in the Celbridge area exceed 15 minutes - which means this is not a "viable transport option.”

Cllr Suzanne Doyle said there is need to follow up with the bus operators to see that the terms of the licence granted are being observed. Cllr Doyle said some of these licences are very lucrative for the service operators.