Bus Éireann announces extra services for the visit of Pope Francis

Bus Éireann has announced a significantly enhanced service on Sunday, August 26, to facilitate visitors to Knock and Dublin for the visit of Pope Francis.

In order to cater for anticipated demand Bus Éireann will operate additional services on the following routes:

Route 440: (Westport to Knock, Athlone to Knock).

Route 421: (Ballina to Knock).

Route 64 : (Galway – Knock – Sligo).

In addition to these extra services Bus Éireann will operate a bus shuttle between Claremorris train station and Knock.

For those who have a ticket for the event, the bus shuttle service will be free.

Please visit www.buseireann.ie/popeinireland for further information on all these services

Meanwhile, over 500,000 people are expected to visit Dublin City on August 26, where a Mass will be celebrated by Pope Francis.

An Garda Síochána have urged motorists and the public to use public transport to travel there. In order to cater for anticipated demand, Bus Éireann will operate a greatly enhanced schedule which will see overall capacity increasing by over 100% on August 26.

Over 800 trips on both commuter and Expressway services will provide for over 30,000 passenger journeys to and from Dublin on the day.

Commuter services to Dublin

An enhanced Sunday timetable will operate in both the morning and evening peak to cater for anticipated demand.

Route 101 Drogheada – Balbriggan – Dublin

Route 103 Ratoath – Ashbourne - Dublin

Route 109 Cavan - Virginia - Kells – Navan – Dunshaughlin - Dublin

Route NX Navan – Dublin City

Route 111 Cavan – Granard – Athboy – Trim - Dublin

Route 115 Mullingar - Enfield - Kilcock - Dublin

Route 120 Tullamore - Edenderry – Clane - Dublin

Route 126 Kildare - Newbridge - Naas – Kill - Dublin

Route 133 Wicklow – Ashford - Dublin City

Tickets for these services can be purchased in advance at www.buseireann.ie

Expressway intercity services to Dublin

To facilitate additional demand, a number of special intercity services will operate to and from Dublin City. Customers booking these services are guaranteed a seat with a shortened journey time due to limited stops. Details on these special services are as follows:

Route 2 Wexford (0700), Enniscorthy (0720), Gorey (0745) & Arklow (0800)

Route 4 New Ross (0630), Waterford (0700) & Carlow (0800)

Route X8 Cork (0600), Fermoy (0630), Mitchelstown (0650), Cahir (0715) & Cashel (0730)

Route 12 Limerick (0630), Nenagh (0710), Roscrea (0740) Portlaoise (0810)

Route X20 Galway (0530), Loughrea (0600), Ballinasloe (0630) & Athlone (0700)

Route 22: Ballina (0630), Swinford (0730), Charlestown (0738) & Longford (0910)

Route 23 Sligo (0630), Boyle (0650) & Carrick-on-Shannon (0715)

Route 30 Donegal (0530), Ballyshannon (0550), Enniskillen (0630), Cavan (0720) & Virginia (0805)

Route 32 Letterkenny (0530), Strabane (0600), Omagh (0630) Monaghan (0715), Castleblayney (0750) & Carickmacross (0805)

Route 100X Dundalk (0730) & Drogheda (0800)

Tickets for these services must be purchased in advance on www.expressway.ie

All other Bus Éireann Expressway intercity services will run as normal and family return tickets represent real value.

All other services will run to a normal Sunday timetable

Diversions in Dublin City Centre

Due to the scale of events taking place in Dublin city centre, a number of routes will be diverted and may operate from alternative stops.

For specific route information and timetables see www.buseireann.ie/popeinireland nearer the time.