Max HeyraudDublin’s clubs might not be going late just yet, but our public transport is going late as Dublin Bus launches Phase 7 of the BusConnects network redesign, a major expansion that includes three new 24-hour routes, a new 20-hour route and wider coverage across the capital.
According to Dublin Bus, the update will boost services in the affected areas by over 14%. Described as the most geographically extensive phase of the programme to date, it’s being hailed as a game-changer for passengers, particularly those involved in the city’s nightlife, whether for work or leisure.
“This is really about connecting more people to more places,” said Dublin Bus spokesperson Blake Boland. “And there’ll be greater coverage off the back of this as well. There’s going to be some adjustments to routes, and I suppose it could be a good opportunity to correct a misconception that this is simply putting a few new stickers on bus stops. This is part of a much wider scheme of connecting more people.”
The new 24-hour F spine routes, F1, F2, and F3, will start in Charlestown on Dublin’s northside and travel along a shared corridor through the city centre, before splitting to serve different areas on the southside. The F1 will continue toward Ballycullen, the F2 to Kiltipper, and the F3 will operate as a supporting service along the same main stretch. Meanwhile, the Route 80 will link the city centre with Ballyfermot, and the Route 24, running 20 hours a day, will connect Docklands with Nutgrove via key hubs like Camden Street and Rathmines.
The BusConnects programme, which will eventually boost the total kilometres covered by bus routes by 35%, is part of Ireland’s broader effort to make public transport more sustainable. The Climate Change Advisory Council has previously urged the government to “demonstrate increased ambition for sustainable public transport investment” if it hopes to meet national emissions targets.
