Call for new direct bus from Derry to Dublin to be established

A call has been made for a new Derry to Belfast direct bus service and a direct route from Dublin to Derry to be established.

SDLP councillor Lilian Seenoi Barr. raised the issue at the full meeting of the Derry City and Strabane District Council last Wednesday and received a unanimous vote of support.

Council will now write to Translink expressing its support for the new direct services. Council is also asking that Translink secures a long-term solution for special rail and bus services for sporting events.

Cllr Barr said improving connectivity via public transport would help to build Derry’s economy.

“We need to make investments into our economy in this city which has been left behind for far too long. That starts with infrastructure and building the conditions necessary for a thriving city and region,” she said.

“I hope when an Executive is restored in Stormont that this is a day one priority for the new Minister for Infrastructure. In the meantime, I am pleased that Council supported this motion so that we can assure ourselves that we are taking action to improve the connectivity of our region.”

She said that while the length of car journeys have been reduced by the new A6 dual carriageway, the same cannot be said for bus journeys.

“While many will be rightly delighted that the second phase of the A6 road project is finally complete, I have also heard from many constituents who are understandably disappointed that journey times by public transport have not improved and Derry is still lacking a direct service to Belfast or Dublin,” she said.

“Public transport commuters have also faced a five-year delay and disruption in their journeys while the A6 upgrade was ongoing, so it is deeply frustrating that still the quickest journey time on the 212 bus service is two hours.”

Increasing public transport will also help to combat the climate crisis according to Cllr Barr.

“We will also continue to fall further behind on dealing with the climate crisis if we do not reduce the number of cars on our roads and increase public transport. And given the fact that we are all advocating for a green economy and sustainability, direct services should be considered as a priority.”

At last week's meeting DUP Alderman Keith Kerrigan raised concerns that a new direct service would not do much for rural communities.

“Will that be taking away a bit from the current service? I do have concerns there,” he said.

“If you want a direct route from the city to Dublin or Belfast or vice versa, you're still forcing that rural population into the city.

“If you're seriously trying to reduce the use of cars and put more on public transport I think we need a better service there from the likes of Castlederg to the city. There's no direct route from Castlederg to Londonderry.”

He said he would be happy to lobby for it as long as it is an additional service and does not diminish the existing one.

Cllr Barr said they were not interested in lobbying for a replacement.

“Just to reassure our rural councillors, this is just an addition. It's not about starving the rural areas with connectivity.

“ In fact, I think they should be getting some direct buses. There would be no problem with Claudy getting a bus that doesn't come from Derry. It can start from Claudy and go to Belfast,

“It's all about improving connectivity, allowing our city to grow its own economy,” she said.