A MAJOR blow is on the way for passengers as Aircoach has announced plans to axe a Dublin Airport service.
The Dublin Airport to Bray and Greystones service will cease operations later this month.
It is the only one that goes directly from Dublin Airport to Bray and Greystones.
And Wicklow Sinn Féin TD John Brady has since raised major concerns about plans with the National Transport Authority to end the service.
He is now urging the NTA and Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien to intervene and ensure there is still a direct link between Wicklow and the airport.
This comes after Aircoach confirmed that they’re reviewing their Wicklow routes and the demand for their services.
Last September, Deputy Brady met with Aircoach representatives to discuss the impact of route changes that started over the summer.
The changes included merging two routes in July, with the 703 route now part of the 702 from Greystones.
As a result, stops that were once on the 703 route in places like Killiney, Dalkey, Dun Laoghaire and Monkstown are now served by the 702.
The changes also meant that journey times now stretch to nearly three hours during peak times.
And the new proposals suggest that the 702 route will no longer service Wicklow by late February or early March.
In a statement, Aircoach said: “The goal of this review is to align our service offering to customer demand in a way that best fulfils our mission of providing quick, reliable, and frequent services for customers travelling to and from Dublin Airport.
“Aircoach is currently engaging in the necessary regulatory discussions with the NTA, and following regulatory approval, we will be in a position to communicate further on the proposed changes.”
Deputy Brady has called on the NTA and Minister O’Brien to intervene and make sure the direct service remains.
He said: “I am deeply concerned about the proposal to curtail the Aircoach service between Dublin Airport and Wicklow. The 702 Aircoach service provides a critically important bus service between the airport and Bray and Greystones.
“Currently, there are plans with the NTA to change this route and terminate the service in Dalkey; this would mean there would be no service to Wicklow.
“The proposal is to end this vital service from late February or early March. This decision will have a significant impact on residents who rely on this essential bus link to access Dublin Airport.
“The removal of the service will leave people with few viable alternatives, forcing many into their cars, which will increase traffic congestion and emissions.”
Brady is now urging Aircoach to rethink their decision to merge the routes, as he said it made the service less convenient for users.
While he added that he understands the company’s need to make commercial choices, Brady stressed the importance of reliable and accessible public transport.
He added: “Now, under new proposals before the NTA, the service will only go as far as Dalkey, effectively cutting off Greystones, Bray, and other areas from direct bus access to Dublin Airport.
“This is a critical service, and I urge the NTA and the Transport Minister to act urgently and to guarantee that Wicklow residents are not left without a viable direct bus option to Dublin Airport.”
