Route 233 Amendment

Route 233 Amendment – The National Transport Authority wants your views!

The National Transport Authority (NTA), in partnership with Bus Éireann and TfI Local Link Cork, intends to re-structure and improve the level of service on Route 233 in County Cork and would like to hear your views on our concept proposals. This enhancement is part of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan, which is a major national public transport initiative developed and funded by the National Transport Authority (NTA) as part of the Transport for Ireland (TFI) Network.

The purpose of the amendment is to provide the following:

• A clearly presented, comprehensible 3-strand bus service between Macroom and Cork City, also serving intermediate settlements along 3 separate coherent paths.
• A 7-day week service on a new Route 256 between Macroom and Bantry, serving Toonsbridge,  Inchigeelagh, Ballingeary, Cappabue, Kealkill and Ballylickey.
• Significantly improved levels of service and hours of service operation along the Macroom -  Ballincollig - Cork City corridor, including mid-week evenings and throughout the weekend.
• Improved connectivity with regional and local services at both Cork and Macroom Bus Stations.
• Better coverage by bus of the rapidly developing town of Macroom.

We plan to implement our proposals during Q4 2024 but achieving this will be subject to the availability of the necessary additional funding and resources.

Proposals

Specifically, there will be 3 strands of service on the Cork – Macroom corridor, re-organised into north (N), central (C), and southern (S) variants, and a new Route 256 Macroom – Inchigeelagh – Ballingeary - Kealkill – Bantry, and return.

• Route 233N will operate on the Macroom – Coachford – Dripsey - Ballincollig – Cork City alignment. It will deviate away from its existing alignment on Lee Road in order to serve Ballincollig instead, proceeding to Cork City via Carrigrohane Road.
• Route 233C will operate on the Macroom – Crookstown – Faranes – Farran – Ovens (EMC) – Ballincollig alignment. This will feed into services on urban Route 220 services at Ballincollig.
• Route 233S will operate on the Macroom – Kilmurry – Crookstown – Aherla – Killumney – Ballincollig – Cork City alignment.
• Route 256 – Macroom – Inchigeelagh –Ballingeary – Kealkill - Bantry, and return.

Overall, our objective is to provide more clearly presented and easily understood, useful and effective  services in this major suburban corridor focussed on the Cork Metropolitan Area as the dominant attraction and get more people to use public transport more often.

Additionally, as part of this, it’s proposed to enhance the service offering to the western suburbs of Macroom by extending the 233 to areas such as Lios Na Fea and Gurteenroe.

Based on feedback from the public, and further analysis of available data, proposals will be re-examined to improve the service offering along this corridor.

Figure 1: Overall network map of proposed routes between Cork and Macroom and Macroom and Bantry

Figure 2: Network map of proposed routes in Macroom

How to make a submission

To make an online submission, please click on “+ MAKE A SUBMISSION” button on this webpage.

Alternatively, please make a written submission to the address below:

Route 233 Consultation,
Transport Service Planning,
National Transport Authority,
Dún Scéine,
Harcourt Lane,
Dublin D02 WT20.

Closing Date

We welcome all feedback and commentary for a period of 3 weeks – closing date is 13/05/2024 at 17:00.

Data Privacy Statement

Making a submission indicates that you agree with the NTA Privacy Statement and NTA Public Consultation Statement of Privacy. If you require further information please contact [email protected].

Freedom of Information

NTA is subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2014 and, therefore, must consider any request for information made under that Act. Submissions received to the consultations will be published online.