The National Transport Authority (NTA), in partnership with Bus Éireann and TFI Local Link Limerick Clare, is proposing to improve Route 343 and would like to hear your views. 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:
Improve the public transport service between Limerick, Shannon and Ennis, as well as other intermediate places such as Sixmilebridge, Quin and Kilmurry.
Make services more frequent, more reliable, and easier to understand and use.
Improve access to Shannon Airport, with a new 24/7 service between the Airport, Shannon Town and Limerick.
The NTA intends to implement these revised routes and services by the end of this year.
Specific Proposals
The NTA intends to re-shape the current Route 343 by splitting it into four separate routes as follows:
New Route 343 will run between Limerick and Shannon (Town, Free Zone & Shannon Airport) and will be operated by Bus Éireann.
New Route 330 will run between Ennis and Shannon (Town, industrial zones & Shannon Airport) and will be operated by Bus Éireann.
New Route 316 will run between Sixmilebridge and Shannon (Town, industrial zones & Shannon Airport) and will be operated by Bus Éireann.
New Route 317 will run between the Jetland Shopping Centre (Limerick) and Ennis via Sixmilebridge and will be operated by TFI Local Link Limerick Clare.
The revised network will result in a higher frequency between Shannon and Limerick; a high-frequency, simple common bus corridor between Shannon Town, its industrial areas, and Shannon airport; and more departures to Ennis, Sixmilebridge, Kilmurry, Cratloe and Quin.
See Map 1 below showing the proposed network as a whole.
Map 1
Map 2 below shows in more detail how New Routes 343, 330 and 316 will serve a common path through Shannon Town, serving residential areas, schools, retail centres, industrial zones and the Airport.
Map 2
New Route Descriptions
New Route 343
New Bus Éireann Route 343 will run between Limerick and Shannon Airport via Setrights Cross, Bunratty, Shannon Town and Shannon Free Zone.
It will run every 20 minutes at peak times Monday to Friday and every 30 minutes at other times during the day and all-day at the weekend. It will also run 24/7, with buses running every 60 minutes throughout the night.
New Route 330
New Bus Éireann route 330will run between Ennis and Shannon Airport via Clarecastle, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Ballinooskny, Smithstown Industrial Estate, Shannon Town and Shannon Free Zone.
It will run every 60 minutes all-day daily, with extra buses at peak times Monday to Friday.
New Route 316
New Bus Éireann Route 316 will run between Sixmilebridge and Shannon Airport via Smithstown Industrial Estate, Shannon Town and Shannon Free Zone.
It will run every 2 hours daily, with extra buses at peak times Monday to Friday.
New Route 317
New TFI Local Link Limerick Clare Route 317 will run between the Jetland Shopping Centre (in Limerick) and Ennis via Cratloe, Sixmilebridge, Kilmurry and Quin.
It will run 3 times per day, daily.
Implications
As a consequence of the proposals:
Route 343 will no longer run beyond Shannon to Ennis. Alternative direct options between Limerick and Ennis will be the Limerick-Ennis Irish Rail Service, the Bus Éireann Expressway Route 51 or the Dublin Coach Route 300.
The number of departures on Bus Eireann Route 343X will not be changed, but the route will be renumbered 330X to be consistent with New Route 330. Outside of the times when the 330X will operate, passengers who travel between Newmarket-on-Fergus and Limerick will need to change between the New Routes 330 and 343 in Shannon at the Aidan Park stops on Bóthar Luchra, which have shelters in both directions.
Passengers who travel on Existing Route 343 journeys between Sixmilebridge and Limerick will need to use the Limerick-Ennis Irish Rail service or change between the New Routes 316 and 343 in Shannon at the Aidan Park stops on Bóthar Luchra, or the New Routes 317 and 343 at the Jetland Centre in Limerick.
The Existing Route 343 school journeys between Ennis and Munsters Cross via Quin, Kilmurry and Sixmilebridge will be withdrawn and replaced with New Route 317, which will operate to similar times.
Bus Éireann Route 346, which operates on Thursdays and Saturdays only, will be withdrawn.
Passengers between Tulla, Broadford and Limerick will need to use TFI Local Link Limerick Clare Route 318 instead, which runs daily and operates more departures.
Passengers between Whitegate, Scariff and Tulla will need to use TFI Local Link Limerick Clare Route 344 instead, which runs daily and operates more departures.
Passengers between Tulla, Kilmurry, Sixmilebridge and Limerick will need to use New Route 317 instead, which will run daily and operate more departures.
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 343 Consultation,
Transport Service Planning,
National Transport Authority,
Dún Scéine,
Harcourt Lane,
Dublin D02 WT20.
Closing Date
Consultation on this revised service will run for 3 weeks. The closing date for submissions is 4pm on Thursday 9 May 2024.
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.
Route 343 Amendment
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NTA Route 343 Amendment
The National Transport Authority (NTA), in partnership with Bus Éireann and TFI Local Link Limerick Clare, is proposing to improve Route 343 and would like to hear your views. 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:
The NTA intends to implement these revised routes and services by the end of this year.
Specific Proposals
The NTA intends to re-shape the current Route 343 by splitting it into four separate routes as follows:
The revised network will result in a higher frequency between Shannon and Limerick; a high-frequency, simple common bus corridor between Shannon Town, its industrial areas, and Shannon airport; and more departures to Ennis, Sixmilebridge, Kilmurry, Cratloe and Quin.
See Map 1 below showing the proposed network as a whole.
Map 1
Map 2 below shows in more detail how New Routes 343, 330 and 316 will serve a common path through Shannon Town, serving residential areas, schools, retail centres, industrial zones and the Airport.
Map 2
New Route Descriptions
New Route 343
New Bus Éireann Route 343 will run between Limerick and Shannon Airport via Setrights Cross, Bunratty, Shannon Town and Shannon Free Zone.
It will run every 20 minutes at peak times Monday to Friday and every 30 minutes at other times during the day and all-day at the weekend. It will also run 24/7, with buses running every 60 minutes throughout the night.
New Route 330
New Bus Éireann route 330 will run between Ennis and Shannon Airport via Clarecastle, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Ballinooskny, Smithstown Industrial Estate, Shannon Town and Shannon Free Zone.
It will run every 60 minutes all-day daily, with extra buses at peak times Monday to Friday.
New Route 316
New Bus Éireann Route 316 will run between Sixmilebridge and Shannon Airport via Smithstown Industrial Estate, Shannon Town and Shannon Free Zone.
It will run every 2 hours daily, with extra buses at peak times Monday to Friday.
New Route 317
New TFI Local Link Limerick Clare Route 317 will run between the Jetland Shopping Centre (in Limerick) and Ennis via Cratloe, Sixmilebridge, Kilmurry and Quin.
It will run 3 times per day, daily.
Implications
As a consequence of the proposals:
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 343 Consultation,
Transport Service Planning,
National Transport Authority,
Dún Scéine,
Harcourt Lane,
Dublin D02 WT20.
Closing Date
Consultation on this revised service will run for 3 weeks. The closing date for submissions is 4pm on Thursday 9 May 2024.
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.
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