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Translink are planning to add some extra services to their Newry - Dublin Airport - Dublin bus timetable, but the return of a 24 hour bus service between Newry and Dublin seemingly isn't on the radar just yet!
Five years ago bus services ran through the night to and from Newry on an hourly basis serving Dublin Airport and the city. It meant a night out or a late flight arrival was not an issue. In 2018/ 2019 night time services were reduced to every two hours but with the onset of the pandemic, presently no bus services run through the night at all.
At present 5.25am is the first bus to Dublin from Newry while 7.55pm is the last. Returning from Dublin Airport the last bus of the day is 10.30pm with the next one not leaving the terminal till 8am, of no use at all to people arriving on later flights.
From 6 June, there will be several extra services on the route but these still leave a large gap through the night, necessitating travellers bringing their own vehicles or getting lifts. A taxi is most likely out of the question also, with the Airport to Newry run currently priced at around €240.
The additional services include a 6.00am and a 10.00pm Goldliner X1 coach service from Newry to Dublin as well as a later departure from Dublin City to Newry, at 00.45am calling at Dublin Airport at 1.15am. The next bus from the Airport then has changed slightly to 8.15am leaving a potential 7 hour wait for passengers without transport.
When asked by Newry.ie about overnight bus services a Translink Spokesperson said “We keep all of our routes under continuing review to ensure we meet passenger demand.”
Although the one hour services to Dublin Airport from Newry can provide a challenge, generally they are still preferable though to the public transport option to Aldergrove Airport, which takes between two and two and a half hours! For a society that is supposedly trying to reduce the number of vehicles on the road, suitable public transport options just aren't there when it comes to air travel.
