Hopefully it will become the norm on buses around the country
A Local Link bus in Galway(Image: Local Link Facebook)
Bus services in Galway are set for a big change that has been long overdue.
It has been announced that the NTA will roll out tap payments on TFI Local Links by the end of June 2026.
Bus users will be able to pay with their cards instead of relying on cash all of the time or a Leap Card.
It is something that bus and train services throughout the UK have had for quite some time.
Sinn Féin’s candidate in the upcoming Galway West bye-election, Mark Lohan said: “This is welcome news that progress is being made on modernising the ticketing system on our bus services.
“Currently Ireland lags behind other countries and the only options to pay a bus fare is by Leap Card or cash.
“Not only does this reduce accessibility of public transport , but it also causes delays while passengers are boarding that impact the timetable.
“The NTA must focus on continuing the roll-out of Next Generation Ticketing across all services, not just the Local Link. Currently it is projected to be rolled out in Dublin in 2028.
“We cannot have any delays with this important step in modernising the bus service.”
In similar news, a town in Galway is set to welcome a brand new bus service after a crucial taxi service closed down.
A brand new TFI Local Link stop is set to be built in Ballinasloe, which will be key for locals to access key medical service areas.
Ballinasloe Councillor Alan Harney confirmed that the National Transport Authority is committed to approving a TFI Local Link stop in Brackernagh.
This news comes after the much-loved Mighty Cabs, which has operated in the town for more than three decades, is set to close down on April 24.
The taxi service operated crucial routes to local health facilities, including Portiuncula Hospital and the social services day centre.
Its closure would have left an entire community without a travel option.
The owner of Mighty Cabs, Rory Daly, has revealed the reasons behind the closure, which include difficulty in recruiting qualified drivers and a high failure rate in the taxi driver test.
“My hand has been forced,” Mr Daly said.
“To drive a taxi, a driver must hold a PSV licence, which requires passing a two-part NTA test. The first part covers industry knowledge, while the second focuses on area knowledge.”
The new bus stop will be installed in the coming months, while Cllr Carney also revealed talks are ongoing with other taxi providers across the country.
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