Airport bus drop off in city frustrating

By the time I collected my bag I eventually got to the bus stop outside the airport building at about 11.20 pm. The next bus to Belfast was 1.00am - a wait of one hour 40 minutes on this particularly freezing cold night. The bus stop facilities at Dublin Airport are sparse to say the least - a canopy covered area affording no protection against the elements which has seating for four people.

The bus was to call at Newry, Banbridge and that well known town called Sprucefield and then Belfast. The bus comes off the motorway at Newry and goes into the Newry bus station; time taken on this detour 12 minutes. It then proceeds towards Banbridge and again comes off the carriageway to disembark all of the many passengers for Banbridge, in this case none; time taken on this detour five minutes and then we headed for the metropolis known as Sprucefield where you disembark for the city of Lisburn.

Surely Dublin airport could have planned and installed large “covered in” bus stops during their recent costly renovation of the airport? Waiting for one hour 40 minutes for a bus in a cold unsheltered bus shelter is not a great ‘Welcome to Ireland’ for tourists and airport clients.

Surely there has to be at least one hourly services between the two capitals of Ireland? It is not beyond the wit of man for Translink and Air Coach to sort this out. Even if it does lose some money on the route I am sure there are inter governmental subsidies available for both companies to bring a professional and much needed service to this route - remember this is a tourist’s first experience of Irish hospitality when they arrive off a flight.

Even if the Lisburn bus station is closed at night surely the bus can still be driven into Market Place and drop the passengers off in the near vicinity of three taxi cab companies, and then drive up Chapel Hill onto Govenors Road and back to the motorway - added journey time probably five minutes.

John Miskelly