Aontú councillor says she will closely monitor new services to ensure they deliver the extra capacity and reliability passengers need. Cllr Emer Tóibín has welcomed the introduction of improved NX bus services between Navan and Dublin, following months of representations to the National Transport Authority (NTA) on behalf of commuters struggling with overcrowding, cancellations, delays and passengers being left behind.
The improved timetable, which came into effect on the 11th October, includes two additional early-morning departures from Navan at 5am and 5.20am, alongside more frequent peak-time services. Buses now operate approximately every 15 minutes during peak periods, rather than every 20 minutes, in both directions. The Dublin terminus has also moved to Moss Street, close to Tara Street Station.
Cllr Tóibín said the changes were welcome, but stressed that the real test would be whether they made a tangible difference to passengers’ daily journeys. “I have been raising the problems with the NX service with the NTA for some time. We held a meeting with 5 NTA management and 4 BÉ management back in January of this year. The third meeting in as many years. Our office regularly receives daily messages from commuters who are experiencing overcrowded buses, being left behind at stops, cancellations, breakdowns and a lack of sufficiently early and frequent services.
“These are not minor inconveniences. People depend on this service to get to work, college and appointments on time. When a bus is full or fails to arrive, the consequences can be significant, particularly for those who have very limited alternatives. I have brought these concerns directly to the NTA and continued to press for increased capacity, additional early-morning departures and a more reliable service. It is encouraging to see improvements finally being implemented.”
Cllr Tóibín emphasised that the campaign would not end with the introduction of the new timetable : “We will be keeping a very close eye on how the service performs over the coming weeks. I want to establish whether the additional departures and increased frequency are actually addressing overcrowding and reducing the number of passengers being left behind.
“I will continue to communicate the experiences of commuters to the NTA and press for further improvements wherever the evidence shows they are needed. If particular services remain overcrowded, if cancellations continue, or if the timetable is not meeting demand, those issues must be addressed.
“While the increased frequency is welcome, I also remain concerned about the removal of stops at Westland Row, Merrion Square and Wilton Terrace. Many commuters have contacted me to say their commute has become more expensive and longer as a result of now needing to use Dublin City Services to reach their south side workplace. It is important that the changes improve the overall journey for passengers, rather than simply shifting difficulties elsewhere.
“Navan is a growing town, and our public transport services has not kept pace with that growth. Commuters deserve a service they can depend on, with sufficient capacity to get them to their destinations without unnecessary stress or delay.
“This is a positive step, but we need to see sustained improvements on the ground. I will continue to hold the NTA and the operators accountable and make sure the voices of Navan and Meath commuters are heard.”
Cllr Tóibín encouraged passengers to continue reporting overcrowding, missed services, cancellations and other difficulties so that these can be raised with the relevant authorities as the new timetable beds in.
