Historically, bus services in Dublin were operated mainly by the
Dublin United Transport Company, which was incorporated into
CIÉ in 1945.
Today, two subsidiary companies of state-owned
Córas Iompair Éireann operate most of the bus services in and around Dublin but many other private companies also provide services.
Most routes are awarded to the state-owned firms by non-tendered direct award[1] (with the exception of Dublin Bus Airlink and Bus Éireann Expressway services, which are entirely commercial); but recently a portion of both firms routes were offered for public tender. Neither firm retained these routes, with
Go-Ahead Ireland winning both contracts [2][3]
Some additional routes are tendered where a need is identified by the
National Transport Authority. These are
public service obligation routes and occasionally replace sections of withdrawn or altered Bus Éireann Expressway services.
City and local services
State-owned
Dublin Bus operates the vast majority of bus services in Dublin, including night services on Fridays and Saturdays and some limited 24h services.
State-tendered
Go-Ahead Ireland operate approximately 10% of the total Dublin network, primarily consisting of routes transferred from Dublin Bus after it won a competitive tender process.
Go-Ahead additionally won the tender for the 197 service from
Swords to
Ashbourne which began operating on 24 November 2019. This does not operate as part of the Dublin network.[4]
Aircoach operates 3 express routes from Dublin Airport in the Dublin area, including the city centre as well as other destinations which connects with many of Dublin's major hotels.
Airport Hopper operate two services between
Tallaght[6] and
Maynooth[7] and Dublin Airport
Ashbourne Connect operate services between
Ashbourne &
Ratoath and the city [8]
Balbriggan Express operates between
Balbriggan and the city [9]
Dublin Coach operate between
Dundrum and Dublin Airport [10]
Express Bus operates various routes, primarily connecting business parks including
Park West to the city or public transport nodes.[11]
Nolan Coaches, provides transfers between Heuston railway station and the
Dublin Port for ferry foot passengers on behalf
Stena Line and
Irish Ferries.[14]
St Kevin's Bus Service operates a 7-day service between
Glendalough,
County Wicklow and Dublin city centre.
Swords Express Between Dublin City Centre and Swords Manor via Applewood, Pavilion Shopping centre Swords, River Valley, Boroimhe using the
Dublin Port Tunnel.[15]
Longer distance and express services
State-owned
Bus Éireann operates many long-distance and express services to/from Dublin.
State-tendered
Go-Ahead Ireland won a competitive tender to take over a group of services from Dublin to the
County Kildare area from Bus Éireann which began operations between 1 December 2019 and 19 January 2020, replacing Bus Éireann on these routes[16]
Aircoach run 18 express non-stop coach service a day between Dublin and
Cork with a journey time of three hours to/from Dublin city centre and three and a half hours to/from Dublin Airport. They also operate 22 daily non-stop services from
Belfast to Dublin City via Dublin Airport.
Matthews Coaches operates two daily routes: an express service from
Dundalk and a frequent service to
Bettystown and
Laytown. Their Dublin terminus is Parnell Street.
Wexford Bus Operates express coaches throughout the day and night connecting Wexford, Enniscorthy, Ferns, Camolin, Gorey and Arklow with Dublin City and Airport
Historically, bus services in Dublin were operated mainly by the
Dublin United Transport Company, which was incorporated into
CIÉ in 1945.
Today, two subsidiary companies of state-owned
Córas Iompair Éireann operate most of the bus services in and around Dublin but many other private companies also provide services.
Most routes are awarded to the state-owned firms by non-tendered direct award[1] (with the exception of Dublin Bus Airlink and Bus Éireann Expressway services, which are entirely commercial); but recently a portion of both firms routes were offered for public tender. Neither firm retained these routes, with
Go-Ahead Ireland winning both contracts [2][3]
Some additional routes are tendered where a need is identified by the
National Transport Authority. These are
public service obligation routes and occasionally replace sections of withdrawn or altered Bus Éireann Expressway services.
City and local services
State-owned
Dublin Bus operates the vast majority of bus services in Dublin, including night services on Fridays and Saturdays and some limited 24h services.
State-tendered
Go-Ahead Ireland operate approximately 10% of the total Dublin network, primarily consisting of routes transferred from Dublin Bus after it won a competitive tender process.
Go-Ahead additionally won the tender for the 197 service from
Swords to
Ashbourne which began operating on 24 November 2019. This does not operate as part of the Dublin network.[4]
Aircoach operates 3 express routes from Dublin Airport in the Dublin area, including the city centre as well as other destinations which connects with many of Dublin's major hotels.
Airport Hopper operate two services between
Tallaght[6] and
Maynooth[7] and Dublin Airport
Ashbourne Connect operate services between
Ashbourne &
Ratoath and the city [8]
Balbriggan Express operates between
Balbriggan and the city [9]
Dublin Coach operate between
Dundrum and Dublin Airport [10]
Express Bus operates various routes, primarily connecting business parks including
Park West to the city or public transport nodes.[11]
Nolan Coaches, provides transfers between Heuston railway station and the
Dublin Port for ferry foot passengers on behalf
Stena Line and
Irish Ferries.[14]
St Kevin's Bus Service operates a 7-day service between
Glendalough,
County Wicklow and Dublin city centre.
Swords Express Between Dublin City Centre and Swords Manor via Applewood, Pavilion Shopping centre Swords, River Valley, Boroimhe using the
Dublin Port Tunnel.[15]
Longer distance and express services
State-owned
Bus Éireann operates many long-distance and express services to/from Dublin.
State-tendered
Go-Ahead Ireland won a competitive tender to take over a group of services from Dublin to the
County Kildare area from Bus Éireann which began operations between 1 December 2019 and 19 January 2020, replacing Bus Éireann on these routes[16]
Aircoach run 18 express non-stop coach service a day between Dublin and
Cork with a journey time of three hours to/from Dublin city centre and three and a half hours to/from Dublin Airport. They also operate 22 daily non-stop services from
Belfast to Dublin City via Dublin Airport.
Matthews Coaches operates two daily routes: an express service from
Dundalk and a frequent service to
Bettystown and
Laytown. Their Dublin terminus is Parnell Street.
Wexford Bus Operates express coaches throughout the day and night connecting Wexford, Enniscorthy, Ferns, Camolin, Gorey and Arklow with Dublin City and Airport