Changes to the routes of Aircoach.ie were made effective on January 1st, with the stops at Sean Moore Road and Strand Road no longer being served.
With these stops no longer in service, the nearest available stops are at Sherriff St. Upper, Grand Canal Dock, opposite School House Hotel, opposite Ballsbridge Hotel, Pembroke Road, RDS, Clayton Hotel and St. Vincents Hospital. New timetables have been released for Route 702: Dublin Airport to Greystones/Bray and Route 703: Dublin Airport to Killiney/Dalkey.
A number of residents of Ringsend, Irishtown and Sandymount have expressed their disappointment with this decision, and in response Orla Murphy has created a petition to have Aircoach.ie overturn the decision. She argues that the air coach has been of great service within the community.
Murphy has also offered a solution, suggesting that if the decision is influenced by toll charges and traffic concerns an alternate route can be found through the Irishtown area. This would allow for the communities affected by the changes to continue using the service.
The petition can be found here.
By Kevin Carney
