Longford to Roscommon all day, all week, all year

Rural communities on both sides of the Shannon will now have a seven day link to their county towns following the launch of Route 426, Longford to Roscommon.

From Monday 31st July, this new bus service will operate 7 days a week with evening and late night connections at the weekend.
“ This new route is part of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan, “ explains Damien O’Neill, manager of TFI Local Link Longford Westmeath Roscommon (TFI Local Link LWR) , “which is a major national public transport initiative developed and funded by the National Transport Authority as part of the Transport for Ireland Network.

“It will operate seven return trips Monday to Thursday, eight return trips on Friday and Saturday and four return trips on Sunday. The route will connect Killashee, Clonfore Cross, Lansborough, Ballyleague, Cloonladdra, Moneen, Beechwood and Emoe Cross.

Our team is delighted to see increased public transport in rural areas and the likes of this service is a tangible commitment from the Government and the NTA to rural connectivity and connecting these communities into the national network making onward travel to Dublin, Sligo and Galway more accessible.

On Thursday a number of people were invited to ‘meet the bus’ doing the 426 run and get the opportunity to speak with the TFI Local Link team. The brand new, low-floored Iveco Crusader, operated by Farrelly’s Coaches and driven by well-known local driver Enda Sheehan arrived into Longford Train Station just before 11 O’clock.

Describing the route as a priority for the area, Damien explained that it would play an important part in developing reliable connections for our passengers and would provide the option of a choosing a sustainable mode of public transport.

“It is vital that passengers have a frequent bus service that they can rely on to travel to work, college, training, sightseeing, or meeting up with family and friends.

“In partnership with the NTA, we are working to deliver affordable, accessible appropriate public transport for our area. The NTA is committed to the growth and development of local bus services, which in terms of the 426, is a brand-new high frequency service linking two key rural towns providing opportunities for people to get where they need to go.”

Norman Crusaders
Tourism legends Knights and Conquests heard TFI Local Link were bringing in a Crusader to Longford and sent a boarding party. Driver Enda Sheehan was swift to repel the chainmailed passengers, telling them the ‘late knight’ services for the 426 would not start until the following weekend. TFI Local Link LWR have a close working relationship with the centre and a high frequency service, the 865, linking Longford to the town of Granard where they are based.

For route and timetable information, visit locallinklwr.ie
To learn more about the five-year Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan visit: www.nationaltransport.ie/ connecting-ireland/