Mullingar Town Bus Service

Closed12 Jan, 2021, 11:59pm - 10 Mar, 2021, 5:00pm

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The National Transport Authority (NTA) and Westmeath County Council are working together to introduce a town bus service to Mullingar. The town has reached a size and diversity of services that a town bus service is required to ensure its sustainable development into the future. We forecast that many people in Mullingar will use the new service when going about their busy lives. The use of buses by the people of Mullingar, for regular travel, will limit dependence on the private car for mobility and will build on recent town centre enhancements and develop the existing environment by creating a new sustainable and convenient transport mode.

The Proposed Routes

Route Mu1

Clonmore Heights - Greenpark Meadows - R394 - Grange Crescent - Patrick Street - Ashe Road - Harbour Street - Castle Street - Austin Friars Street - Dublin Road - Lakepoint Shopping Centre, and return, serving Mullingar Business Park, Mullingar Train Station, Fairgreen Shopping Centre, Midland Regional Hospital, Primary Healthcare Centre and Mullingar Town Centre en route.

Route Mu2

Ballinderry Road - Newbrook Road - Clonmore Road - Oliver Plunkett Street - Castle Street - Harbour Street - Castlepollard Road - Lough Sheever Corporate Park, and return, serving Mullingar Train Station, Mullingar Town Centre, Primary Healthcare Centre and the Midland Regional Hospital en route.

Bus Operation

Low-floor accessible urban style buses will run on each route at 30 minute intervals between the hours of 0700 and 2200 each day Monday – Saturday inclusive. There will be a Sunday service between 0900 and 2200. Click here to see a bus service in operation.

Properly equipped bus stops in each direction will be provided at approximately 400m intervals along each route to offer good access from surrounding development to the bus service, and to provide passenger information. Shelters will be provided at selected stops.  Click here to see a typical TfI bus stop.

The Options for the eastern end of route Mu1

We have identified three routing options for route Mu1 to travel between Dublin Road and its terminus at Lakepoint Shopping Centre. Mu1 may terminate at Marlinstown Office Park during morning and evening peak times only, depending on the preferred eastern route option to cater for workers and trainees. Option 1 and Option 2 of Mu1 will require opening a vehicular link for bus services only:

Option 1

From Dublin Road option 1 travels through Lakepoint Park via Gleann Petit, The Park, Delvin Road and terminates at Lakepoint Shopping Centre. Option 1 serves Marlinstown Office Park and Mullingar Park Hotel in the morning and evening peak times only, to cater for workers and trainees. There are several bus stops proposed along the route including Dublin Road, St Loman’s Hospital and Lakepoint Shopping Centre. 

Items for consideration
  • Serves the largest number of households, giving most people the least distance walk time to a bus stop
  • Serves St Loman’s Hospital, St Loman’s GAA Club; and Petitswood Manor Housing Estate
  • A Bus Gate is required between Gleann Petit and Lakepoint Housing Estates

Option 2

From Dublin Road option 2 travels through Bellview Housing Estate via Meadow Court, Glenview Heights, Great Oaks, Delvin Road and terminates at Lakepoint Shopping Centre. Option 2 serves Marlinstown Office Park and Mullingar Park Hotel in the morning and evening peak times only, to cater for workers and trainees. This option includes bus stops at Dublin Road, St Loman’s Hospital and Lakepoint Shopping Centre. 

Items for consideration
  • Serves the second largest number of households minimising walking times
  • Serves St Loman’s Hospital and St Loman’s GAA Club
  • It is the shortest route,  providing the most direct link to and from the town centre to the east side of town
  • Does not serve the National Science Park
  • A Bus Gate is required between Glenview Heights and Great Oaks Housing Estates

Option 3

From Dublin Road option 3 travels along Dublin Road, N52, N4 and terminates at Lakepoint Shopping Centre. This option will include bus stops along Dublin Road, the National Science Park, Mullingar Park Hotel, Marlinstown Office Park and Lakepoint Shopping Centre.

Items for consideration
  • Serves housing estates on both sides of Dublin Road
  • No Bus Gate required for this option
  • Connects to Marlinstown Office Park, Mullingar Park Hotel and Lakepoint Shopping Centre
  • Does not serve St Loman’s Hospital
  • Does not serve St Loman’s GAA Club
  • Is the longest route of the three options, journeys into and out of town by bus will take the most time with this option
  • While it travels past the housing estates on Dublin Road it does not travel through them resulting in long walks from most houses to the nearest bus stop

Bus Gates

A bus gate is a short section of road where through movement by all vehicles except buses, emergency vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians is banned. To stop through movements by other vehicles a physical barrier is installed. The design and type of barrier that is used depends on the local context. Examples include the following 

  • The arm barrier is opened by an electric transponder in the bus. Once open the bus passes through the gate and the barrier closes behind it
  • Descending bollards are also operated by a transponder on the bus. When triggered the bollards descend into the street and allow the bus to pass through
  • Wide wheel base gate works by using different surface levels to make a short section of road impassable for any vehicle other than one with a wide wheel base.
The closing date has passed and submissions are no longer being accepted.