Expressway Route 64 will have accessible buses from summer says Councillor

At a meeting last week with Bus Eireann Letterkenny/Milford MD Cllr. Jimmy Kavanagh (FG) said that he had received a commitment from the head of Expressway that there will be accessible buses available on the Derry to Galway route from this Summer, with a target date of July 1 2024 to have the service accessible.

These are buses that are specifically adapted to meet the needs of people with physical disabilities.

Speaking following the meeting Cllr. Kavanagh said : 

“At the moment there is not an accessible bus available on this route, and callers with queries are simply told it is not an accessible route. This is totally unsatisfactory given that many people need to travel for health care services to both Sligo and Galway from Letterkenny. 

“I pointed out to the meeting that although there are stops on the route that may not be accessible the stops at Letterkenny, Sligo and Galway are accessible, so there is no reason not to provide an accessible bus on that basis, and that the other stops can be reviewed and made accessible as soon as possible.

“I don’t think that much modification, if any, would be needed at Ballybofey or Ballyshannon for example to make those stops accessible.

“In response the head of Expressway Andrew Yates agreed that based on what I had said there would be an accessible service from this Summer, and the other stops would be reviewed for accessibility. 

“I would like to thank Bus Eireann for their positive response and I look forward to this important service being made available in the coming months and I have no doubt it will be an important change for those who need it.”