The announcement that Translink is to operate a bus service between Derry city centre and Culmore brings to and end one of the longest ever public transport campaigns ever held in the city.
The new service will run in tandem with the current Lough Swilly service and follow a route from Foyle Street along Strand Road, O’Donovan Road and Elmvale to Culmore Point.
The new service will operate Monday to Friday. Five services will leave from Foyle Street to Culmore Point departing at 10.00am, 12.00 noon, 13.30pm, 14.30pm and 6.15pm while services will depart Culmore Point for Foyle Street at 7.30am, 9.30am, 10.30am, 12.30pm, 2.00pm and 4.00pm.
SDLP Cllr Angela Dobbins said the service promised to fulfil the needs of all users such as those with disabilities, mothers with children and the elderly.
She added: “This is an issue myself and Colum Eastwood have been perusing for a number of years now, however found ourselves restricted by a licence already held by Lough Swilly.
“This licence prohibited any other public transport provider servicing the Culmore area. As residents will know the existing timetable does not adequately facilitate the needs of the ever increasing Culmore population who have continuously expressed their frustration. ”
Cllr Tony Hassan, Sinn Fein’s transport spokesperson, said “this good decision” would result in the people of Culmore “finally” getting an enhanced bus service.
Culmore on the outskirts of Derry.
He added: “The campaign for a bus service has been going on for as long as I have been in Derry City Council and I would like to take this opportunity to commend all those who lobbied and campaigned for this over many years.”
Giving the “green light” to the new service, Environment Minister Mark H Durkan said he had “no doubt” it would be “warmly received” by the people of Culmore.
He added: “It will bring a regular bus service to a wider area and provide for fuller coverage of the route throughout the day, improving the availability of public transport to the residents.”
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