Extra Local Link bus routes from Portlaoise through Laois towns and villages

The public bus service in Laois running from Portlaoise to Roscrea is being bumped up, including stops at the towns and villages in between them.

Extra buses will start running daily from Monday, February 10, the Transport for Ireland (TFI) Local Link Laois Offaly has announced.

They are enhancing bus services between Portlaoise and Roscrea, via Mountrath and Borris-in-Ossory.

The enhanced route will offer improved connectivity to Portlaoise Hospital, Portlaoise Train Station and regional bus services as well as the villages and areas of Mountrath, Castletown, Pike of Rushall and Borris-in-Ossory.

Route 834 will now operate six daily return services Monday to Saturday, with an evening service from Thursday to Saturday. It will also offer an increased Sunday and Bank Holiday service with six daily return services.

The Portlaoise to Roscrea route already runs seven days a week.

The increase is part of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan which is a major national public transport initiative developed and funded by the National Transport Authority (NTA) as part of the TFI network.

TFI Local Link Laois Offaly General Manager, Frances Byrne spoke ahead of the launch. 

“We are delighted to see extra services added to our Sunday timetable with this enhancement. This service provides a valuable connection from Roscrea, Borris-in-Ossory, Castletown and Mountrath to Portlaoise for access for work, educational, and social activities,” she said.

TFI Local Link Laois Offaly co-ordinate rural bus transport services across Laois and Offaly. 

Ahead of the increase, it already operates 67 services with approximately 400 trips a week, including "door to door" pickups.  For route and full timetable information visit www.locallinklaoisoffaly.ie