Launching December 8th 

Phase 6a of the BusConnects Network Redesign roll-out in Dublin will continue with the introduction of 13 new routes, operated by Dublin Bus and Go-Ahead Ireland, on Sunday December 8th.

This includes:

  • 24-hour Spines E1 and E2.
  • Radial 19 – for more, see Route 19 information
  • Local routes L1, L2, L3, L12, L14, L15, L26, L27
  • Express routes X1 and X2.

What’s new?

24-hour spines E1 and E2 serve areas including Bray, city centre, Ballymun and Santry. Route 19 runs from Parnell Square to Dublin Airport,

Your new Local and Xpress routes (L1, L2, L3, L12, L14, L15, L26, L27, X1 and X2) serve Greystones, Newcastle, Kilternan, Blackrock and more.

E1  Northwood – DCU – City Centre – Bray – Ballywaltrim
E2  Ballymun (IKEA) – DCU – City Centre – Dún Laoghaire
19  Dublin Airport – DCU – Parnell Square
L1  Newtownmountkennedy – Greystones Station – Bray Station
L2  Newcastle – Greystones Station – Bray Station
L3  North Delgany – Greystones Station – Glenbrook Park
L12  Ballywaltrim – Herbert Road – Bray Station
L14  Southern Cross Road – Bray Station – Palermo
L15  Enniskerry Golf Club – Bray Station
L26  Kilternan – Cornelscourt – Blackrock Station
L27  Leopardstown Valley – Cornelscourt – Dún Laoghaire
X1  Kilcoole – Greystones – City Centre (Hawkins Street)
X2  Newcastle – Kilcoole – Greystones – Brides Glen – City Centre (Hawkins Street)

Changes to existing services

The new services will replace the following services:

46a, 46e, 63, 63a, 84, 84a, 84x, 143, 144, 145, 155, 184 and 185, from December 8th.

The following routes will change:

  • Route 4 from Monkstown will be diverted at O’Connell Bridge to Heuston Station.
  • Route 11 from Sandyford will be diverted at Parnell Square to run via Phibsborough and the North Circular Road to the Phoenix Park.
  • Route 13 from Grange Castle will terminate at Mountjoy Square.
Route Map

The map below provides an overall view of Phase 6a routes. Click to enlarge.

e-spine map 360x635 pixels

Download Phase 6a Map

How often do they run?

For a full list of frequencies, please click below.

Frequency Guide

How much are the fares?

The TFI 90-Minute Fare is available on all Dublin City Bus services, including those that that travel outside of Dublin. As long as you are using a Dublin City Bus route, you can avail of the TFI 90 Fare and benefits, including free interchange.

All bus routes included in Phase 6a are eligible for the TFI 90-Minute Fare.

The TFI 90-Minute Fare is also available on DART services, but passengers may be charged a higher TFI 90-Minute Fare depending on where they board or depart from. To view the DART boundary zones, visit TFI 90 Minute Fare – Leap Card.

TFI Leap Fares Adult Young Adult / Student Child
Short Fare €1.50 €0.75 €0.65
TFI 90 Minute Fare €2.00 €1.00 €0.65
TFI Cash Fare Adult Child
Short Fare €2.00 €0.90
Long Fare €2.60 €0.90

Interchange

Interchange with different routes and TFI modes with the TFI 90 Minute Fare when using your TFI Leap Card. Use your card as normal and touch on your last journey within 90 minutes of your first to avail of the fare.

For a list of possible interchanges, please use the below link.

Interchanges

FAQs

The other routes that will make up the new BusConnects network will be rolling out on a phased basis over the next few years.

Spines are very frequent routes made up of individual bus services that are timetabled to work together over their common sections. Some examples of Spines already rolled out include the C1, C2, C3, C4, G1, G2, H1, H2 and H3.

Go-ahead Ireland and Dublin Bus are responsible for different routes. If your query is regarding routes L1, L2, L3, L15, L26 or L27, please call Go-Ahead Ireland on 0818 804 071, or visit Go-Ahead Ireland.

If your query is regarding routes E1, E2, 19, L12, L14, X1 or X2, please call Dublin Bus on 01 873 4222, or visit Dublin Bus.

The new network follows from three rounds of public consultation which concluded in 2020. It will improve the existing Transport for Ireland (TFI) network by providing enhanced bus services with high frequency Spines and new Local, Orbital and Radial routes. This new network is being introduced on a phased basis over the coming years.

To interchange with another mode of transport essentially means to switch modes of transport. Passengers now have the option to switch between bus, Luas or some DART services for free, as long as it’s within 90 minutes.

Places that could not be reached previously may now be accessible at a cheaper fare, giving public transport users more control of their commute.

The TFI 90 Minute Fare applies to most journeys in the Dublin area, along with some parts of East Kildare and North Wicklow.

It allows you to transfer between Dublin City Bus (Dublin Bus and Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin city services), Luas, DART and commuter rail (zones 1 to 4 in the Short Hop Zone) for free during 90 minutes when using a TFI Leap Card.

To get the TFI 90 minute fare, simply use your Leap Card as you normally would within 90 minutes. You must touch on every time you board a service to demonstrate you hold a valid ticket for each journey:

  • touch on before each bus journey; and
  • touch on before and touch off after each DART, train and tram journey.

As long as you touch on your last service within 90 minutes of your first, you will qualify for the TFI 90 Minute Fare. You can see how much time you have left within your 90 minutes by checking your Leap Top Up App.