Go-Ahead Ireland has taken up a new contract with the National Transport Authority (NTA) that when fully deployed will more than double the number of routes it operates in the Greater Dublin area.
The agreement is for five years with scope for a two-year extension. It will add over 150 buses to the Go-Ahead Ireland fleet and expand the operator’s overall network to 72 routes, including 65 Public Service Obligation routes in the Outer Dublin Metropolitan Area (ODMA). Of the latter, it commenced operation of 25 in late November.
It continues to run 15 routes from the original ODMA contract during a transitional period. Those will gradually be phased out as new services launch, with the remaining 40 within the new award aligned with rollout of phases 8 to 11 of the BusConnects Network Redesign. NTA says that once complete, the work will add around 17.5 million km annually to the Transport for Ireland network.
New depots will be opened by Go-Ahead Ireland at Ballycoolin in Dublin and Kilpedder in North County Wicklow under the contract. Its existing Ballymount depot is planned to be electrified. Go-Ahead Ireland will also recruit new team members with a focus on women bus drivers, it says.
The group began working with NTA in Greater Dublin during 2018. In 2024, it served 22.5 million customers, a 20% uplift from 2023, and achieved what it says was the highest customer satisfaction rating within public transport in the Irish capital, at 82%.
Go-Ahead Ireland has also supported the community via initiatives including apprenticeship programmes, partnerships with national and local charities such as Down Syndrome Ireland, and five years’ sponsorship of the Dublin Gaelic Athletic Association.
Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien describes the new agreement as representing “a significant investment in the future of public transport in Dublin” and notes how it delivers on commitments laid down in the Programme for Government.
“Expanding services and improving connectivity are central to our climate and mobility goals, ensuring that more people have access to sustainable, reliable and affordable transport options,” adds Mr O’Brien.
NTA CEO Anne Shaw – who recently joined the organisation from Transport for West Midlands – describes the award to Go-Ahead Ireland as a key milestone in the BusConnects programme and the broader vision for public transport in Dublin.
“By partnering with Go-Ahead Ireland, we are ensuring that passengers benefit from modern, efficient and customer-focused services. Our goal is to make public transport the first choice for more people, reducing congestion and emissions while improving quality of life.”
