Celebrating two years of West Kerry Local Link

This week’s column in The Irish Times

Michael Commane

It’s easy to criticise and complain. On the other hand, do we ever realise how good most of us have it on this little island on the edge of Europe? Yes, there are unemployed, homeless people, people who have little chance from the day they are born. But as nations go, it’s not a bad place to live.

I often think it’s the little things that so often catch us out; issues that could so easily be fixed and cost little or no money to correct.

On the scale of things my criticism/complaint this week is really a first world problem.

I have in the past written about public transport, indeed, I think the last time I did so was in praise of the Local Link bus service that was introduced around the country over two years ago.

Castlegregory in West Kerry has five buses every weekday, plus a weekend service; before Local Link it was one bus a week. It is a fabulous service.

But it could be so much better.  Transport for Ireland is responsible for all public transport, including taxis, in the State. They could do a much better job than they are doing.

In the Bus Éireann waiting room in Tralee there is an electronic timetable, telling passengers the departure times of all Bus Éireann services. But guess what, no mention of the departure times of Local Link services from the same complex. Of course it makes no sense. 

And if you say a word, you are immediately told this facility is only for Bus Éireann passengers or customers as the world of branding likes to call the travelling public, more nonsense.

Why can’t Transport for Ireland change that system? No doubt they would come up with jargon words that would be meaningless.

There is a small paper Local Link timetable stuck on the window at the Bus Éireann waiting area but it does not inform passengers in real time of any impending delays or unexpected detours.

The area where the Local Link buses stop is depressing and again no information where the stop is and certainly no timetables of any sort.

Ok, I can see you saying I have little about which to complain. But it could be so much better; why can’t we go for the best? 

Then there is the never-ending issue of Local Link, Bus Éireann and railway services, not working in tandem; again that could so easily be fixed.

T

his Wednesday, June 24, 2024 the Local Link Tralee Brandon service came into being. Over the years I’ve often heard people complaining about how difficult it was to get from Tralee to Castlegreogry, Cloghane and Brandon. 

That’s all changed. But from my use of the service I keep asking myself why are there not more people not availing of it. Its main patrons seem to be students, walkers, Travel Pass holders, indeed, I’ve actually heard someone say, it was for the poorer people. From my observations, there’s something in that. Isn’t that shocking.

If it is withdrawn at the end of its five-year contract, I’ll know who to blame.

Snobbery and all that sort of nonsense is alive and well in Ireland and maybe even getting worse. God love us.