Bus Éireann Axes Routes: Politicians Fight Back

0:00From across Europe, powered by AI, this is Europe News Today. I'm Cory with the story. Bus Ariane is pulling the plug on three expressway routes starting this Sunday, the 24th of May, because they're losing too much money. The routes hitting the brakes are water-ferred to Dublin and Dublin Airport on Route 4, Bolina, to Galway, on Route 52, and the Rosselaer through. Wexford to Waterford Segment on Route 40. These are commercial services with no government funding, so Bus Ariane says, the losses just aren't sustainable. They're making the cut to protect the rest of the network, and they promise no jobs will be lost thanks to their hiring push. Politicians are fired up, especially Labor TD George Lawlor from Wexford, who's calling the Route 40 acts short-sighted and harmful to South. Wexford folks, he says it's key for commuters, students, hospital patients, and workers heading to universities and clinics, and Slam's bus Ariane for picking. Profits over people. Sin Fine TD, David Colony from Waterford, is also hitting back,

1:03labeling the cuts a blow to daily connections that need more investment, not less. He's already written to Bus Ariane and Transport Minister Derrick O'Brien, pushing for a rethink. Lawlor plans to lobby the National Transport Authority for a reversal and drag decision-makers before the Oyoroctas Transport Committee, so expect. This fight to keep rolling, as communities rally to keep those buses running.