Rail passengers will be able to book connections to Dublin Airport on the same ticket following a deal struck between State company Iarnród Éireann and National Express Ireland, the independent bus operator.
The bus company, which runs the Dublin Express services between the capital and its airport, has been trialing a joint ticketing system with Iarnród Éireann for several months.
National Express confirmed on Monday that the pair have finalised a deal that will allow rail passengers to Heuston Station, Dublin, add return bus connections from there to the airport on the same ticket.
The bus operator added that both companies plan to extend this to Connolly Station shortly, opening the airport link to rail passengers from all over Ireland.
High demand from passengers travelling between Heston Station and the airport prompted National Express Ireland to explore the joint ticketing deal with the State rail company several months ago.
Between January and September this year, Dublin Express buses have carried 143,000 passengers between Heuston and the airport. This should reach about 180,000 by the end of December.
John Boughton, managing director of National Express Ireland, noted that there was a clear demand for high-quality public transport.
“We estimate that 33 per cent of airport travellers will use public transport this year and this will only increase in the years to come,” he said.
Mr Boughton added that this trend would cut car journeys and greenhouse gas emissions.
Jim Meade, chief executive of Iarnród Éireann, said the deal would encourage more people to use the service.
“The passenger numbers released today show that thousands of people are already opting to use this service, and I believe that these numbers will continue to grow and grow,” he added.
