Six buses in Cork failed to meet any of their punctuality targets

Here's the worst performing buses in Cork; one service is punctual only 38% of the time

SIX buses in Cork city failed to meet any of their punctuality targets in the first half of 2019.

That’s according to figures released by the National Transport Authority (NTA).

Failure to meet the standards results in financial penalties for the company.

In the first 24 weeks of the year, the 201, 207, 209A, 214, 219 and 220 Bus Éireann services had less than the required punctuality standard.

The 209 bus was the worst performing in the city between May and June this year.

The route from Patrick’s Street via Audley Place and Montenotte to Lotamore had a punctuality rate of less than 38% between May and June. That’s also a significant drop from 49% during the same period last year.

Ten of the city’s 18 low frequency bus services have failed to meet punctuality standards required to fulfill their Public Service Obligation (PSO) contracts in Period 6 (P6) this year, from approximately May 21 to June 17, 2019.

The punctuality requirement for the summer months is 58%.

Just eight routes reached the standard in the period.

The best performing route during that time was the 207A from Glenthorn to Merchant’s Quay via Blackpool and Glen Avenue which was on time almost on almost 74% of journeys.

Just two of the 22 services in the city met all of their punctuality targets in the first half of 2019.

The 215A from Jacobs Mill to South Mall and the 226A from Cork railway station to the airport the only two over the threshold consistently.

There has been a significant improvement in the 216 service in recent months, up from 45.1% to 69.8% punctuality.

Meanwhile, the city bus that received most complaints in the first half of 2019 was the 223 service from Cork to Haulbowline via Ringaskiddy and Monkstown.

In the first quarter of the year, per 100,000 passengers, it received 85 complaints, while there were 36 in the second quarter.

Meanwhile, of the four Cork city high frequency services, which operate every 15 minutes or more weekdays outside the peak periods, all bar one have had extended wait times in the period up to mid-June 2019.

Wait times are how long someone has to wait after the expected schedule time.

The greatest increase is on the Lotabeg to Curragheen/Bishopstown route which went from 1.32 minutes to 2.27.

While the wait time for the 205 from CIT to Kent Station decreased by .02 minutes.