Dublin Bus & BusConnects

How buses are becoming greener across Dublin.

Overview

Dublin Bus & BusConnects

SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities SDG 13 - Climate Action

Dublin Bus is the primary bus operator in the Greater Dublin Area, running over 130 routes and carrying more than 500,000 passengers on a typical weekday. The National Transport Authority's (NTA) BusConnects programme is now transforming the network, introducing electric buses, redesigned routes, and dedicated bus corridors to make bus travel faster and more reliable.

A Dublin Bus travelling along a city route as part of the BusConnects network
Dublin Bus is undergoing major upgrades through the BusConnects programme.
The plan

BusConnects Programme

What is BusConnects?

BusConnects is the NTA's plan to redesign Dublin's bus network from the ground up. It replaces the outdated radial route network (designed in the 1950s) with a modern grid-based system that makes bus journeys faster, more frequent, and more reliable.

Key Changes

  1. 16 high-frequency "Spine" routes running every 5–10 minutes, 7 days a week.
  2. Orbital routes connecting suburbs without needing to travel through the city centre.
  3. Dedicated bus corridors separated from general traffic.
  4. Real-time passenger information at all major stops.
  5. Integration with the Luas and DART for seamless multi-modal journeys.
By the numbers

Dublin Bus - Key Statistics

Passenger journeys, fleet size and emissions, 2018–2023.
Metric201820212023
Annual passenger journeys152 million89 million*148 million
Fleet size922 buses958 buses1,050 buses
Electric / hybrid buses035110+
Average km of bus lane104 km110 km145 km
CO₂ per passenger km (avg)28 g25 g20 g

*2021 figures affected by COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Sources: Dublin Bus Annual Report 2023; NTA.

Going electric

The Move to Electric Buses

Zero-Emission Target

Dublin Bus aims for a 100% zero-emission fleet by 2035, replacing all diesel buses with electric vehicles as they reach end of life.

Charging Infrastructure

New bus depots at Summerhill and Harristown are being upgraded with overnight electric charging infrastructure to support the growing EV fleet.

Climate Impact

Switching to a fully electric fleet is projected to save approximately 85,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year compared to the current diesel fleet.

Rider tips

Tips for Using Dublin Bus

  • Download the TFI Live app for real-time bus arrival information and journey planning.
  • Use a Leap Card for discounted fares - up to 30% cheaper than cash on most routes.
  • Children under 19 travel free on all Dublin Bus, Luas, and DART services with a Young Adult Card.
  • The 90-minute transfer rule allows you to change buses within 90 minutes for one flat fare.
  • Check transportforireland.ie to plan multi-modal journeys combining bus, Luas, and DART.