Christmas schedules for Athlone and regional buses announced by Bus Éireann

Bus Éireann has released details of its bus and coach schedules in Westmeath over the Christmas period.

The company said Christmas was the busiest period for its services, which will operate to normal schedules until Saturday, December 23.

On Christmas Eve, Sunday December 24, services will operate to a Sunday timetable with earlier final departures.

Athlone Town bus services, and regional and rural services, will operate to a Sunday schedule with last departures at approximately 9pm.

No services will operate on Christmas Day, and Bus Éireann services will operate a Bank Holiday/Sunday service timetable for St Stephen's Day, December 26, commencing at around 9am.

Passengers planning to travel are encouraged to check the timetable online for their specific routes.

From Wednesday, December 27, until New Year's Eve, services will operate to normal timetables. Services on New Year's Day, a Monday, will operate to a Sunday schedule.

A full normal timetable across Bus Éireann services will resume from Tuesday, January 2.

Stephen Kent, Chief Executive of Bus Éireann, encouraged people to plan their journeys in advance over the Christmas period.

"Bus Éireann has facilitated over 99 million passenger journeys in 2023, and we know that many of our customers will be using our services during the Christmas season – whether travelling home, visiting family and friends, shopping, or working over the festive period.

"Christmas and New Year is the busiest period for Bus Éireann services, and we are delighted to provide an extensive schedule up to and during the Christmas season to meet the travel needs of our customers.

"We advise those planning to travel over the festive period to plan their journeys in advance and check our website for up-to-date timetables and travel information," he said.