Newbridge Locals Campaign For 'Short Hop Zone' To Be Extended

Tuesday, 14 June 2022 12:34

By Caoimhe Harney

Locals say Newbridge is currently not recognised as a commuter town to Dublin.

Locals are calling for the 'short hop zone' to be extended Newbridge.

Jennifer Caffrey is a resident of Newbridge and has started a campaign on Facebook for the short hop zone to be extended.

Newbridge is currently not recognised as a commuter town to Dublin.

However, local campaigners have said the reality for residents of Newbridge and the surrounding areas is that it is a travel hub, the residents consider it a commuting town.

A huge number of residents commute by car, bus and train to Dublin.

Below is an example of some of the differences between fares from Sallins/Naas & Newbridge train stations to Dublin;

Tickets	*Newbridge*	*Sallins*	*Difference*
Adult Single	€10.85	€4.80		€6.05
Adult Single (Off-Peak Note 1)	€10.45	€4.80		€5.65
Adult Day Saver Single (Limerick to/from Cork) Note 4	N/A	N/A		N/A
Adult Day Return	€16.90	€8.85		€8.05
Adult Day Return (Off-Peak Note 1)	€11.45	€7.30		€4.15
Adult Day Saver Return (Limerick to/from Cork) Note 4	N/A	N/A		N/A
Adult Open Return	€18.50	€9.95		€8.55
Adult Weekly	€57.30	€29.70		€27.60
Adult Monthly	€190.00	€103.00		€87.00
Child Weekly	€21.30	€11.05		€10.25
Child Monthly	€86.00	€38.00		€48.00
Family Day Return	€22.00	€13.50		€8.50
Family Open Return	€35.00	€20.50		€14.50
Young Adult/Student Single	€5.45	€2.40		€3.05
Young Adult/Student Return	€9.25	€4.50		€4.75
Student Weekly (Note 3)	€44.00	€24.40		€19.60
Student Monthly (Note 3)	€142.40	€72.80		€69.60

These calls are supported by Fine Gael Kildare South TD Minister Martin Heydon and Fianna Fáil Senator Fiona O' Loughlin.

Minister Heydon commented:“Huge differentials currently exist in fares between areas in the Short Hop Zone such as Sallins/Naas and Hazelhatch and those outside of it such as Newbridge, Kildare town, Monasterevin and Portarlington.

"These differentials are so large as to drive commuters back into their cars which is not what we want.

"I have asked Minister Eamonn Ryan to intervene to ensure that all commuters using Irish Rail services in South Kildare are treated and priced as commuters similar to those in North Kildare," he added.

Extend the Short Hop Zone Commuter Group, Founder Jennifer Caffrey spoke with Eoin Beatty on Tuesday morning's Kildare Today about the campaign:

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