Potential New Bus and Coach Stations for Dublin

PlatformNine · 20-06-2026 11:57AM #1

This thread is here for discussing bus and coach stations, plazas, interchanges, etc for the Dublin area. There are a few that have already been built, however there quite a few in progress or in planning as well as higher level proposals. In addition to officially planned ones, there has been a lot of discussion about ideas for new stations in other threads and I thought this could be a better place to go into detail about our own proposals.

I also think it would also be good to explain what is and what is not a station (at least in this context) to better explain the type of infrastructure this thread is about. Now that said, I don't think there is really a set definition for what a bus station is, but I think in this context the key point is that it is "a purpose built transport hub" with key features such as:

Being a dedicated area with plenty of bus stops or bus bays
Lots of shelter such as proper canopies or even a dedicated passenger building (the later especially for coach stations)
support terminating services with nearby layover spaces or enough capacity with extra stops/bays

Also I think it is important to say a bus station is not:

Just a purpose built bus stop or bus bay outside of a railway station (even if well designed), such as at Broombridge, Clongriffin, Portmarnock, and the list goes on.
A single big or continuous bus stop (Dundrum or previously Adamstown and Bray)
A group of nearby bus stops (Dún Laoghaire with the Harbour Rd Layout upgrade, or honestly what I would call the current airport bus zones)

Lastly, here is a list of all completed, in progress, in planning, or planned stations I have been able to find. I am sure I am missing something, but I think I have most of the important projects.

Existing/Complete:

Bray DART Interchange

Busáras

Liffey Valley SC Bus Plaza

In or progressing to construction:

Red Cow Bus Interchange upgrade

Blanchardstown SC Interchange (BusConnects)

The Square/Tallaght (BusConnects)

UCD (Busconnects)

In Planning:

Airport Ground Transport Centre (DAA Infrastructure Application)

Proposed:

New coach station at Heuston or another location (NTA Statement of Strategy)

PlatformNine · 20-06-2026 12:57PM

I wanted to keep the first post to mainly just official proposals, however, there have been two ideas sitting in the back of my head for stations proposals, one for city buses and one for coaches.

The first idea is a new bus plaza in Dundrum. With the new library, bus stops in the area are being completely redone, and the new proposals are really bad if I am being honest. They seem to be enough for the BC, maybe even a slight bump in capacity to allow for the A4 to terminate there, however the terminus stops are completely scattered around. It also leaves little room for expansion of services and I think the area could use a proper interchange/plaza like The Square or Blanch SC.

I have come up with two possible options, both with their own merit. The first is just at the north end opposite Main St from the current terminus, replacing part of the Dundrum Village Centre car park. The other is at the south end, replacing the Dundrum Town Centre surface car park. The former would more or less just be a direct improvement on the former terminus. The later would be a larger shift for some of the routes, looses the direct connection to the S6, is a bit further to the Luas at Balally, but has the advantage of being a much larger site that could be a proper transport hub. Dundrum Town Centre is also both often very busy and feels very car centric, so having a transport hub could be good for modal shift.

The second idea is a SD/North Wall Coach Station. My thoughts with this station is that its could be a new station for the commuter coaches around Dublin. I think it makes the most sense as a new terminus for many of the coach services terminating at Connolly, but could also be a new terminus for some of the other commuter coaches terminating around CC. The site I had in mind is the old North Wall Station (just south of SD DART and Luas, currently a car rental). This would be a very similar size and layout to Busáras, and I think could be a good improvement for the various commuter coaches. Its location would also allow quick transfers to the DART, Red Line, and G-spine.

mikeybhoy · 20-06-2026 01:42PM

I think calling the new bus stops outside Bray station a bus station might be a bit of a stretch

Pete_Cavan · 21-06-2026 09:56PM

I see DCC are to trial a double cycle lane down the middle of Amiens Street. That proposal and this thread got me thinking, could a bus interchange be created on Amiens Street? I mean in the middle of Amiens Street, like the proposed cycle lanes! The space that is the existing Connolly Luas stop would need to be taken, which I don't believe would be an issue operationally for Luas.

A single general traffic lane in both directions could be provided on the western side of Amiens Street, then the cycle lanes (taking a lane either side of the existing central dividing line). Then you'd have a good 25m to work with over to Harbourmaster Place.

Something like a central covered island where people alight/board the buses (basically an extended and enhanced version of the existing space between road lanes and the Connolly Luas tracks). This could even have a direct stairs to/from the Connolly main concourse. The buses would have to switch over to the other side so that people can alight/board on the left hand side of the bus (so northbound buses cross to the Harbourmaster Place side while southbound buses are on the OCS side of the island).

Northbound buses would have to be moved over to the right-most lane at Baresford Place, which should be doable. They then over towards the Harbourmaster Place side of the island at the Amiens Street / Store Street junction. They are alongside Harbourmaster Place for c.80m. The return to the western side of Amiens Street is managed at the Talbot Street junction, along with cyclists shifting again to the existing cycle lanes alongside the footpaths.

The southbound bus lane is probably just a little bit west of where it currently is and follows much the same line as currently.

Just spitballing here but there definitely should be scope to create a better bus interchange here with reallocating space and a bit of thinking outside the box. Certainly the footpaths and bus stop area outside of Gandon House is inappropriate and needs to be radically improved.

PlatformNine · 22-06-2026 01:16PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124565834#Comment_124565834

That's fair and I don't disagree. I mainly wanted to include it as a "combination bus and train station" as to be fair there are a number of examples of that around the country (Even Limerick and Galway). And at that I think Bray is a decent quality example of it, almost entirely because of the DART station itself. It has a toilet, cafe, info boards, and the whole bunch. Also that it is actually intended to be used as a hub for local bus services, coaches, and soon local link too. But because of that I also think it makes it better than some towns' bus actual stations.

The main limitation I think is the lack of proper canopies, as while there is at least plenty of shelter with the station, proper canopies will always be better for a proper interchange like this. And again yes, if it wasn't for the DART station having everything nice before, I wouldn't have listed it. For example, if this plan was duplicated for Dún Laoghaire, I don't think I would have included it.

PlatformNine · 22-06-2026 01:26PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124569462#Comment_124569462

I think Connolly Luas might still be needed as extra terminal capacity, as even with three platforms I am not sure if The Point could handle all terminating services. However, I do like the idea. The entire setup at Amiens St I think is just a mess and breaking at the seams and it's something that could maybe be possible after Luas Poolbeg if it can take the terminal capacity from Connolly.

The area really needs a lot more pedestrian space, even if it is just to access bus stops.

Potential New Bus and Coach Stations for Dublin

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