A lack of mechanics and illness are to blame for the increasing number of ‘ghost buses’ in Dublin, transport provider GoAhead has said. 

Passengers have reported long waits as buses failed to materialise.

Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien plans to meet with the National Transport Authority next week to discuss the matter and said commuters deserve better. 

“People do want certainty,” he said. 

“From time to time, buses will be cancelled and I think people understand that. 

“I want to get to the bottom of this; assist the operators where I can but, most importantly for the commuters who are paying to use these services, [get them] certainty that when they go for a bus, that that bus will turn up.” 

A lot of people have been in contact with me about ghost buses and it’s a real frustration and annoyance for commuters.

Next week I’m meeting the NTA and the operators about this issue so that in the areas where these buses aren’t turning up, we’re going to see improvements. pic.twitter.com/URjj0GaB79

— Darragh O'Brien (@DarraghOBrienTD) February 6, 2025

Minister O’Brien said bus operators who do not fulfil their contractual obligations risk fines. 

“I have engaged with the National Transport Authority on this and that is being worked on right now,” he said. 

“I’m going to meet with the NTA next week and discuss this issue; where bus operators do not meet their service level agreements, fines are imposed.

“So, there are penalties - but that’s just the financial element of it.  

“What I want is assurances that this matter will be dealt with as best they possibly can.” 

The number of public transport users in Ireland reached a record high in 2023, with over 308 million passenger journeys.

Main image: A man waiting for a bus in Dublin. Picture by: Alamy.com