Plans released for highly anticipated Letterkenny transport hub

The Donegal County Council has revealed the plans for Letterkenny's long-awaited new public transport hub.

The €9.9 million transport hub is set to be located on Pearse Road, with the plans including the construction of fourteen bus bays, covered bus shelters, bike racks, a car park, and improved pedestrian pathways to the hub.

The hub will be located on a 3.3-acre piece of land that once formed part of the old Bacon Factory, closed during the 1980s, which then formed part of the Donegal County Council’s Roads depot until 2008. The land has now been vacant for over 18 years.

While allowing capacity for Bus Éireann services, the hub is intended for the use of private operators, such as Patrick Gallagher Travel, Bus Feda, Mangan Tours, McGinley Coach Travel, McGeehan Coaches, and McGongle Bus Hire.

The hub will also be used for TFI Local Link buses.

The 175-square-metre passenger services building is planned to have public toilets, a large waiting area, an information/coffee area, and a shop.

A drop off/pickup area, 16 short-stay car parking spaces, three disabled car parking spaces, and a taxi area are included within the plans.

A long-term stay car park is not included in the plans; however, the council outlined seven car parks open to public use, with a total of 1,460spaces, that are located within a five-minute walk from the proposed site and offer all-day parking.

Additionally, the plans include the construction of a junction and a signalised pedestrian crossing at Pearse Road, along with associated road markings.

Isle Lane, planned to act as an exit from the hub onto Port Road, will be resurfaced, receive public lighting and improved footpaths, and will be upgraded to a yellow box at Port Road Junction.

Buses will enter the hub through a controlled barrier from Pearse Road.

As opposed to entering the hub, the planned Letterkenny Town Bus Service is expected to stop outside of the hub along Pearse Road.

All TFI Local Link and private bus services in Letterkenny are currently utilising a 30-metre-long bay layby located on the R229, leading to the R940 Ramelton Road, which can only accommodate two buses at a time.

The proposed transport hub is now progressing through Part 8 of the planning process.

Members of the public are now able to view and examine the architectural drawings, reports, and details of the project on the Donegal County Council’s Consultation website, or at the Letterkenny Public Service Centre and the County House in Lifford during their opening hours, until Tuesday, December 8 2026.

Submissions and observations regarding the proposed plans can be made before 4:30 pm on Wednesday, December 23.