Watch: Drone vid timelapse rounds up year of works on BusConnects Cork's new depot
After a long wait - we finally saw the first glimpses of the ambitious Bus Connects this year, with new construction, info on changes to services and a planning application update.The biggest sign of all however was works starting to add a new bus depot by the Tivoli docks, which will be used to maintain and store the fully electric fleet. When finished, it will be able to accommodate over 150 vehicles - a vital part of the wider BusConnects plans to slash public transport carbon emissions, add new 24-hour routes and greatly expand Cork city's bus services.A new video - uploaded by YouTuber DroneHawk - shows how the project is moving along as we approach the end of 2025. A quick timelapse montage at the start of the video shows just how far works have progressed since they started in April this year. Construction focused on an old building left over from when the site was occupied by a production company, TATA Steel. The video shows that one section of the property was knocked during the early works.The time-lapse speeds through months of works as we see another building added in its place with what looks like three west-facing bus bays. It also shows the surrounding terrain transforming from an uneven, hilly construction site to level ground, likely to be used for vehicle parking. The footage then gives a further close-up look at a wash and valeting section to the side of the main building.The new depot is expected to open in the first quarter of next year.This update comes as one Cork TD recently confirmed we could start seeing some of the first changes as part of BusConnects Cork soon. Fine Gael's Colm Burke said that the project will install new bus stops in previously unserviced areas, including Kerry Pike and Upper Glanmire. These should be added within the next 2 months, "subject to new road opening licenses approval."It was also confirmed last month that the plans for BusConnects Cork are due to be submitted early next year. When finished, the redesigned network will include 11 new sustainable transport corridors and is expected to increase the total amount of bus services by 53%, as measured by in-service kilometres.The BusConnects plan will consist of 90km of segregated bus lanes and bus priority lanes, alongside 95km of segregated cycling routes. The project will facilitate the construction of more bus shelters and introduce 'next-generation' ticketing systems, where passengers can pay their fare using a range of payment methods, including their mobile phone.BusConnects Cork aims to ensure that an extra 13,000 people can reach Cork city within 30 minutes. The project will also introduce two new 24-hour bus routes - one heading east-west and another covering north-south.
