In praise of our better public transport services

Sir, – With all the justifiable criticism of public transport and the M50, it is perhaps worth reminding ourselves of the public transport successes. This kind of focus reminds us we can get it right.

I live in Straffan, Co Kildare, and at one point in my career I worked in an office in Blackrock, Dublin. Before taking up the position, I drove from Straffan to Blackrock and then did the same journey by public transport.

The public-transport option won hands down. The 120 bus reliably collected me from Straffan at 7am and delivered me to O’Connell Bridge about 45 minutes later. I then took the short walk to Tara Street Dart station and jumped on one of the very regular Dart services to Blackrock.

I usually arrived in Blackrock by 8.30am, which allowed me ample time to get a coffee and a scone and to have a read of The Irish Times Letters page. If this excellent standard of public transport can be achieved on some routes, it can surely be achieved on more, if not all, routes. Proper planning and investment is the key. – Yours, etc,