Waterford Bus Routes & Stops: Complete 2026 Guide
π Waterford City Bus Routes: W1-W5 & 360/360A
Waterford’s urban bus network is operated primarily by Bus Γireann with additional services from JJ Kavanagh & Sons. The city routes connect key destinations including SETU university, Waterford Hospital, Merchants Quay, and the coastal town of Tramore.
Route W1: The Clock Tower β Merchants Quay (via SETU)
Key destinations: The Clock Tower (central hub), SETU – South East Technological University (main campus), Merchants Quay (city centre), Waterford Bus Station.
Best for: Students commuting to SETU, city centre shopping, connections to intercity services.
Route W2: The Clock Tower β Meagher’s Quay (via SETU)
Key destinations: The Clock Tower, SETU, Meagher’s Quay, Ballybeg area.
Best for: Ballybeg residents, SETU access, alternative to W1 with similar coverage.
Route W3: The Clock Tower β Meagher’s Quay (via St. Johns Park)
Alternative route: Serves St. Johns Park instead of SETU.
Key destinations: The Clock Tower, St. Johns Park, Meagher’s Quay.
Best for: St. Johns Park residents, avoiding university traffic during peak hours.
Route W4: Peter Street β SETU Paddy Browne’s Road
Key destinations: Peter Street, Arundel Square, SETU Paddy Browne’s Road campus.
Best for: Quick university access, shortest city route (10 stops only).
Route W5: Waterford Hospital β Oakwood
Key destinations: Waterford Hospital, Meagher’s Quay, Oakwood residential area.
Best for: Hospital visitors, Oakwood residents, healthcare access.
Route 360: Waterford β Tramore (25 stops, 38 mins)
π Beach route: Direct connection from Waterford city centre to Tramore beach.
Key stops: Waterford Bus Station, The Clock Tower, Waterford Crystal, Railway Square, Kilbarry SuperValu, Half Way House, Tramore Bus Station, Tramore Golf Club.
Best for: Beach trips, weekend leisure, coastal access. Last bus returns at midnight β plan accordingly!
Route 360A: Waterford β Tramore (via Riverstown Business Park)
Alternative to 360: Includes Riverstown Business Park stop.
Key destinations: Waterford Bus Station, SETU, Riverstown Business Park, Tramore.
Best for: Business park workers, alternative Tramore access.
JJ Kavanagh & Sons City Routes
Route 607: Waterford Hospital β Abbey Park
π 3 km | 7 stops | β¬2.20 adult / β¬1.70 child-student
Route: Ballygunner β Williamstown Road β City Centre β Abbey Park.
Smart Card available with 10% discount.
Route 617: Ballygunner β Slieverue
β¬2.20 adult / β¬1.70 child-student | Mon-Sat service
Circular route serving Ballygunner, city centre, and Slieverue village.
Route 627: Ballygunner β The Clock Tower β Merchants Quay
β¬2.20 adult / β¬1.70 child-student | Mon-Sat service
Key stops: Ballygunner, The Clock Tower, Tesco Ardkeen, Merchants Quay.
βοΈ Intercity Bus Routes from Waterford
For travel beyond Waterford city, Bus Γireann Expressway operates long-distance services to Dublin, Cork, Wexford, and other major Irish cities. These are separate from city buses and require different tickets.
Dublin Airport & City
Route 4 / X8: Waterford Bus Station β Dublin Airport β Dublin City
Journey time: 2h 15min (direct)
Frequency: 6 departures daily
Fare: β¬22.50 online / β¬25 cash
β οΈ Last bus: Departs Waterford at 14:30 β plan flights after 19:00!
Cork City
Route 40: Waterford β Cork (via Dungarvan, Youghal)
Journey time: 2h 30min
Frequency: Every 60-90 mins
Fare: β¬18-22 depending on booking time
Wexford Town
Route 370: Waterford β Wexford
Journey time: 1h 15min
Frequency: Hourly service
Fare: β¬10-12
Other Destinations
- Clonmel: Route 363 (via Local Link)
- New Ross: Route 370 connection
- Portlaw: Local Link service
- Limerick: Connection via Cork or Dublin
π TFI Local Link: Rural & Community Routes
TFI Local Link Waterford operates 8 routes covering 104 stops throughout County Waterford, connecting rural communities to the city centre and beyond.
Coverage area: From Clonmel (North) to Youghal (South); from Castlelyons/Rathcormack (West) to Passage East (East).
Notable Local Link Routes:
- Route 363: Dungarvan to Fermoy (longest route: 53 km, 11 stops)
- Route 358: Crooke/Passage East to The Clock Tower (shortest: 12 km, 8 stops)
- Route 361: Dungarvan-Ring-Youghal coastal route
- Route 367: Tramore to Dungarvan (Davitts Quay)
- Route 356: Various community services
π Major Bus Stops & Stations in Waterford
Waterford Bus Station
π The Mall, X91 EV98
Main terminus for intercity and city services. Real-time displays, ticket desk, waiting area.
Routes: All intercity + 360/360A
Connections: 5-min walk to Plunkett Train Station
The Clock Tower
π Clock Tower, City Centre
Central hub for city buses. Most important interchange point.
Routes: W1, W2, W3, 360, 360A, 627
Nearby: SETU (10 min walk), Merchants Quay (5 min walk)
Merchants Quay
π Merchants Quay, City Centre
Major city centre stop with shopping access.
Routes: W1, 627
Meagher’s Quay
π Meagher’s Quay
City centre stop near retail areas.
Routes: W2, W3, W5
SETU (Paddy Browne’s Road)
π SETU Campus, Paddy Browne’s Road
Main university campus stop. High student traffic.
Routes: W1, W2, W4, 360A
Waterford Hospital
π Waterford University Hospital
Medical facility access.
Routes: W5, 607
Tramore Bus Station
π Tramore, Co. Waterford
Terminus for beach routes.
Routes: 360, 360A
Nearby: Tramore Beach (5 min walk)
Peter Street / Arundel Square
π Peter Street, City Centre
Starting point for Route W4.
Routes: W4
π° Waterford Bus Fares & Payment Options
Bus Γireann Fares (W1-W5, 360, 360A)
| Category | Cash Fare | Leap Card | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult Standard Zone | β¬1.90 | β¬1.35 | 30% (β¬0.55) |
| Adult Higher Zone | β¬2.20 | β¬1.55 | 30% (β¬0.65) |
| Young Adult/Student Standard | β¬1.90 | β¬0.65 | 66% (β¬1.25) |
| Young Adult/Student Higher | β¬2.20 | β¬0.80 | 64% (β¬1.40) |
| Child Standard | β¬0.90 | β¬0.65 | 28% (β¬0.25) |
π‘ TFI Leap Card Benefits
- 30% savings on all Bus Γireann city services
- 90-minute fare: Unlimited transfers between routes within 90 minutes
- Student discount: Up to 66% off with valid student ID
- Where to buy: Spar shops, Centra, Bus Station ticket desk, online at leapcard.ie
- Top-up: At machines in Bus Station, online, or via Leap Top-Up app
JJ Kavanagh Fares (607, 617, 627)
- Adult: β¬2.20
- Child/Student (under 16): β¬1.70
- Smart Card: 10% discount available
π³ Payment Methods
Bus Γireann: Cash (exact change preferred), TFI Leap Card, contactless bank cards (on newer buses)
JJ Kavanagh: Cash, Smart Card
Intercity (Expressway): Online booking recommended, cash accepted
β° Bus Frequency Guide: Weekdays vs Weekends
| Route | Weekdays | Saturday | Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|
| W1, W2, W3 | Every 20 mins | Every 20-30 mins | Every 30 mins |
| W4, W5 | Every 30 mins | Every 30 mins | Every 30 mins |
| 360, 360A | Every 30 mins | Every 30 mins | Every 30-60 mins |
| JJ Kavanagh (607/617/627) | Varies | Reduced service | No service |
π¦ Peak Hours (Mon-Fri)
Morning peak: 07:30 – 09:30 (increased frequency on W1-W3)
Evening peak: 16:30 – 18:30 (increased frequency on W1-W3)
Note: Routes may be busier during university term times (SETU routes).
π± Real-Time Bus Tracking & Apps
TFI Live
Official Irish transport app
Real-time arrival times, route maps, service alerts.
Download: iOS / Android (free)
Bus Γireann App
Official app with timetables, tickets, tracking.
Features: Mobile tickets, journey planner, service updates.
Moovit
Popular third-party transit app.
Features: Crowdsourced data, step-by-step navigation, offline maps.
Citymapper
Multimodal journey planning.
Features: Bus + walking routes, real-time alerts, best route suggestions.
π‘ Pro Tips for Real-Time Tracking
- Enable notifications for your frequent routes
- Check app 5-10 minutes before departure time
- Bookmark your regular stops for quick access
- Use “Live Map” view to see bus positions in real-time
β Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best bus route from Waterford to Tramore?
Route 360 is the main bus from Waterford to Tramore. It runs every 30 minutes on weekdays and Saturdays, with reduced service (every 30-60 minutes) on Sundays. Journey time is approximately 38 minutes with 25 stops along the way. The last bus departs Waterford at 00:00 (midnight).
How do I get to SETU university by bus?
Four bus routes serve SETU (South East Technological University):
- Route W1: From Clock Tower via city centre (most frequent)
- Route W2: From Clock Tower via alternative route
- Route W4: Shortest route from Peter Street/Arundel Square (5 km, 10 stops)
- Route 360A: From Waterford Bus Station via Riverstown
Student fare: β¬0.65 with TFI Leap Card (vs β¬1.90 cash).
Can I use Leap Card on all Waterford buses?
Leap Card works on all Bus Γireann city routes: W1, W2, W3, W4, W5, 360, 360A.
Leap Card does NOT work on: JJ Kavanagh routes (607, 617, 627) β these require cash or JJ Kavanagh Smart Card.
Intercity services (Dublin Airport, Cork, etc.) require separate tickets and do not accept Leap Card.
Where is the main bus station in Waterford?
Waterford Bus Station is located on The Mall, X91 EV98. It serves as the main terminus for intercity services (Dublin, Cork, Wexford) and Route 360/360A to Tramore. The station has a ticket desk, waiting area, and real-time departure displays. It’s a 5-minute walk from Plunkett Train Station.
What time does the last bus run in Waterford?
City routes (W1-W5): Last buses typically depart around 23:30.
Route 360 to Tramore: Last departure from Waterford at 00:00 (midnight).
JJ Kavanagh routes: Last buses around 18:00-19:00 (no Sunday service).
Intercity to Dublin Airport: Last departure at 14:30 β plan flights accordingly!
Always check the official timetable as times may vary on public holidays.
How much does a bus ticket cost in Waterford?
Bus Γireann city routes:
- Adult cash: β¬1.90 (standard zone) / β¬2.20 (higher zone)
- Adult Leap Card: β¬1.35 / β¬1.55 (30% savings)
- Student Leap Card: β¬0.65 / β¬0.80 (up to 66% savings)
- Child: β¬0.90 cash / β¬0.65 Leap Card
JJ Kavanagh: Adult β¬2.20, Child/Student β¬1.70
Pro tip: Leap Card offers 90-minute unlimited transfers between routes.
π¨ Service Updates & Alerts
βΉοΈ Last updated: January 30, 2026
Current status: All routes operating normally. No major disruptions reported.
π‘ Where to Check for Real-Time Updates
- Bus Γireann website: buseireann.ie
- TFI Service Alerts: transportforireland.ie
- Social media: @BusEireann on Twitter/X
- TFI Live app: Push notifications for service disruptions
π Useful Links & Resources
Official Websites
- Bus Γireann – Timetables & tickets
- Transport for Ireland – Journey planner
- TFI Leap Card – Buy & top-up
- JJ Kavanagh & Sons – Local routes
