The rise and rise of Dublin Express 

29/04/2026

Dublin Express continued its remarkable growth in 2025 by transporting over 2.75 million passengers to and from Dublin Airport, which equates to 7% of all passengers who travelled through Ireland’s national hub airport. 

Since opening its first route between Dublin City Centre and Dublin Airport in August 2021, Dublin Express has grown beyond all expectations by offering passengers a dependable, affordable and comfortable travel option. Today, it services South Dublin, Belfast, the rest of Ireland and, indeed, Europe through its successful 'one ticket' collaborations with Irish Rail and Ryanair. 

Dublin Express’ commitment to excellence has seen it achieve significant industry recognition, including the Customer Focus Achievement accolade at the 2025 Irish Logistics & Transport Awards (ILTAs) for its excellent passenger service and multi-channel engagement as well as a hat-trick of successes at the CILT Awards 2025, including Gold for Innovation and Service Leadership for Rory Fitzgerald, Director of Ireland for parent company National Express. 

These awards celebrate Rory’s inspiring leadership and the dedication of Dublin Express’ amazing team to exceptional customer service, driving innovation, excellence and sustainable transport every day. 

2026 has already proved to an another hugely successful year for Dublin Express after they took home two 2026 Irish Logistics & Transport Awards (ILTAs), having been nominated in a stunning six categories. The were winners of the Passenger Transport Company of the Year Award and also the Logistics & Transport Team of the Year Awards, having been also nominated in the Customer Focus Achievement, Safety, Green Transformation and Sustainable Team categories. 

“We were delighted to be in the running for six ILTA awards and to claim two awards, which is all down to our fantastic team who are deeply committed to operational excellence and customer care, and are hugely passionate about what they do,” Rory enthuses. 

“Our goal is to deliver safe, sustainable, comfortable and reliable coach services between Dublin Airport, Dublin City, South Dublin and Belfast. We deliver unmatched customer service through a multi-channel approach, leveraging NPS and CSAT scores, real-time feedback and proactive engagement online. 

“Our customers range from local people to city day trippers. We provide services into the city centre, including Tara Street where there is a DART station, to Heuston Station and as far south as Terenure, where our route touches off both the Blue and Red Luas lines. We have 21 blue buses serving Dublin and another six serving Belfast, which is our fourth route. 

“All of our Dublin buses run on HVO, which underscores our commitment to reducing CO2 emissions. We were the first bus company in Dublin to switch over to this carbon-neutral option which is perfectly suited to shorter journeys and hasn’t resulted in any change to power or fuel efficiency.” 

Rory adds: “Our passenger numbers have been absolutely rocketing and this can be largely attributed to the frequency and reliability of our services. Our direct coaches provide efficient and reliable transportation, departing every seven-and-a-half minutes at peak times, ensuring you reach your destination quickly and without hassle. So even when buses are running late, you’ll still be on time due to the frequency of our services. 

“Also, our faster transfer from Dublin City Centre via the Dublin Port Tunnel will get you to Dublin Airport in just 14 minutes. 

“Furthermore, we have partnered with Irish Rail to bring you directly from train to plane and back again on public transport to Dublin Airport and across Ireland. We’ve also partnered with Ryanair to bring added convenience and more options for onward travel, all in one place, with our combined ticket options. 

“Our reputation for reliability, efficiency, cleanliness, comfort, straightforward online booking and friendliness has earned us 4.3 stars on Trustpilot which means a lot to us and is something we're very proud of.” 

The Dublin Express team has worked tirelessly to ensure that every passenger enjoys a comfortable, convenient and stress-free travel experience. From friendly drivers and helpful customer service agents to clean and modern coaches, Dublin Express prioritises the needs of its customers at every turn. The company’s dedication to providing top-tier service has been instrumental in building a loyal customer base and achieving astounding growth in just five years. 

Dublin Express first hit the roads in 2021, marking a significant milestone in Dublin’s public transport network. The company's inaugural route, the 782 service, quickly became a critical link between Dublin Airport and the city centre, offering passengers a dependable, affordable and comfortable travel option. 

“We didn’t get off to the best of starts,” Rory recalls. 

“We opened for business in March 2020, but were forced to close again 10 days later due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Because of the various lockdowns and restrictions, we didn’t become fully operational until August 2021 and haven’t looked back since.” 

Building on the success of its initial service, Dublin Express expanded its network in April 2022 with the launch of the 784 route. This service connected passengers to Dublin City along the quays, including key stops at Trinity College and the 3 Arena, catering to a growing demand for reliable transport options around the city centre. Just months after launching the 784, Dublin Express celebrated a significant achievement in November 2022 when it welcomed its one-millionth customer onboard. This milestone highlighted the rapid growth and popularity of Dublin Express as a top choice for travellers in and around Dublin needing to get to both sides of the Liffey and enjoy some Dublin sites along the way, also reinforcing its reputation for providing top-notch services. 

In July 2023, Dublin Express took another leap forward with the launch of its 785 route, extending its reach beyond Dublin and into Northern Ireland. The 785 service offers a direct and comfortable connection between Dublin and Belfast, catering to both local and international travellers. This route has been a tremendous success, enhancing Dublin Express’s reputation as a trusted provider of long-distance coach services. To further bolster its offerings, Dublin Express partnered with Irish Rail, creating a unified travel network that connects Dublin’s train stations with Dublin Airport through convenient coach services. 

In April 2024, Dublin Express launched the 783 route, serving the southern suburbs of Dublin, with its final stop in Terenure. This service helps to meet the needs of both residents and visitors, providing an efficient and reliable transport option linking South Dublin to Dublin Airport and the city centre. 

With each new route and partnership, Dublin Express continues to enhance its services, offering convenient and reliable travel options to its growing customer base. 

With the majority of Dublin Express’ 50-strong team being CSA customer advisors, the coach operation and servicing are outsourced to Bernard Kavanagh & Sons and Thomas Kavanagh. The HVO-powered buses servicing Dublin Airport and the city centre are a mix of Volvo and Mercedes-Benz, while the Dublin Airport to Belfast route is served by Scania Caetano buses. 

“We enjoy an excellent working relationship with Bernard Kavanagh and his brother Thomas. The fleet is serviced by Bernard Kavanagh & Sons’ depot in Swords, which couldn’t be more convenient for us,” the affable Leighlinbridge, Co. Carlow man concludes. 

In summary, Dublin Express offers convenient and seamless connections every seven-and-a-half minutes to the city with coaches that feature plenty of storage room for luggage, onboard Wi-Fi and USB charging ports. 

With stops directly outside of the arrivals hall at both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 as well as across Dublin City and suburban locations, it’s never been easier to get your connection into the heart of Dublin and back again with open return tickets available. Choose Dublin Express for the fastest coach to and from Dublin Airport.  

Here’s the next five years and many more! 

Dublin Express 

Coballis, 

Dublin Airport, 

K67 KD58. 

Telephone: 01 776 7776 

Web: www.dublinexpress.ie 

First published in Irish Trucker magazine March/April 2026, Vol 29-2