Figuring out the E1 bus route in Dublin can feel like a puzzle of starts, stops, and operator names. This guide settles the key questions: who runs it, where it goes, and whether it actually runs through the night.

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Total stops: 88 ·
Operated by: Dublin Bus (Bus Átha Cliath) ·
Route length: Northwood (Santry) to Ballywaltrim (Bray) ·
Service type: E-Spine corridor, Monday–Sunday ·
Tracking buses live: Yes, 21 buses available

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact first/last bus times vary by direction and day — check live timetable (Dublin Bus 24 Hour Timetables)
  • Future schedule changes beyond Phase 6a not yet announced (Dublin Bus 24 Hour Timetables)
  • No official word on whether E1 will ever become a 24-hour service (Dublin Bus 24 Hour Timetables)
3Timeline signal
  • January 2025: E-Spine Phase 6a launched, introducing E1 and E2 (Dublin Bus BusConnects Phase 6a announcement)
4What’s next
The upshot

The E1 is a solid option for north-south Dublin commuters — 88 stops, live tracking available, and consistent service from around 05:00 to 23:30. But if you’re looking for a true 24-hour bus, the E1 isn’t it. Riders relying on late-night travel need to plan around the last bus, not assume all-night coverage.

You’ll get the official 88-stop route from Northwood to Ballywaltrim, confirmed operator details, and the best tools for live tracking, all sourced from Dublin Bus and Transport for Ireland.

Nine key facts about the E1 bus route — one glance at the operator, schedule, and coverage.
Label Value
Operator Dublin Bus (Bus Átha Cliath)
Route number E1
Corridor E-Spine (Phase 6a)
Terminals Northwood (Dublin) ↔ Ballywaltrim (Bray)
Total stops 88
Live tracking Yes (bustimes.org, Citymapper, TransitApp)
24-hour service No
First bus typical 05:00
Last bus typical 23:30

The pattern across these facts: the E1 provides a frequent, long-run service but stops short of overnight operation. For night workers or late commuters, that cap matters.

Is the E1 bus operated by Dublin Bus or Go-Ahead?

  • E1 is operated by Dublin Bus (Bus Átha Cliath), as confirmed on the official Spine E page (Dublin Bus official operator page)
  • Go-Ahead Ireland operates different routes, such as the 175 — not the E1

Operator details for E1 route

The E1 route falls under the BusConnects Spine E corridor, part of Phase 6a that launched on 26 January 2025. Dublin Bus is the sole operator. The route number E1 is a formal entry in the Dublin Bus network sitemap, separate from the E2 (Dublin Bus sitemap confirmation).

Difference between Dublin Bus and Go-Ahead Ireland services

Dublin Bus operates the majority of city routes, including E-Spine services. Go-Ahead Ireland runs select orbital and outer-suburban routes under contract with the National Transport Authority (Transport for Ireland bus route timetable page). The E1 is not in Go-Ahead’s portfolio. If you see a bus labeled E1, it will be a Dublin Bus vehicle.

The implication: route confusion between the two operators is unnecessary — the E1 is unambiguously a Dublin Bus service. Riders looking for Go-Ahead services should check routes like the 175 or 76.

Does the E1 bus run 24 hours?

  • E1 does not run all night (Dublin Bus 24 Hour Timetables)
  • Service hours typically 05:00 to 23:30
  • No 24-hour service on E1

Night service availability on E1

The E1 timetable PDF published by Dublin Bus includes only weekday and Saturday service headings — no overnight schedule (Dublin Bus E1 timetable PDF). Third-party apps like Moovit note that the route operates spanning from early morning to late evening, but not through the night. The gap between the last bus around 23:30 and the first bus around 05:00 confirms no overnight coverage.

E1 first and last bus times

Specific departure times vary by direction and day of week. The TFI Phase 6 Frequency Guide outlines a pattern of roughly 7-10 minute frequency on weekdays, widening to 15-20 minutes on Saturdays and Sundays. Passengers should consult the live timetable for exact departure windows.

The catch: the absence of a 24-hour service is a real constraint for shift workers or night-trippers between Santry and Bray. Alternative late-night routes or taxis become the only option after the last E1 departs.

Bottom line: The E1 runs a strong 18.5-hour service covering north-south Dublin, but it stops well before midnight. Night riders: plan for a different service or a taxi after 23:30.

What is the E1 bus route and where does it start?

  • Start: Northwood (Santry) (Bustimes route listing)
  • End: Southern Cross / Ballywaltrim (Bray)
  • 88 bus stops served
  • Route includes City Centre, DCU, Bray

E1 route from Northwood to Ballywaltrim

The E1 runs the entire north-south corridor from Northwood in Santry to Ballywaltrim in Bray, passing through key Dublin landmarks. According to Transit App listings, stops include DCU, Parnell Square, Donnybrook, Stillorgan, Cabinteely, Shankill, and Bray (Transit E1 route map). Moovit data confirms the route also serves UCD Belfield and the Southern Cross terminus.

Key landmarks and stops

Notable stops along the route: Northwood Avenue, Santry, Dublin City University, Parnell Square West (city centre hub), Donnybrook, Stillorgan, Cabinteely, Shankill, Bray Main Street, and Ballywaltrim / Southern Cross. The route is structured as a spine, meaning it provides a direct connection between these areas with fewer deviations than older routes.

E1 bus route map overview

An interactive map is available on TransitApp, Citymapper, and bustimes.org. These apps visualize the full 88-stop route in real time. For a static overview, the TFI Phase 6 Frequency Guide includes a route diagram but not a full geographical map.

What this means: the E1 effectively replaces what used to require multiple buses — a straight spine from Santry to Bray that covers the city centre and several suburban hubs. For anyone living or working along that corridor, the E1 is likely the simplest option.

How to download the E1 bus route Dublin map?

  • Official map available on Transport for Ireland (Phase 6a) (Transport for Ireland Phase 6 Frequency Guide)
  • Citymapper and TransitApp show live E1 map (Transit E1 route map)
  • No official PDF downloadable from Dublin Bus — use third-party apps for interactive view

E1 map PDF download

Transport for Ireland publishes a Phase 6 Frequency Guide PDF that includes E1 pattern details but not a full standalone route map. Dublin Bus itself does not offer a dedicated E1 map PDF download. Users searching for a PDF map should instead use the TFI Frequency Guide for corridor overview or screenshot from an app.

E1 map app recommendation

For a live, interactive E1 route map, TransitApp and Citymapper are the top choices. Both show bus positions, stop sequences, and estimated arrivals in real time. Bustimes.org also offers a live map view with 21 buses currently tracked on the E1 route as of January 2025.

E1 route stops map view

Moovit and TransitApp list all 88 stops with direction-based lists. Users can view stop sequences for the inbound (toward Northwood) and outbound (toward Ballywaltrim) directions. The map view in these apps updates live, showing bus icons moving along the route.

The trade-off: if you want a physical PDF to print or annotate, you’re out of luck — official sources haven’t produced one. But the digital alternatives offer something better: live bus positions that a PDF could never show.

Why this matters

Relying on a static PDF for the E1 means missing the bus real-time element. TransitApp or Citymapper give you not just the route map but exactly where your bus is right now — a critical difference for anyone waiting in the Dublin rain.

E1 bus timetable and live tracking

  • E1 route is in Dublin, not South Shields — confusion with a UK route (Bustimes E1 Dublin route identification)
  • Live tracking available on bustimes.org, Citymapper, TransitApp
  • Timetables on Dublin Bus website

E1 timetable for South Shields (error clarification)

Searches for “E1 bus timetable South Shields” refer to a different E1 route in the United Kingdom (South Shields to Sunderland region). The Dublin E1, operated by Dublin Bus, does not serve any UK locations. If you’re in Dublin and searching for E1 times, use Dublin Bus or TFI resources — not UK transit sites.

How to check E1 live times

Live tracking is available through multiple platforms. Bustimes.org shows real-time bus positions and estimated arrivals for the E1 route in Dublin (Bustimes live tracking). The Dublin Bus live map at dublinbusmap.com provides another interface. TFI Live app consolidates all operators including Dublin Bus (Transport for Ireland TFI Live app).

The pattern: the E1 route has strong digital coverage. Between the official Dublin Bus timetable PDF, TransitApp, Citymapper, Moovit, and bustimes.org, riders have at least five ways to get live data. That’s good for a relatively new route.

Related reading: BusConnects Spine E – E1 route overview · Dublin Bus 24 Hour Timetables

Additional sources

dublinbus.ie, dublinbus.ie, dublinbusmap.com, dublinbus.ie

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Frequently asked questions

How can I check live location of E1 bus?

Use Bustimes.org live tracking, TransitApp, Citymapper, or the Dublin Bus live map. All show real-time bus positions and estimated arrivals.

Does the E1 bus go to Dublin City Centre?

Yes. The E1 passes through Parnell Square West and the city centre corridor, connecting Santry and Bray via central Dublin (Transit E1 route map).

What is the frequency of E1 bus during peak hours?

According to the TFI Phase 6 Frequency Guide, the E1 runs every 7-10 minutes on weekdays during peak hours.

Are there any alternative routes to E1?

Yes. The E2 is a parallel E-Spine route covering a slightly different corridor. For night service, the 41 or 41x routes offer limited night coverage from the city centre northward. Check Dublin Bus 24 Hour Timetables for night options.

Which app shows the E1 bus route map?

TransitApp and Citymapper both display the full E1 route map with live bus tracking. Bustimes.org also provides a map view (Dublin Bus Spine E page).

Is the E1 bus wheelchair accessible?

Yes. All Dublin Bus vehicles on E-Spine routes are low-floor, wheelchair-accessible buses as part of the BusConnects specification.

Does the E1 bus run on Sundays?

Yes. E1 operates Monday through Sunday. Sunday frequency is wider, typically every 15-20 minutes (Moovit E1 Sunday schedule).

How much is the fare for E1 bus?

E1 fares follow the standard Dublin Bus cash and Leap Card structure. A single adult fare within the Dublin city zone is approximately €1.60 with Leap Card or €2.20 with cash. Longer trips to Bray may cost more — check Transport for Ireland fare information for exact pricing.

The E1 is Dublin’s newest north-south spine, replacing fragmented older routes with a direct 88-stop run from Santry to Bray. It’s a Dublin Bus service, not 24-hour, but well-covered by live tracking apps. For anyone commuting between north Dublin, the city centre, and south County Dublin, the E1 is the right call — just don’t expect it to run past midnight. Night workers or late returners along that corridor must plan before 23:30, or arrange an alternative.