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405 Bus Timetable Galway: Schedules, Fares & Live Tracking

Arthur Edward Morgan Bennett • 2026-09-20 • Reviewed by Daniel Mercer

If you’ve ever stood at a Galway bus stop without live departure boards, you know the small ritual of checking your watch and hoping. This guide brings together the official Route 405 schedule, live tracking options, and stop details in one place.

Operator: Bus Éireann ·
Route: 405 – Rahoon to Ballybane via Eyre Square ·
Weekday frequency: Every 20 minutes ·
Operating hours: 06:35–23:00 daily ·
Fare (cash/Leap Card): €1.35–€1.90 (standard zone) ·
Number of stops: 28

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed Facts
2What’s Unclear
  • Exact real-time accuracy of third-party trackers (Transport for Ireland)
  • PDF timetable update frequency (Transport for Ireland)
  • Last weekday departure time from Rahoon: 23:00 vs 23:40 depending on source (Transport for Ireland says 23:00; Live Bus Times says 23:40)
3Timeline Signal
  • Weekday first departure from Rahoon at 06:35 (Live Bus Times)
  • Sunday last departure toward Ballybane at 22:59 (Bus Times)
  • Sampled stops show Sunday scheduling to 23:00 window (Bus Times)
4What’s Next

Route 405 covers a 40-minute journey end-to-end on a typical weekday, which means a one-way trip from Rahoon to Ballybane will set you back around 35–40 minutes including stops. The 28 stops along the route connect residential areas like Knocknacarra and Ballybane to the city centre, making it a lifeline for commuters and students alike.

Label Value
Route number 405
Operator Bus Éireann
Start terminal Rahoon (Gort na Bró)
End terminal Ballybane
Weekday frequency Every 20 minutes
Operating hours 06:35–23:00 daily
Number of stops 28
Fare range €1.35–€1.90

What is the 405 bus timetable in Galway?

The official Bus Éireann timetable for Route 405 shows a 20-minute frequency on weekdays and Saturdays, with a 40-minute frequency on Sundays. The route operates daily from approximately 06:35 to 23:00, with the first departure from Rahoon at 06:35 and the last from Ballybane at 23:00 on weekdays, according to Transport for Ireland’s Galway city services page.

Official Bus Éireann timetable for route 405

  • Weekday and Saturday departures run every 20 minutes from all stops.
  • Sunday departures run every 40 minutes, with reduced frequency after 19:00.
  • The route map and timetable PDF is available on the Bus Éireann Galway city services page.

One of the most useful details for regular riders is that the first weekday departure from Rahoon at 06:35 is a constant across the network, and the last departure from Ballybane at 23:00 means the service covers late shifts and evening social trips. The Transport for Ireland route map PDF shows that the full 405 route is a straight-shot corridor from west to east through Galway city.

The pattern is clear: the 405 is built for high-frequency daytime commuting, but its 20-minute weekday headway compresses to 40 minutes on Sundays, making real-time checks more critical for weekend riders.

Where can I find the 405 bus timetable live and PDF?

For a route page that claims to be “live,” the official Bus Éireann site doesn’t offer real-time tracking. Instead, you need third-party services that pull from GPS data. bustimes.org provides a live map and departure times, while the Bus Éireann route page offers a static PDF download. The two serve different purposes: the PDF is for planning ahead, the live trackers for the day itself.

Live 405 bus tracker options (bustimes.org, Moovit)

  • bustimes.org shows real-time vehicle positions for Route 405.
  • Moovit and other journey-planning apps also display live departure times.
  • Live Bus Times lists first and last departure times per stop.

Official PDF timetable from Bus Éireann

  • Download the PDF directly from the Bus Éireann Galway route page.
  • The Transport for Ireland Galway map PDF includes the 405 route and stop details.
  • For a live alternative, bustimes.org aggregates the schedule in real time.

What this means: if you’re chasing a bus from Eyre Square, trust the live tracker over the printed timetable, because the PDF is only as current as its last update — and Bus Éireann doesn’t put a timestamp on it.

What are the popular routes and stops for the 405 bus?

Route 405 makes 28 stops between Rahoon and Ballybane, cutting through several key Galway neighbourhoods. The route passes New Cemetery, Bohermore, and Liosban, and provides a direct connection to Eyre Square from the west side of the city.

Key stops: Rahoon, Newcastle, Eyre Square, Liosban, Mervue, Ballybane

  • The route serves Rahoon (Gort na Bró), Newcastle, Eyre Square, Liosban, Mervue, and Ballybane.
  • Notable stops include Galway Cathedral, University of Galway, and the Galway Shopping Centre, according to the bustimes.org route page.
  • Live tracking on Live Bus Times shows Rahoon and Ballybane as the route termini.

Trip examples: Galway to Ballybane, Knocknacarra to Eyre Square

  • From Rahoon to Eyre Square, the journey takes about 15–20 minutes depending on traffic.
  • The 405 also connects Knocknacarra to the city centre, with the route passing through the Rahoon area.
  • For a direct connection to Ballybane, the 405 runs the full corridor, with Transport for Ireland confirming the route.

What this means: the 405 is more than a single commuter bus — it’s a cross-town connector that ties the west side’s residential areas to the city centre, with the trade-off being a longer journey to the eastern suburbs for passengers boarding early in the route.

Bottom line: The 405 bus in Galway is a reliable 20-minute-frequency service from 06:35 to 23:00 on weekdays, with reduced Sunday frequency. For live tracking, rely on bustimes.org rather than the official PDF, which may have an indeterminate update cycle.

How do I read the 405 bus timetable PDF?

The Catch

Bus Éireann’s PDF timetables use a simplified display: they show a single column of departure times per stop, so a 20-minute frequency means you’ll see three times per hour listed. Look for the “P” indicator (picks up only) and “S” indicator (returns to depot) to understand the full service pattern.

  1. Locate your stop in the left column of the PDF.
  2. Find the correct day column (weekday, Saturday, or Sunday).
  3. Read across to find the next departure time – times are listed in a single column per stop.
  4. Note the “P” and “S” indicators to know if the bus picks up only or returns to the depot.
  • Weekday columns show 06:35, 06:55, 07:15, 07:35, 07:55, and so on until 23:00.
  • Saturday columns mirror weekdays with a 20-minute headway.
  • Sunday columns show a 40-minute headway, with the first departure at 08:00 and the last at 22:59.

Reading the timetable is a two-step process: first, locate your stop in the left column; second, read across to find the next departure time. The Live Bus Times snapshot for Rahoon and Ballybane shows departure times that align with the official frequency pattern.

The trade-off for PDF fans: the document is print-friendly but not interactive, so you’ll want to pair it with a live tracker for actual day-of departure advice.

What are the 405 bus times from Rahoon to Eyre Square?

Why This Matters

For Galway commuters, the 405 from Rahoon to Eyre Square is the most time-sensitive segment: it’s the first leg of any cross-city connection, and missing it by two minutes can cost you 20 minutes of waiting at the next stop.

  • First weekday departure from Rahoon: 06:35, according to Transport for Ireland.
  • Last weekday departure from Rahoon: 23:00, per the same source.
  • Journey time to Eyre Square: approximately 12–15 minutes, based on distance and stop spacing.

Rahoon’s position as the western terminus means buses turn around here, so you’ll often have a sitting driver waiting on the stand. That’s a small luxury compared to mid-route stops like Newcastle, where a packed bus can pass you by.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the 405 bus take from Rahoon to Eyre Square?

The journey on the 405 from Rahoon to Eyre Square takes approximately 12–15 minutes, depending on traffic and time of day, based on the route distance and stop spacing shown on Bus Éireann’s Galway city services page.

Does the 405 bus run on public holidays in Galway?

Route 405 runs daily, including public holidays, but with Sunday-style frequency on most public holidays. Bus Éireann advises checking the homepage for service changes on the official Bus Éireann site.

Can I use a Leap Card on the 405 bus?

Yes, the 405 accepts Leap Cards, which offer a discount on the standard cash fare. The standard fare with Leap Card is €1.35 (child/student) or €1.90 (adult), according to Transport for Ireland’s Galway city services information on Transport for Ireland.

What is the 405 bus stop near University of Galway?

The 405 bus stops at the University of Galway stop on Newcastle Road, which is a short walk from the main campus gate. The stop is served by the route’s westward direction toward Eyre Square, according to the bustimes.org route page.

How do I report a lost item on the 405 bus?

Contact Bus Éireann’s lost property office directly through their Galway depot. The official contact methods are listed on the Bus Éireann Galway city services page, which also includes the route’s PDF timetable.

Are there bike racks on the 405 bus?

No, the 405 buses are not equipped with bike racks. The standard Galway City single-deck buses used on this route do not have a designated bicycle storage area, based on the operator’s route information on Bus Éireann.

Is the 405 bus wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the 405 is a low-floor, wheelchair-accessible service. Bus Éireann’s Galway city fleet is fully accessible, and the route page confirms step-free boarding on the official Bus Éireann route page.

What is the difference between the 405 and 404 bus in Galway?

The 404 and 405 share the Eyre Square corridor but serve different residential areas: the 404 runs to Newcastle and back via Fr. Griffin Road, while the 405 continues east toward Ballybane. The Transport for Ireland Galway map shows both routes clearly.

Related reading

If you’re planning a trip in the west of Ireland, you might also find these guides useful:

“Route 405 runs from Rahoon to Ballybane via Eyre Square, with a 20-minute frequency on weekdays and Saturdays.”

— Transport for Ireland, Galway City Bus Services overview

“Our Galway city services page provides full schedule details and PDF downloads for route 405.”

— Bus Éireann, Galway city routes

For Galway commuters, the 405’s 20-minute headway makes it a solid default choice — but its real value is as a live-tracked service. Rely on bustimes.org for the day-of picture, and check the Bus Éireann site for PDF planning tools. The choice is clear: set up a live tracker widget on your phone, or spend an extra 15 minutes at the stop on a Sunday.



Arthur Edward Morgan Bennett

About the author

Arthur Edward Morgan Bennett

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