Nine more bus routes are to switch from Dublin Bus to Go-Ahead Ireland from Sunday January 20th.

From Sunday, routes 17, 104, 114, 161, 220, 236, 238, 239, and 270 will be operated under the 'Transport for Ireland' brand by Go-Ahead Ireland.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) has said passengers on these routes will see "immediate improvements" in frequency and service levels.

It also said the switchover will free up resources which has allowed the NTA to approve service improvements and modifications on Dublin Bus routes across the network in the weeks ahead.

NTA chief executive Anne Graham said: "This latest phase of changes being introduced this coming weekend are part of an overall process of increasing frequency and improving services on about 50 bus routes in Dublin, operated under the Transport for Ireland brand, by both Dublin Bus and Go-Ahead Ireland.

NTA Chief Executive Officer Anne Graham and Head of Finance at Go-Ahead James Caffrey | Image: NTA

"This process which got under way in September will be the biggest programme of service improvements that the NTA has ever approved and it is an indication of the level of commitment we have to making the bus service better for more passengers across the network in Dublin."

Buses on the routes will have a new look, but there are no changes to fares or ticketing.

Leap Cards, travel passes and Dublin Bus Rambler tickets are also all still accepted.

The change in operator follows a public tender process undertaken by the NTA in 2017.

It saw Go-Ahead Ireland awarded the contract to operate 10% of routes previously operated by Dublin Bus.