More than 100 people have protested in the village of Kilrickle in Co Galway over a decision by Bus Éireann to drop five stops from the daily Dublin service.
A further five stops are also being withdrawn across the midlands.
The company has said the changes are due to consumer demand and the route will be faster and more frequent.
Bus Éireann has confirmed that routes 20 and X20 operating between Dublin and Galway will no longer pick up and drop off passengers at ten stops.
The areas affected in east Galway are Kilrickle, Oranmore, Derrydonnell, Creagh/Dubarry and Ballydangan in Roscommon.
The other stops across the midlands are Horseleap, Tyrellspass, Rochfortbridge, Miltownpass, Clonard and Moyvalley.
Today local people from the areas affected in east Galway, gathered in Kilrickle to voice their concerns.
They are calling for the bus stops to be restored, saying they are a lifeline to surrounding rural communities.
Anne Rabbitte, Fianna Fáil TD for Galway East, has called for an immediate reversal of the decision.
She said people in Kilrickle will now have to travel to Aughrim, some 13km away to get the bus, while people in Oranmore will have to go into Galway city or Craughwell.
Over 100 people protest in Kilrickle Galway over decision by Bus Eireann to drop 10 stops on daily Dublin service @rtenews @RTENewsNow @RTENewsAtOne #saveourstops pic.twitter.com/ZC51jejBNe
— TERESA MANNION (@TeresaMannion) July 30, 2018
Residents in Kilrickle have said they are baffled and angered that the bus will continue to pass through Kilrickle on the revised service.
Bus Éireann says the decision to drop five stops is based on a review of the network and must take account of where customer demand is greatest.
The company said it receives no public transport State funding for these routes.
The National Transport Authority, which is responsible for securing the provision of public bus services, said it will continue to look at options in order to meet the demand in the areas affected.
This may include the contribution of Local Link services in rural areas such as Kilrickle.
However members of the local community said they want action now.
They said the decision will have widespread repercussions for people travelling to work, to hospital appointments and students attending college and training courses.
