Bus Eireann routes 109/109A Changes

shannon82 · 08-12-2012 8:18pm

Lucky u d express bus didn't arrive til 445 yesterday due to Nassau/dame st delays

tom23 · 09-01-2013 10:00am

Can't figure the 109 out and some of their drivers. Please correct me if I am wrong, but till the actual 13th of January no peak time buses will serve the inbound stop of the impassable Blanchardstown slip road but the driver of the 7:50 departure from market square in Navan, decides to take it to let nobody of, thus adding at least an extra unnecessary 10 mins on to the journey times, thanks driver. Why oh why do they make these decisions?

AlekSmart · 09-01-2013 2:43pm

tom23 wrote: »

Can't figure the 109 out and some of their drivers. Please correct me if I am wrong, but till the actual 13th of January no peak time buses will serve the inbound stop of the impassable Blanchardstown slip road but the driver of the 7:50 departure from market square in Navan, decides to take it to let nobody of, thus adding at least an extra unnecessary 10 mins on to the journey times, Thanks driver. Why oh why do they make these decisions?

Why did'nt you politely enquire of him as you exited..?

Or better still fire off an enquiry to BE Customer Service ...Ring them even ?

Quite possible the driver did'nt read the notice board,was out-sick,on holidays or whatever....or just plain forgot ?

Best possible answer to this long running problem is delete the bloody stop...Full Stop.....?

foggy_lad · 09-01-2013 2:46pm

tom23 wrote: »

Can't figure the 109 out and some of their drivers. Please correct me if I am wrong, but till the actual 13th of January no peak time buses will serve the inbound stop of the impassable Blanchardstown slip road but the driver of the 7:50 departure from market square in Navan, decides to take it to let nobody of, thus adding at least an extra unnecessary 10 mins on to the journey times, thanks driver. Why oh why do they make these decisions?

Would it be that some drivers want to "manage" their times so that they cant be put onto an extra run/route for the remainder of their shift due to them being late? An extra 10minutes might mean that driver had to sit out the last hour of shift because the working time directive would not allow them to do an extra run on the route.

AlekSmart · 09-01-2013 3:34pm

foggy_lad wrote: »

Would it be that some drivers want to "manage" their times so that they cant be put onto an extra run/route for the remainder of their shift due to them being late? An extra 10minutes might mean that driver had to sit out the last hour of shift because the working time directive would not allow them to do an extra run on the route.

Nope.

Geog1234 · 09-01-2013 6:41pm

Ideally a lay-by would be built under/near the bridge on both sides to allow buses to pull in. Steps/ramps or a circuitous footpath would allow access to the bridge above. Incidentally a few weeks ago there was some work going on around the bridge - not sure what and don't know if it's ongoing.

The Blanchardstown Bypass dates from the early 1990s as far as I know and precedes the Blanchardstown Centre which opened in October 1996. Before the centre was built any demand for alighting/boarding provincial buses would have mainly been for Blanchardstown Village.

The slip road stop should be omitted on at least several peak hour journeys. However if it was omitted on all services it would mean there is nowhere to alight until the stop near Navan Road rail station. Hardly user-friendly public transport!

Think a long-term solution is needed here along the lines of a lay-by. It's realistic and reasonable that passengers should be able to access the leisure/shopping/employment hub that the Blanchardstown Centre and surrounds is (without needing to double back on a Dublin Bus service). But it's not reasonable that buses are getting stuck in traffic on the slip road.

Commuter109 · 09-01-2013 7:31pm

Look on the bright side . Looks like the 109 definitely wouldn't be going up the slip road next week (or anywhere else for that matter ) !

Anyone any ideas as to the best alternative ways in next week ?

Geog1234 · 09-01-2013 8:11pm

For Navan and points southwards there's Sillan. Timetable here:
http://www.sillan.ie/index.php/bus-timetables#timetable

For places north of Navan along the old N3 (R147 road)...

Streamline Coaches operate a service to Maynooth but primarily/exclusively for students: http://www.streamlinecoaches.ie/timetables.asp

Anyone able to get across/get dropped to the N2 has Collins Coaches:
http://www.collinscoaches.ie/images/Timetable011012.pdf

and McConnons:
http://www.mcconnonsbuses.com/content/timetable_sept2012.pdf

The Donegal-Dublin Express (route 30) is jointly operated with McGeehan Coaches so wonder would this operator possibly run some services on route 30 (serving Cavan & Virginia).

Did hear report on a radio station in recent days regarding possible contingency plans. Presume this would mean Bus Éireann hiring private operators to operate a skeletal 109 service.

If trying to get from Meath to Drogheda/Dundalk there's Val Russell Coaches:
http://www.royalbreffnitours.com/dundalk/
Matthews run from Dundalk to Drogheda:
http://commuter.matthews.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2&Itemid=11

Commuter109 · 09-01-2013 8:18pm

Geog1234 wrote: »

For Navan and points southwards there's Sillan. Timetable here:
http://www.sillan.ie/index.php/bus-timetables#timetable

For places north of Navan along the old N3 (R147 road)...

Streamline Coaches operate a service to Maynooth but primarily/exclusively for students: http://www.streamlinecoaches.ie/timetables.asp
Anyone able to get across/get dropped to the N2 has Collins Coaches:
http://www.collinscoaches.ie/images/Timetable011012.pdf

and McConnons:
http://www.mcconnonsbuses.com/content/timetable_sept2012.pdf

The Donegal-Dublin Express (route 30) is jointly operated with McGeehan Coaches so wonder would this operator possibly run some services on route 30 (serving Cavan & Virginia).

Did hear report on a radio station in recent days regarding possible contingency plans. Presume this would mean Bus Éireann hiring private operators to operate a skeletal 109 service.

If trying to get from Meath to Drogheda/Dundalk there's Val Russell Coaches:
http://www.royalbreffnitours.com/dundalk/
Matthews run from Dundalk to Drogheda:
http://commuter.matthews.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2&Itemid=11

Fair play cheers was also thinking of driving to the train station in dunboyne maybe Monday and seeing how that worked out

The Maverick · 09-01-2013 9:29pm

Geog1234 wrote: »

Ideally a lay-by would be built under/near the bridge on both sides to allow buses to pull in. Steps/ramps or a circuitous footpath would allow access to the bridge above. Incidentally a few weeks ago there was some work going on around the bridge - not sure what and don't know if it's ongoing.......

They're redesigning this junction. They're going to build another bridge beside the exiting one and get rid of the existing small roundabouts at both ends of the bridge. The rebuilt junction will now be traffic light controlled with "advanced signalling for buses."

http://www.fingalcoco.ie/Roads/SchemesonDisplay/SchemesPreviouslyonDisplay/N3MulhuddartInterchangeUpgrade/

chewed · 11-01-2013 10:33am

The Maverick wrote: »

They're redesigning this junction. They're going to build another bridge beside the exiting one and get rid of the existing small roundabouts at both ends of the bridge. The rebuilt junction will now be traffic light controlled with "advanced signalling for buses."

http://www.fingalcoco.ie/Roads/SchemesonDisplay/SchemesPreviouslyonDisplay/N3MulhuddartInterchangeUpgrade/

http://www.fingalcoco.ie/Files/Roads/MulhuddartJunctionUpgrade.pdf

malene · 11-01-2013 10:50pm

Geog1234 wrote: »

Ideally a lay-by would be built under/near the bridge on both sides to allow buses to pull in. Steps/ramps or a circuitous footpath would allow access to the bridge above. Incidentally a few weeks ago there was some work going on around the bridge - not sure what and don't know if it's ongoing.

The Blanchardstown Bypass dates from the early 1990s as far as I know and precedes the Blanchardstown Centre which opened in October 1996. Before the centre was built any demand for alighting/boarding provincial buses would have mainly been for Blanchardstown Village.

The slip road stop should be omitted on at least several peak hour journeys. However if it was omitted on all services it would mean there is nowhere to alight until the stop near Navan Road rail station. Hardly user-friendly public transport!

Think a long-term solution is needed here along the lines of a lay-by. It's realistic and reasonable that passengers should be able to access the leisure/shopping/employment hub that the Blanchardstown Centre and surrounds is (without needing to double back on a Dublin Bus service). But it's not reasonable that buses are getting stuck in traffic on the slip road.

Great idea, build a lay way under the bridge coming from Navan, then, maybe cut an opening in the hedge, so people can cross over and walk up the slip road leading to back of Crowne Plaza. Please!!!!!!!!!

tom23 · 14-01-2013 9:42am

Folks,

What's seems to be the story regarding prepaid tickets or lack of them on the 109? I would guess that 80 percent of the passengers pay in cash, a pain in the hole when you couple that with the Internet tickets. When one is a hurry to get to Dublin you can forget it.

And one more question, is standing illegal on bus eireann?

Fiskar · 14-01-2013 10:40am

Regarding the 109 route, did the route change recently for the 7.05 from Navan going via the Kentstown road? Saw passengers there outside Gaffneys filling station at 6.55 am waiting for it, but see on the latest time table that only the earliest bus is the 8.55am?

Thanks for running the thread, as a new pre-paid 109 commuter I will contribute or help where I can.

AlekSmart · 14-01-2013 12:45pm

tom23 wrote: »

Folks,

What's seems to be the story regarding prepaid tickets or lack of them on the 109? I would guess that 80 percent of the passengers pay in cash, a pain in the hole when you couple that with the Internet tickets. When one is a hurry to get to Dublin you can forget it.

And one more question, is standing illegal on bus eireann?

Tom23,Cash is King,or so many appear to think.

I suspect it's more about making a statement and being noticed...?

These folks will be even more noticed when the (Long Touted) Leapcard roll-out begins..."shortly" on the 109

Easiest answer to the standing question is,check the legal lettering on the type of bus...If standing pax are permitted then it has to be noted on the bus as you board.

Some of BE's Double Deck fleet do have a standing component but most do not.

foggy_lad · 14-01-2013 1:29pm

tom23 wrote: »

Folks,

What's seems to be the story regarding prepaid tickets or lack of them on the 109? I would guess that 80 percent of the passengers pay in cash, a pain in the hole when you couple that with the Internet tickets. When one is a hurry to get to Dublin you can forget it.

And one more question, is standing illegal on bus eireann?

Standing would be illegal on most Bus Éireann buses apart from those specifically designed to carry standees which are usually on the 103/105 routes in the Dublin area and on city buses in Cork Galway Limerick etc and sometimes the 126.

Afaik all buses used on the 109 route are not designed to carry standees.

Also any bus designed for carrying standees sould be limited to 65kmph.

Geog1234 · 14-01-2013 5:58pm

Fiskar wrote: »

Regarding the 109 route, did the route change recently for the 7.05 from Navan going via the Kentstown road? Saw passengers there outside Gaffneys filling station at 6.55 am waiting for it, but see on the latest time table that only the earliest bus is the 8.55am?

Thanks for running the thread, as a new pre-paid 109 commuter I will contribute or help where I can.

Hi, more than likely those passengers were awaiting the once a day route 107 bus, Navan - Kentstown - Ashbourne - Dublin -Finglas - UCD. It departs the Square at 06.50.
Timetable:http://www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1318429076-107.pdf

Geog1234 · 14-01-2013 6:07pm

tom23 wrote: »

Folks,

What's seems to be the story regarding prepaid tickets or lack of them on the 109? I would guess that 80 percent of the passengers pay in cash, a pain in the hole when you couple that with the Internet tickets. When one is a hurry to get to Dublin you can forget it.

And one more question, is standing illegal on bus eireann?

Fully agree. Think there should be a ticket agent in Navan (and Kells, Dunshaughlin too). It would speed up boarding. Granted the company would need to give the agent a commission of 5-10% but money would be saved by buses having less dwell time at stops and passengers having a more positive image of the service (due to less delays because so many passengers are buying tickets when boarding). The agent/shopkeeper would benefit from passengers making incidental purchases when buying their ticket. They have an agent system down in Wexford town where there is a shop/cafe near the bus stop that has a Bus Éireann ticket machine and the shop staff can issue tickets as required.

Navan, Kells and Dunshaughlin - in my experience - have many more passengers and an agent system ought to be looked at.

Another observation is that the new ticket machines seem slower at issuing tickets than the older machines.

tom23 · 15-01-2013 9:52am

Geog1234 wrote: »

Fully agree. Think there should be a ticket agent in Navan (and Kells, Dunshaughlin too). It would speed up boarding. Granted the company would need to give the agent a commission of 5-10% but money would be saved by buses having less dwell time at stops and passengers having a more positive image of the service (due to less delays because so many passengers are buying tickets when boarding). The agent/shopkeeper would benefit from passengers making incidental purchases when buying their ticket. They have an agent system down in Wexford town where there is a shop/cafe near the bus stop that has a Bus Éireann ticket machine and the shop staff can issue tickets as required.

Navan, Kells and Dunshaughlin - in my experience - have many more passengers and an agent system ought to be looked at.

Another observation is that the new ticket machines seem slower at issuing tickets than the older machines.

I don't know if its a case the machine is slower it just seems to be convoluted for the driver as he has to keep criss crossing the way finder to input details. One would think a simple barcode scanner would be better.

But really leap should be promoted, would be easier for drivers instead of handling all that cash.

As for standing, there's not a week goes by when some people are standing, a big risk if you ask me as some of them buses are not equipped for standing.

AlekSmart · 15-01-2013 12:30pm

tom23 wrote: »

But really leap should be promoted, would be easier for drivers instead of handling all that cash.

As for standing, there's not a week goes by when some people are standing, a big risk if you ask me as some of them buses are not equipped for standing.

One wuld have expected that after 12 years and €40 Million a State Sponsored Transport Company would be in the vanguard of introducing and operating a State Sponsored Integrated Ticket.....It appears not

The Standing issue is very important and is something which requires urgent attention from the NTA and BE itself,as if it is a regular occurence it could reflect on the Companys lack of safety appreciation.

foggy_lad · 15-01-2013 12:35pm

tom23 wrote: »

I don't know if its a case the machine is slower it just seems to be convoluted for the driver as he has to keep criss crossing the way finder to input details. One would think a simple barcode scanner would be better.

But really leap should be promoted, would be easier for drivers instead of handling all that cash.

As for standing, there's not a week goes by when some people are standing, a big risk if you ask me as some of them buses are not equipped for standing.

You should make a complaint about the standing to the NTA and also to Bus Éireann but firstly to the NTA who will pass on the issue to the Gardai as well as Bus Éireann. This is a PSO route and Bus Éireann should be aware of the loadings and should be putting on buses to match demand, if they are incapable of doing this with all their managers and statistics maybe it is time to give this route to a private operator.

AlekSmart · 15-01-2013 2:51pm

foggy_lad wrote: »

You should make a complaint about the standing to the NTA and also to Bus Éireann but firstly to the NTA who will pass on the issue to the Gardai as well as Bus Éireann. This is a PSO route and the NTA should be revising their contract to reflect the situation Bus Éireann should be aware of the loadings and should be putting on buses to match demand, if they are incapable of doing this with all their managers and statistics maybe it is time to give this route to a private operator.

Yes Foggy,just about on the money there alright....Sigh.....:rolleyes:

foggy_lad · 15-01-2013 4:08pm

AlekSmart wrote: »

Yes Foggy,just about on the money there alright....Sigh.....:rolleyes:

The NTA does not dictate whether a standard commuter coach or an LD coach or indeed any combination of both is used on this route for any of the departures, it is not the fault of the NTA if one bus coming from say Cavan runs early and fails to pick up passengers it should pick up in Kells thus leaving the other services full and leaving passengers behind. or if the 7am bus from Kells left early and passes through Navan before many of its usual passengers have got to the stop it leaves all those passengers for the 7.20 service from Navan which will be full and leave people behind!

It is not the job of the NTA to manage the buses on the ground, that is the job of overpaid and under-worked CIE/BE inspectors who are basically unsackable and they know it!

AlekSmart · 17-01-2013 1:42am

foggy_lad wrote: »

The NTA does not dictate whether a standard commuter coach or an LD coach or indeed any combination of both is used on this route for any of the departures, it is not the fault of the NTA if one bus coming from say Cavan runs early and fails to pick up passengers it should pick up in Kells thus leaving the other services full and leaving passengers behind. or if the 7am bus from Kells left early and passes through Navan before many of its usual passengers have got to the stop it leaves all those passengers for the 7.20 service from Navan which will be full and leave people behind!

It is not the job of the NTA to manage the buses on the ground, that is the job of overpaid and under-worked CIE/BE inspectors who are basically unsackable and they know it!

Nobody is attempting to allocate any added functions to the NTA at all,however the structure and service levels on their approved route IS a basic element of what they are about.

However in the time honoured Foggy-Fashion,we now have a stirring rendition of some form of conclusion drawn from on-the-spot observations in Navan (I think ?).

The issue is the lack of capacity coupled with a totally counterproductive routing which stems from the Company/NTA being unsure what type of service they actually want to operate.

NOTHING whatever to do with the stuff woven into the last Foggy proclamation :rolleyes:

malene · 17-01-2013 10:26pm

the 109 timetable needs to be updated so we know where we stand as regards the bloody Blanch shopping centre.

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:G2om16PAVvAJ:www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1318429077-109.pdf+&hl=en&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESh45hBxpHPmaCMRuGgqHVYmckZkLhvoE7f7_wioK2-dues2bZybqRsarf_f20bR1XWQbR7X1eC4JcN98RfYrgc0U2gkZD3-RIF60qeusKy750porUucSSQBBQUDX1oD8Ku-YtuW&sig=AHIEtbT0b_scgyCET56PB6Nh9ib6a_8Eug

foggy_lad · 17-01-2013 10:49pm

malene wrote: »

the 109 timetable needs to be updated so we know where we stand as regards the bloody Blanch shopping centre.

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:G2om16PAVvAJ:www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1318429077-109.pdf+&hl=en&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESh45hBxpHPmaCMRuGgqHVYmckZkLhvoE7f7_wioK2-dues2bZybqRsarf_f20bR1XWQbR7X1eC4JcN98RfYrgc0U2gkZD3-RIF60qeusKy750porUucSSQBBQUDX1oD8Ku-YtuW&sig=AHIEtbT0b_scgyCET56PB6Nh9ib6a_8Eug

Peak time buses don't go into the shopping centre but do stop on the slip road and outside peak hours al buses stop at both stops. scroll down the timetable and it seems clear enough.

http://www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1318429077-109.pdf

malene · 18-01-2013 12:33am

ok cool, just thought that after jan 13, it would change back again, but thankfully no, if they bypass the shopping centre and stop on slip road, that's cool.

foggy_lad · 18-01-2013 12:51am

malene wrote: »

ok cool, just thought that after jan 13, it would change back again, but thankfully no, if they bypass the shopping centre and stop on slip road, that's cool.

only the buses in the morning and evening rush hours monday-friday by-pass the shopping centre, all the rest stop in the shopping centre.

tom23 · 19-01-2013 1:49pm

foggy_lad wrote: »

only the buses in the morning and evening rush hours monday-friday by-pass the shopping centre, all the rest stop in the shopping centre.

why the stop in Blanch Centre at all is baffling. I could count on one hand how many people they pick up after 8. Most people tend to wander down to the slip road.

Vic_08 · 19-01-2013 4:34pm

tom23 wrote: »

why the stop in Blanch Centre at all is baffling. I could count on one hand how many people they pick up after 8. Most people tend to wander down to the slip road.

Nobody here can answer that, why don't you ask the muppets that actually insisted on the route.

info@nationaltransport.ie

I have been told that Bus Eireann did not want to serve the centre with the 109 but the NTA insisted on it.

The fact that peak services omit it in both directions is an admission that it is an unnecessary time wasteing diversion that inconveniences the vast majority of passengers.

Bus Eireann routes 109/109A Changes

Comments