Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi all,
Vanilla are planning an update to the site on April 24th (next Wednesday). It is a major PHP8 update which is expected to boost performance across the site. The site will be down from 7pm and it is expected to take about an hour to complete. We appreciate your patience during the update.
Thanks all.

Aircoach launching Belfast - Dublin Airport - Dublin City Express

Options
13»

Comments

  • Options
    #62
    devnull
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 11,586 Mod ✭✭✭✭devnull


    Yes, but why is First NI being used and changing some of the plates? The old Belfast service was just operated by Aircoach.

    What is the benefit of setting up a NI company to run the Belfast service when before they used a ROI service for both the Dublin and Belfast base.


  • Options
    #63
    AlekSmart
    Registered Users Posts: 14,005 ✭✭✭✭AlekSmart


    devnull wrote: »
    Yes, but why is First NI being used and changing some of the plates? The old Belfast service was just operated by Aircoach.

    What is the benefit of setting up a NI company to run the Belfast service when before they used a ROI service for both the Dublin and Belfast base.

    AFAIK,there are still some write-downs and grants available to Public Transport in Northern Ireland which our Government in their wisdom have abolished here.

    There may be VAT,Duty and Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) payments still available Up North....:confused:


    Men, it has been well said, think in herds; it will be seen that they go mad in herds, while they only recover their senses slowly, and one by one.

    Charles Mackay (1812-1889)



  • Options
    #64
    foggy_lad
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,373 ✭✭✭✭foggy_lad


    devnull wrote: »
    Yes, but why is First NI being used and changing some of the plates? The old Belfast service was just operated by Aircoach.

    What is the benefit of setting up a NI company to run the Belfast service when before they used a ROI service for both the Dublin and Belfast base.
    AlekSmart wrote: »
    AFAIK,there are still some write-downs and grants available to Public Transport in Northern Ireland which our Government in their wisdom have abolished here.

    There may be VAT,Duty and Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) payments still available Up North....:confused:

    They have also opened a travelcentre in Belfast for selling tickets etc so the service is being operated from Belfast by First NI so their buses must be registered in the UK or NI. within 30days of starting work on the route afaik


  • Options
    #65
    schemingbohemia
    Registered Users Posts: 5,606 ✭✭✭schemingbohemia


    10% discount on this and the Cork service available until end of year (must be booked soon though) posted on bargain alerts

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056698826


  • Options
    #66
    cabincrewifly
    Registered Users Posts: 66 ✭✭cabincrewifly


    I used the Cork to Dublin Airport service last week and it was brilliant. I'd encourage everyone to use it. Quick, good value, comfortable interior, decent WiFi. What more could you ask for?


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #67
    Rock Steady Edy
    Registered Users Posts: 341 ✭✭Rock Steady Edy


    Interesting to read the earlier less complimentary comments about FirstGroup, the parent company that runs the Aircoach service. The current edition of Private Eye dubs them "WorstGroup" after abandoning rail franchises in the UK before payments were due to the Department of Transport, and they've apparently abandoned bus services in several parts of the UK.


  • Options
    #68
    devnull
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 11,586 Mod ✭✭✭✭devnull


    Rock Steady Edy wrote: »
    Interesting to read the earlier less complimentary comments about FirstGroup, the parent company that runs the Aircoach service. The current edition of Private Eye dubs them "WorstGroup" after abandoning rail franchises in the UK before payments were due to the Department of Transport,

    That is not the whole story unfortunately. What happened was when First signed the contract for First Great Western in 2006 there was supposed to be a government backed investment in replacement high speed trains for the FGW network entering service in the second half of the franchise under the intercity express programme, the tender for which started in 2007 and was being discussed from 2005. This has been delayed may times by several years by government procedure and bureaucratic issues, the initial business case for the franchise was based on such trains being in service, the department of transport have not kept to their side of the deal, so FGW have exercised a clause in the contract to allow them to exit the franchise early.

    The problem is all related to the crazy rolling stock procurement in the United Kingdom, train operators cannot go out there an order trains off their own back even if they wanted to as the order has to be approved by the department for transport who have a history of forcing train companies to cut orders, train lengths in new stock they wish to purchase. If anything has any government funding it holds the situation up even more, for instance in this case, although the winning bidder was announced in February 2009 the contract was only signed by the government in the last few weeks.

    You can read more here:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intercity_Express_Programme

    The only people to truly abandon franchises in the UK are GNER (Couldn't afford premium payments), NXEC (refused to continue to finance loss marking operations) Connex (Low customer satisfaction and financial problems). All FGW did was exercise a clause in their contract which any sensible company would have done so in the circumstances.


  • Options
    #69
    J_Dublin15
    Registered Users Posts: 217 ✭✭J_Dublin15


    Special offer on the Belfast route now.
    http://www.aircoach.ie/table.routes.belfast.php

    8 pound or 10 euro single.

    Uptake still seems to be quite low on this route however despite the fact it's quicker than the BE service.


  • Options
    #70
    devnull
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 11,586 Mod ✭✭✭✭devnull


    Used this for the first time in the last week, morning service up and evening service back, on the way up I'd say there were around 23-24 on the coach, on the way back about 12 or so. Coach to Belfast arrived just under 10 minutes early and coach back to Dublin arrived at Dublin Airport 5 minutes early, arriving at Dublin City bang on time. Friendly driver both ways, happy to help with luggage.

    I'd say about half were online bookings and half were walk ups for the passengers. Seems to be exclusively Setra operated, despite their age they're still in excellent condition mechanically and as smooth and as quiet as a brand new coach. Some of the seats are more worn than others but still cannot complain, Some rows seemed to have new seats fitted and their seat back tables replaced.

    In short I'd recommend, but from what I saw most services were loaded like the return journey with around a dozen or so passengers on, so they'll need to pick up a little bit I'd say.


Advertisement