Aircoach Dublin-Cork express

devnull · 22-04-2012 4:26pm

In reference to the question about bikes, from the FAQ:

Q: Can I bring a bicycle or other large luggage on board the Aircoach?

A: We value our customers and will do our best to accommodate you. Space permitting we will be happy to transport these items.

dowlingm · 22-04-2012 4:28pm

One more question Sea Filly - does the driver validate the online receipt with a scanner or is it just "if it looks right it is right"?

Sea Filly · 22-04-2012 4:51pm

dowlingm wrote: »

One more question Sea Filly - does the driver validate the online receipt with a scanner or is it just "if it looks right it is right"?

He has a list and ticks off your name as you produce your receipt and issues you a ticket. No harm to have some ID with you though, as drivers may differ.

Victor · 22-04-2012 5:19pm

I hadn't realised that there are no more Cork-Dublin flights.

Other Dublin-Kerry and Dublin-Donegal, are there any more internal flights in the country?

dowlingm · 22-04-2012 5:59pm

Doesn't look like it. I suppose once EI takes a look at their arrangement with RE we might see some changes.

highlydebased · 22-04-2012 10:20pm

Victor wrote: »

I hadn't realised that there are no more Cork-Dublin flights.

Other Dublin-Kerry and Dublin-Donegal, are there any more internal flights in the country?

Nope.

bk · 23-04-2012 9:04am

Victor wrote: »

I hadn't realised that there are no more Cork-Dublin flights.

Other Dublin-Kerry and Dublin-Donegal, are there any more internal flights in the country?

Nope.

Ryanair did a very effective job at killing the route. There was absolutely no way Cork to Dublin could ever support 4 737 flights per day. Ryanair only did it to kill off any competition from Aer Lingus and Aer Arann. Having effectively done that, they then pulled out of the market.

The route could be successful with smaller Aer Arann sized planes, but any other company would be afraid to enter the market as they would be afraid that Ryanair would just re-enter and under cut them.

I find it ironic that bus companies between our cities have to apply for licenses, which specify routes, timings, schedule, etc. and that there are only a limited number of these licenses. Yet anyone can set up an airline without the need for such a license.

While I'm usually a big fan of competition, this is a clear example of market failure. I believe the Irish Government should change the rules to licenese routes between our internal airport. If for instance they only allowed say one airline to fly between Cork and Dublin for 5 years, I'm certain Aer Lingus or Aer Arann would jump at the chance, even without a subsidy, as long as they knew that Ryanair couldn't re-enter the market and compete with them.

I know you might then say this is limiting competition, with just one airline. But the reality is that they couldn't push prices up too much as they would in reality be competing with Car, Bus and Rail on the same route.

dowlingm · 23-04-2012 1:48pm

An EI/RE ATR42 might work to feed DUB European/transatlantic at decent yield/seat if they didn't go mad trying to grab business from the rail/bus folks and attracting Ryanair's attention.

end of the road · 23-04-2012 4:35pm

bk wrote: »

Ryanair did a very effective job at killing the route. There was absolutely no way Cork to Dublin could ever support 4 737 flights per day. Ryanair only did it to kill off any competition from Aer Lingus and Aer Arann. Having effectively done that, they then pulled out of the market.

and it must have cost Ryanair money to do this as well, how could they be so stupid? i'm no business man but i would say spending money just to kill off competition is a waste. i would just buy in a couple of small planes if i was to do what Ryanair did.

bk wrote: »

The route could be successful with smaller Aer Arann sized planes, but any other company would be afraid to enter the market as they would be afraid that Ryanair would just re-enter and under cut them.

a licencing/franchising system should sort that problem

bk wrote: »

I find it ironic that bus companies between our cities have to apply for licenses, which specify routes, timings, schedule, etc. and that there are only a limited number of these licenses. Yet anyone can set up an airline without the need for such a license.

so do i actually, i can't understand it at all, sounds idiotic to me.

bk wrote: »

this is a clear example of market failure. I believe the Irish Government should change the rules to licenese routes between our internal airport. If for instance they only allowed say one airline to fly between Cork and Dublin for 5 years, I'm certain Aer Lingus or Aer Arann would jump at the chance, even without a subsidy, as long as they knew that Ryanair couldn't re-enter the market and compete with them.

absolutely agree, i would say the business traveler would use such a service thus allowing irish rail to get rid of first class, it would bring some money into the economy and maybe create a couple of jobs?

bk wrote: »

I know you might then say this is limiting competition, with just one airline. But the reality is that they couldn't push prices up too much as they would in reality be competing with Car, Bus and Rail on the same route.

it is limiting competition in a way but it is necessary to make sure the big companies don't come onto the routes to drive the smaller operators off and then kill off the route. for me that statement is relevant to air and road, hopefully rail sometime in the future.

Sea Filly · 23-04-2012 4:55pm

On my return leg to Cork yesterday, a stop was made in Urlingford for ten minutes. We arrived in at 20 past 9, twenty minutes late. (We left around ten minutes late due to ditherers) Not sure how I feel about that, express should be express. BUT, it is still fantastic to just bomb it down the motorway. As someone who is prone to travel sickness, a coach journey on excellent roads all the way means a lot, whatever the journey time.

BanzaiBk · 23-04-2012 7:33pm

Has anyone tried the express service at the 6pm time? Cork - Dublin? I'm debating about taking the 5pm or 6pm service to Dublin from Cork. I'll be meeting someone in Dublin airport at 10pm so the coach suits me better, just wondering how well they make time on the busier hours.

Carawaystick · 23-04-2012 9:56pm

Victor wrote: »

I hadn't realised that there are no more Cork-Dublin flights.

Other Dublin-Kerry and Dublin-Donegal, are there any more internal flights in the country?

Indreabhán to Inis Oirr, Inis Meain & Árainn

foggy_lad · 24-04-2012 1:15am

Sea Filly wrote: »

On my return leg to Cork yesterday, a stop was made in Urlingford for ten minutes. We arrived in at 20 past 9, twenty minutes late. (We left around ten minutes late due to ditherers) Not sure how I feel about that, express should be express. BUT, it is still fantastic to just bomb it down the motorway. As someone who is prone to travel sickness, a coach journey on excellent roads all the way means a lot, whatever the journey time.

You could email them and complain about the late departure and the stop in Urlingford which in my opinion is not necessary on such a short journey!

How often do long distance buses stop for toilets on the Continent or in the Americas?

Tragedy · 24-04-2012 2:01am

foggy_lad wrote: »

You could email them and complain about the late departure and the stop in Urlingford which in my opinion is not necessary on such a short journey!

How often do long distance buses stop for toilets on the Continent or in the Americas?

Plenty of people have bladder problems and 3 hours is significant enough to warrant an unscheduled stop if requested. OAB has quite a high prevalence rate in Ireland and complaining about a driver offering someone the chance to not wet themselves on a bus seems incredibly harsh.

dowlingm · 24-04-2012 2:47am

the fellas above who don't understand why EU airspace is liberalised is plainly too young to remember the EI/BA cartel between Ireland and the UK - as I approach 40 I admit some jealousy. Without that FR might still be puttputting from Waterford to Luton and we'd still be gawking over the sides of ferries.

foggy_lad · 24-04-2012 5:31am

Tragedy wrote: »

Plenty of people have bladder problems and 3 hours is significant enough to warrant an unscheduled stop if requested. OAB has quite a high prevalence rate in Ireland and complaining about a driver offering someone the chance to not wet themselves on a bus seems incredibly harsh.

The normal stopping service is there with its scheduled rest stop for those with weak or leaky bladders, the express/non-stop should be just that!

Condatis · 24-04-2012 6:33am

I won't be using them. Their drivers scare me.

Drive behind one for a while and you'll see what I mean.

Their style of driving is aggressive and intimidating. They throw those coachs around as if they were dodgems rather than coaches with scores of people on board.

I would not feel safe.

Tragedy · 24-04-2012 10:17am

foggy_lad wrote: »

The normal stopping service is there with its scheduled rest stop for those with weak or leaky bladders, the express/non-stop should be just that!

So travelling the entire length of the M8 and half the M/N7 is no longer an express service if one unscheduled 10 minute toilet break is taken off a M8 junction?

Good to know!

3 hours vs 3 hours 10 minutes vs 3 hours 45 minutes, only one of them is express :rolleyes:

devnull · 24-04-2012 10:29am

Tragedy wrote: »

3 hours vs 3 hours 10 minutes vs 4 hours 25 minutes, only one of them is express :rolleyes:

The Aircoach stopping service is 3hrs 45 minutes with a 15 min break. The Bus Eireann one is 4 hours 25 minutes.

foggy_lad wrote: »

You could email them and complain about the late departure and the stop in Urlingford which in my opinion is not necessary on such a short journey!

Whatever they do, they can't win really, as much as some people are unhappy that they do make a stop because the service gets delayed, whilst others are unhappy if they don't make a stop as they are bursting to go to the toilet. Either way it's impossible for them to win, an example from Facebook page:

Someone asks what about people that need to go to toilet during a three hour journey, They reply saying that on request they will stop in Urlingford for a toilet break. Customer replies back and says can this be announced at the start of the journey, Aircoach say we wouldn't make an announcement because it is an express service.

Tragedy · 24-04-2012 10:31am

devnull wrote: »

The Aircoach stopping service is 3hrs 45 minutes with a 15 min break. The Bus Eireann one is 4 hours 25 minutes.

Thanks! Post corrected.

studiorat · 24-04-2012 11:05am

BanzaiBk wrote: »

Has anyone tried the express service at the 6pm time? Cork - Dublin? I'm debating about taking the 5pm or 6pm service to Dublin from Cork. I'll be meeting someone in Dublin airport at 10pm so the coach suits me better, just wondering how well they make time on the busier hours.

Yep, it's the business. Was in Dublin CC about 8.50 Friday evening. All completely chilled, the train winds me up something rotten.

I was a weekly train user from on that route until last few weeks, when I heard about the new Aircoach service.

€22 from Dublin city center to Cork City center is a no brainer.

It's quieter than the train, it's more comfortable than the train. You don't have to deal with the horrible Irish Rail staff. You can bring a bike and don't have to pay extra. The advantages are endless.

Had a 10 minute stop in Urlingford last week to get a smoke and cup of coffee in, none from Dublin to Cork on Monday.

I used to dread having to get the poxy train, I actually enjoy this bus service.

markpb · 24-04-2012 11:26am

Condatis wrote: »

Their style of driving is aggressive and intimidating. They throw those coachs around as if they were dodgems rather than coaches with scores of people on board.

If they're as bad as you say, the news would be full of stories about Aircoach crashes. Between the various airport services, the Cork services and the old Belfast services, they cover hundreds of thousands of miles each year. In fact, the only crash I can find was over five years ago.

jacko1 · 24-04-2012 11:29am

are they sticking to the speed limit for coaches?

BanzaiBk · 24-04-2012 6:46pm

studiorat wrote: »

Yep, it's the business....

Thanks studiorat, exactly what I wanted to hear. I'll be booking!

oppenheimer1 · 24-04-2012 10:45pm

Tragedy wrote: »

Plenty of people have bladder problems and 3 hours is significant enough to warrant an unscheduled stop if requested. OAB has quite a high prevalence rate in Ireland and complaining about a driver offering someone the chance to not wet themselves on a bus seems incredibly harsh.

The stop in Urlingford is a joke tbh. The filling station they have chosen to pull into is a kip, with the mens toilets there like something you'd find in a 1950's old man pub. Tiny, dark and smelly. There are far better service areas along that route.

Carawaystick · 24-04-2012 10:56pm

oppenheimer1 wrote: »

The stop in Urlingford is a joke tbh. The filling station they have chosen to pull into is a kip, with the mens toilets there like something you'd find in a 1950's old man pub. Tiny, dark and smelly. There are far better service areas along that route.

Or coaches with wc like the Bus Nestor have.

Sea Filly · 24-04-2012 11:48pm

Sea Filly wrote: »

On my return leg to Cork yesterday, a stop was made in Urlingford for ten minutes. We arrived in at 20 past 9, twenty minutes late. (We left around ten minutes late due to ditherers) Not sure how I feel about that, express should be express. BUT, it is still fantastic to just bomb it down the motorway. As someone who is prone to travel sickness, a coach journey on excellent roads all the way means a lot, whatever the journey time.

Would just like to add, I wasn't complaining about the bus leaving ten minutes late, ditherers happen unfortunately, there's no much that can be done. I simply mentioned it to explain why the bus arrived in Cork twenty minutes late.

Sea Filly · 24-04-2012 11:50pm

Carawaystick wrote: »

Or coaches with wc like the Bus Nestor have.

Yeah, this is where Aircoach is lacking. I occasionally get Citylink to Galway and they have WCs.

coylemj · 25-04-2012 12:24am

Condatis wrote: »

Their style of driving is aggressive and intimidating. They throw those coachs around as if they were dodgems rather than coaches with scores of people on board.

Utter BS.

I have been a passenger on Aircoaches on multiple occasions between the southside and the airport, I have also driven on the N11 on lots of occasions and observed the Leopardstown and Greystones Aircoach buses and never seen any aggressive driving.

I have also stood at the inbound bus stop at UCD and watched Aircoach drivers pull up and depart. Nothing but efficient and courteous service. They could give Dublin Bus drivers a lesson in how to stop at a bus stop without a pelvis-wrenching jolt at the last minute.

What you are claiming is complete nonsense, just doesn't happen.

Tragedy · 25-04-2012 9:12am

oppenheimer1 wrote: »

The stop in Urlingford is a joke tbh. The filling station they have chosen to pull into is a kip, with the mens toilets there like something you'd find in a 1950's old man pub. Tiny, dark and smelly. There are far better service areas along that route.

I was wondering why they don't use the shiny new services near Cahir actually, me and the GF usually stop there to stretch our legs and have a pee(despite our journey only being 2hr15mins, it's just comfortable).

devnull · 26-04-2012 9:57am

I think that Aircoach have good relations with Pierce Kavanagh,who also are a coach hire company, who'se garage they stop at so that may well be why they stop there. I can't say I've ever had a reason to complain about the stop personally when I've been on the non express services.

Sea Filly · 26-04-2012 2:05pm

Getting the 6pm Cork-Dublin service this evening. Will report back.

kieran4003 · 26-04-2012 3:20pm

Bus Eieanns new Scania Irizar i6 tri axle coaches have gone into service today on the 008. The 16:00 & 18:00 services from Cork - Dublin today will be the first departures from Cork for these new coaches with them having worked down this morning.

New SE Class coach:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/be216cd1/6945921688/in/photostream

A very classy interior:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/be216cd1/6945921950/in/photostream

devnull · 26-04-2012 3:45pm

Nice coaches alwright, certainly a step up from what they had previously. Still though they only went for part leather seating so Aircoach still wins out for me on that, although the table ideas is nice.

Still don't see why someone would choose them over Aircoach between the two cities though because it takes an hour and a half longer. Even if you are going between the Town's en-route, Aircoach is still a better option as it's quicker not to mention cheaper with both earlier and later departures.

Saying that though if nobody tells commuters about the service nobody will use it, so I guess if Bus Eireann do a decent advertising campaign about their new coaches on such route they might fare fairly well.

bk · 26-04-2012 4:07pm

Are there no tables on the seats in front of you?

That seems like a fail to me.

Can't see why anyone going between the cities would use this service.

kieran4003 · 26-04-2012 5:25pm

The omission of folding tables and seat pockets was a rather odd omission indeed. From a maintanence point of view however, seat pockets are only filled with rubbish and tables get broken and vadalised so it is easier not to have them. There is also no curtains, but that is because there is darkened glass instead. Note the coach in the picture is SE20, that is the bus used for special hire. It has special 4 seat and table arrangements like a rain, however the rest of the class will not have this. All these coaches have sockets at seats and wifi.

There are eight new doubledeck coaches coming into service soon, made by VDL. They will have large 'Comfort' seats and extra legroom. They will operate on the Belfast route and on the Galway route where BE want to fight off the competition.

BE were worried at first about the new Aircoach service and still are to an extent. However they have learnt that the bulk of passengers on the new Aircoach service are passengers that were previously using the Aircoach stopping service. So there has been no impact on numbers for the BE service. I was in Parnell Place this eving for the first departure of an SE, and the numbers were very healthy. If Aircoach want to succeed they really need to start advertising. The price of fuel now is too high to have coaches half empty.

bk · 26-04-2012 7:39pm

kieran4003 wrote: »

The omission of folding tables and seat pockets was a rather odd omission indeed.
....
It has special 4 seat and table arrangements like a rain, however the rest of the class will not have this. All these coaches have sockets at seats and wifi.

Power at every seat and wifi, well done, good inclusions.

No toilets and no tables at every seat is a big fail for brand new buses.

Having no folding tables seems particularly stupid. What is the point of having power at every seat and wifi if you have nowhere to put the laptop!!

kieran4003 wrote: »

There are eight new doubledeck coaches coming into service soon, made by VDL. They will have large 'Comfort' seats and extra legroom. They will operate on the Belfast route and on the Galway route where BE want to fight off the competition.

That is great, I hope they will be wheelchair accessible also? And toilets?

It seems stupid to me that BE would buy new excellent double deckers like these because of competition on the Galway route, but not do the same for the Cork and Limerick route. They instead buy lesser buses for routes where they are going to see lots of competition very soon.

Very typical of a semi state, respond to the past, not what you are going to face in the future.

kieran4003 wrote: »

BE were worried at first about the new Aircoach service and still are to an extent. However they have learnt that the bulk of passengers on the new Aircoach service are passengers that were previously using the Aircoach stopping service. So there has been no impact on numbers for the BE service.

That seems incredibly short sighted and foolish. Sure I'd imagine it will have more effect on Irish Rail then BE for the moment. I know tomorrow I'll be taking this Aircoach service, the first time in 10 years I haven't taken the train and I know many of my friends have also switched from the train to this service.

However people will learn of this service gradually by word of mouth and the passengers will be bleed away from BE. Why would you spend 4 and a half hours on a bus when you could spend just 3 hours?

Never mind when Aircoach go for phase 2 and Go Bus launch there service, you can bet there will be an aggressive advertising campaign then.

highlydebased · 26-04-2012 8:14pm

Numbers will fall dramatically and there will be cuts to the Cork route for BE.

The Dublin Coach service obliterated loadings on BE's Limk-Dublin route.

devnull · 26-04-2012 8:17pm

highlydebased wrote: »

Numbers will fall dramatically and there will be cuts to the Cork route for BE.

The Dublin Coach service obliterated loadings on BE's Limk-Dublin route.

at least Dublin coach advertise.

foggy_lad · 26-04-2012 8:24pm

highlydebased wrote: »

Numbers will fall dramatically and there will be cuts to the Cork route for BE.

The Dublin Coach service obliterated loadings on BE's Limk-Dublin route.

I saw the limerick bound coach the other day at the red cow and it was packed.

BenShermin · 26-04-2012 9:00pm

Is there any word on when Go Bus will actually be starting up? I think I read on this thread that they have to start very soon by the terms of their licence?

Even with all this talk about improved services I still think our coach operators could do much better. As long as our operators omit simple things like toilets then Irish Rail will have no fear of hanging on to a lot of their customer base. There's a large amount of posts on this thread that are more concerned about no toilet on the coach rather than the fact that the coach is faster than the train!!

I had the absolute pleasure of travelling for 4 1/2 hours on three different occasions with the Lux Express coach company in the Baltics last month. This company exceeds every single Irish public transport company in terms of passenger comfort. Every comfortable tri-axle Scania Irizar coach comes with plug sockets at every seat, free wifi, newspapers and as much free tea and coffee as you like, and of course a spotlessly clean toilet that is completely separate from the passenger cabin. The buses are well able for the dreadfully poor Baltic road conditions, this type of coach along Ireland's excellent motorways would be like floating on a cloud.

http://www.luxexpress.eu/en/lux-express

At the moment Go Bus seem to be the only company close to this level of service. I look forward to their Dublin/Cork service.

oppenheimer1 · 26-04-2012 9:10pm

Tragedy wrote: »

I was wondering why they don't use the shiny new services near Cahir actually, me and the GF usually stop there to stretch our legs and have a pee(despite our journey only being 2hr15mins, it's just comfortable).

I assume they have an agreement with the service station. The stop would be worth a good bit of trade to the station owners. For that reason Aircoach should insist they upgrade their facilities, particularly the toilets if they are going to continue to stop there.

Aircoach haven't won me over, I still prefer the train.

kieran4003 · 26-04-2012 9:43pm

The new VDL Double deck coaches will be wheelchair accessible. They will have Big tables downstairs, large comfort seats, extra legroom, sockets, wifi, blacked out windows and half leather seating. They would be a small step ahead again of the new Scania i6 coaches. Deliveries have just begun so it will be a while before they are in service.

I must make it clear that there is a no toilet policy on Bus Eireann services. Many operators are like this and for good reasons too. There is an insurance risk with toilets, passengers are encouraged to get up while the bus is moving, they could injury themselves if the bus stopped or by falling down the stairs to the toilet. Secondly there is a lack of proper toilet contents deposition facilities. There is a big problem in the coach industry with toilet contents in laybys, gulleys etc. Proper disposal facilities are very expensive and the extra revenue from people wanting toilets does not cover this.

The bulk of Bus Eireanns new expressway coaches are being allocated to where extra capacity is needed but yes there is some that are being allocated where loadings do not require them but there is competition on the route. The new VDL double decks will fully take over the Dublin - Belfast service, where they are badly needed. However the rest of them and some of the new i6 tri axles will be going on the Galway route to go against the competition, but look that is business. The i6 tri axles will also be going on the Dublin - Limerick route due to competition. However BE bought and paid for these coaches themselves, the price per coach was very high so they are entitled to do what they want with them.

Aircoach will need to get the toilet situation sorted out. The facilities are not good enough. However I dont think they should even be stopping, it is meant to be a non stop service afterall.

joegriffinjnr · 26-04-2012 9:49pm

Their buses are in an atrocious state, seats ripped, ancient decor, and they seem to be always filthy.

In fairness, Bus Eireanns Coach and bus fleet has improved a hell of a lot over the last few years.

devnull · 26-04-2012 10:49pm

Aircoach don't officially have a stop - they've been at pains to point out there is no stop, and they will not stop unless someone is desperate to go to the toilet, if nobody asks they will not stop anyway as it is an express service.

Personally if I was bursting to go to the toilet, and I never would be on a three hour trip, I wouldn't be moaning about the facilities at the stop not being good enough. I'd just be glad to go so I'd say those moaning can't be that desperate

It's strange though we now have three camps, those who want toilet on an express service, those who are 'desperate' to go but are moaning that the toilets are not good enough, and those who don't want to be delayed by others going to the toilet. Just goes to show you can't please everyone..

In any case, in relation to Bus Eireann maybe a good idea to start a new thread about such as it's pretty unrelated to what is being talked about in here in a large part,

bk · 27-04-2012 9:29am

It is great that the new BE double deckers will be wheelchair accessible and have extra large seats.

But will they have fold down tables.

So lets see:
- No fold down tables, they might get vandalised and have to be replaced.
- No back of seat pouches, they would have to be cleaned.
- No toilets, they would have to be cleaned *

In other words BE are a typical CIE company. Do what suits the staff, not what suits the customer.

* I don't believe it is an insurance issue at all, if it was then how do GoBus, CityLink and all the long distance coach travel operators get away with it?

I sort of understand why Aircoach don't, at least for the time being, most of their routes are short routes around Dublin and don't require a toilet. Their only long distance route was the Cork route which was a stopping route and therefore didn't need it either. I'm hoping as they expand the service with phase two they will buy in new coaches with toilets.

If GoBus and Aircoach both end up with toilets in the long run, then this will put BE at a major disadvantage. I suppose it doesn't really matter anyway as BE's service is a very slow stopping service, so doesn't really doesn't need toilets and will likely suffer badly at the hands of these new services.

I just don't see how BE plan on competing with all these new services.

Sea Filly · 27-04-2012 12:06pm

Sea Filly wrote: »

Getting the 6pm Cork-Dublin service this evening. Will report back.

This was the first time I've taken it that it was nowhere near full, which surprised me for a peak time. Stop in Urlingford again.

Sea Filly · 27-04-2012 12:10pm

devnull wrote: »

Aircoach don't officially have a stop - they've been at pains to point out there is no stop, and they will not stop unless someone is desperate to go to the toilet, if nobody asks they will not stop anyway as it is an express service.

Untrue, they have stopped twice now when I've been on the coach when no-one asked them to.

devnull · 27-04-2012 7:08pm

Sea Filly wrote: »

Untrue, they have stopped twice now when I've been on the coach when no-one asked them to.

You should contact them about that - the official line is they will only stop if asked.

bk · 28-04-2012 11:54am

Ok, so I took the 4pm service from Dublin to Cork yesterday.

Left at 16:05, arrived in Cork at 19:07, so just over 3 hours, which I think is excellent for a service leaving Dublin at rush hour on a Friday.

We didn't make any stop, it went direct to Cork.

Very nice bus, with all leather seats and plenty of leg room, I would say about the same or more legroom as the seats on the train and certainly more comfortable being leather.

The ride was excellent, very smooth and very quiet bus. I would rate it as less bumpy then the train and certainly quieter.

Used the free wifi all the way down chatting to friends on IM and it worked perfectly about 85% of the time, which IME is slightly better then the train (about 80% of the way).

It leaves from a great location in Dublin, with an O'Briens and a centra shop right next door, starbucks and another centra store just across the street and no end of pubs and restaurants near by. Beats Hueston any day. Stops very close to Patricks street in Cork too, which is far better then the train station.

The bus was I guess about 40% filled, certainly I don't think anyone had to sit next to someone if they didn't want to. Which is an advantage for the customer, but a disadvantage for the future health of the service.

On the down side. No folding tables making using laptops hard, no power at every seat and no toilet.

I noticed one person get up looking for a toilet, but he didn't ask the driver to stop.

Also it seems you can only book online up till 5pm the day before, now it turned out I definitely didn't have to book online, but it added a little unnecessary stress as I thought it might be busy and ended up going earlier then I needed to be.

Also their is a downside to the Westmoreland St stop, it is a very busy location with a lot of buses there and there were loads of people milling around waiting for this bus. It mightn't be so nice on a cold wet day. I'm not sure if it would be better or worse if all these private bus companies had their own nice station like they do in Galway.

In the end, my summary is that it is a far better service then the train, faster, much cheaper, more flexible and surprisingly even more comfortable. I'll never take the train again, but I do look forward to GoBus launching their service with toilets on board.

PS It would be nice if they updated their real time positioning site to work with any modern browser including smart phones and not work with just IE 5.5!!

Aircoach Dublin-Cork express

Comments