[dublinman1990]

I found out not too long ago that Dublin Bus have put out a new tender for up to 160 new buses for the fleet. (150 Double Deckers & 10 Single Deckers)

The previous tender had been set for 172 buses. (160 Double Deckers & 12 Single Deckers)

So it's a reduction of 12 buses on the previous tender.

You can view the tender here: http://www.etenders.gov.ie/search/Se...spx?ID=AA01435

What's your thoughts on that?

[SandyfordGuy]

I thought they didn't have any money? Or are the government going to pay for them? I can see why they would want to replace the non low floor vehicles, but not sure there is anywhere near that many left?

Also someone on here recently said they were going to go back to the 16 year lifespan after replacing the non low floor buses, this is what they've said for years as to why they are replacing vehicles so often, but it wasn't the case after all and was just spin?

Either way, the country is broke, Dublin Bus claim they have no money, so I'm at a loss on how all that being true, that we can afford to purchase anywhere near these. I think there are obvious reasons to replace the non low floor buses, but no need thereafter and as a taxpayer I certainly don't want my money going towards it.

[Armada]

Originally Posted by SandyfordGuy

Either way, the country is broke, Dublin Bus claim they have no money, so I'm at a loss on how all that being true, that we can afford to purchase anywhere near these. I think there are obvious reasons to replace the non low floor buses, but no need thereafter and as a taxpayer I certainly don't want my money going towards it.

I agree, there are many people all over this country in desperate need of support which our government is not providing yet they can spend millions of tax payers money on shiny new buses?

New circus, same clowns as someone once said.

[AlekSmart]

Originally Posted by dublinman1990

I found out not too long ago that Dublin Bus have put out a new tender for up to 160 new buses for the fleet. (150 Double Deckers & 10 Single Deckers)

The previous tender had been set for 172 buses. (160 Double Deckers & 12 Single Deckers)

So it's a reduction of 12 buses on the previous tender.

You can view the tender here: http://www.etenders.gov.ie/search/Se...spx?ID=AA01435

What's your thoughts on that?

From what's on the e-tenders site it looks like a re-issue of the earlier tender to take account of the funding cuts imposed on Public Transport.

The NTA,who are now the controlling entity regarding specifications,did reveal a set of new standards for Dublin Bus vehicles which may well have increased unit-costs also.

I would suggest it's "move along there,nothing to see here" time in relation to this partciular tender,except perhaps to point out that it will further postpone any new vehicles until perhaps Autumn 2012 if even then.

It's smoke and mirrors I'm afraid.

[bk]

Will these be double or triple door buses?

Aren't the NTA specifying that new buses must have double doors?

[Flukey]

With the way they have been cutting back services with Network They Wrecked, they should have buses to sell.

[KD345]

When Metro North was shelved, Leo Varadkar announced he was giving cash to Dublin Bus and Bus Eireann for the upkeep of the bus fleet. This will now mean the Dublin Bus fleet will be 100% low floor.

[Losty Dublin]

Originally Posted by KD345

When Metro North was shelved, Leo Varadkar announced he was giving cash to Dublin Bus and Bus Eireann for the upkeep of the bus fleet. This will now mean the Dublin Bus fleet will be 100% low floor.

What? No more Olympians?

[dublinman1990]

Originally Posted by KD345

When Metro North was shelved, Leo Varadkar announced he was giving cash to Dublin Bus and Bus Eireann for the upkeep of the bus fleet. This will now mean the Dublin Bus fleet will be 100% low floor.

Yeah of course, €150 million euro to purchase the new buses for CIE under the new Goverment Spending Plan.

And of course, no more olympians I'm afraid. But new versions of VT's I heard.

Here's a new North American version posted here:

Details shown here: http://www.alexander-dennis.com/prod...D=222&itemID=1

[Sulmac]

Originally Posted by bk

Will these be double or triple door buses?

Aren't the NTA specifying that new buses must have double doors?

I emailed Dublin Bus about buying two/three door buses with two sets of stairs (one at the back as well as the front) recently. Here's their response:

In answer to your query, depending on funding we plan to buy some new buses next year. The plan is that these will have two doors with a view to speeding up boarding. We are not looking at the two staircase option at this time, as they are not widely available in the RHD market and the loss of seating is quite significant.

[cson]

Ideal world you'd have the bottom deck of those standing only with a few seats for OAPs/Disabled people who can't make it up the stairs.

[LordSutch]

Not half bad by the looks of things.

Suggest we order them (with a local paint job), I especially like the
'homage' paid to the original Routemaster, ala sweeping rear staircase, nice

[AlekSmart]

Originally Posted by LordSutch

Not half bad by the looks of things.

Suggest we order them (with a local paint job), I especially like the
'homage' paid to the original Routemaster, ala sweeping rear staircase, nice

Well the whole point behind the Tendering Hooplah is to invite different entities to tender for the business....there's quite a lot of interesting design stuff out there if one travels far enough....(Scroll to the end of Page 2)

http://www.surfside.com.au/documents...n19OCT2011.pdf

As per Dublin Bus's response to Sulmac,it's worth bearing in mind that the "Dublin Standard" Low Floor Double Deck incorporates substantially more Seating in the Lower Saloon than the much vaunted TfL London designs.

In fact in almost two decades of Low Floor design and operation the lack of accessible seating in the Lower Saloons of Londons buses has been a significant generator of negative passenger response,something which Dublin Bus took on board when drawing up the specifications.

[Conway635]

The purpose of the tender is not to buy 160 buses, but to be able to later demonstrate later how much money has been "saved" by not buying them!

Likewise the previous tender last year was designed to make the case for refurbishing the year 2000 AVs look good value by comparison.

The company is certainly desperate to replace the remaining WVs (single-decks) hence the 10 single-decks on the tender.

If they are lucky they will get funding for these, and perhaps 40 double-decks max, to replace the few RVs that will be left after Network Direct.

Bus Eireann, on the other hand, has 60 new buses ready to enter service in the new year - including 10 double-deck city buses. (VWDs).

8 of these will go to Broadstone and 2 to Dundalk, displacing the 02 and 04-reg DD class which will go to Cork and Galway.

There are new single-deck city buses for Cork, Limerick and Galway, new coaches, and 8 more double-deck coaches (like the LDs).

C635

[Flukey]

Originally Posted by Sulmac

I emailed Dublin Bus about buying two/three door buses with two sets of stairs (one at the back as well as the front) recently. Here's their response:

Dublin Bus replied to an e-mail.