Do DART and Luas not get along?

homeOwner

Why is it that on the Dart, when coming into Connolly Station there is an announcement on the newer trains to "change here for the number 90 bus to Hueston Station" and no mention at all of the Luas?

People who are new to Dublin could end up waiting ages for the bus then travelling for ages to get to Heuston when they could hop on the Luas and be there in minutes.

Whatever happened to an intergrated transport system? Surely it isnt because the Luas is run by a different agency and IE dont want to advertise it.

MarkoP11

The latest software version does say state Luas and the timetable clearly states Luas interchange

I've beaten the Luas head to head by bus several times in recent weeks so its quite misleading to say its faster by tram. The bus is deadly if you want College Green, try the 92

There is a clear bias shown to Dublin Bus by IE and I have been told that off the record by a very very senior person in IE who shall remain unnamed

That said buy a ticket from say Howth to Cork and it is vaild on Luas and on the 90/92 bus

It took a lot of arguing to get Luas signage in Heuston

dmeehan

surely with proper integration both would beneift from each others transfering passengers??

Victor

The RPA is a pro-privatisation off-shoot from Irish Rail that was never going to get on with them once Luas started. Luas and the three CIÉ companies see themselves in competition for routes and funding.

homeOwner

MarkoP11 wrote:

The latest software version does say state Luas and the timetable clearly states Luas interchange

What software version? Is it the annoucements on the trains and platforms? I still havent heard any mention of Luas at Connolly and I take the Dart every day. I was shocked to find out you have to BUY a Dart timetable - it costs €1.20. Why would they charge for the timetable - its public transport. Not to mention that the timetable is really just a rough guide as the Dart rarely comes at the same time each day, its always off by a few minutes either side and they just change the display on the platform accordingly, when the display is working that is.

......and rant over :rolleyes:

MarkoP11

Version 6 of the on train DART PIS software clearly states change at Connolly for Luas. That said only 3 or 4 sets run that software. There never has been a platform annoucement for Bus or Luas but IE heavily advertised the ability to get a Luas and Rail ticket

Its a bit rich to complain its all online and in real-time and a single line timetable or one from any DART station is free the full book is 1.20 which is fairly reasonable for full copy. It is a possibly the best selling piece of fiction

There is no staff involvement the platform displays change dynamically and rarely are switched off

homeOwner

MarkoP11 wrote:

That said only 3 or 4 sets run that software.

You're talking about things that the average Joe doesnt understand - what is a "set"? Is it a train? If so, 3 or 4 trains out of how many have this new software, not exactly advertising Luas to the masses. What dont they update all the "sets", how difficult cant it be to upgrade SW on the trains.

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Its a bit rich to complain its all online and in real-time and a single line timetable or one from any DART station is free the full book is 1.20 which is fairly reasonable for full copy.
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Why cant I complain. Dart tickets are very expensive. As a tax payer and user of the Dart I pay the wages of the the people running the Dart service. I am entitled to complain about it. I have asked several times over the last 6 months for a timetable at landsdown road, tara st and clontarf stations, I'm even willing to pay for it and there are none to be had. Not for 6 months! They dont have any. Not one of the ticket clerks ever mentioned to me about a free version of the timetable.....this is the first I've heard about it. As it turned out I got someone to print one off from the website.

So correct train times are only availble to those who can get online. What about the rest of the people who dont have internet acces.

and rarely are switched off

Dont you mean rarely working. The Clontarf Road one was "off" for over 6 weeks, its only just come back on recently.

MarkoP11

Versions 1 through 4 all pre date Luas and in time honoured tradition if it ain't broke don't fix. There is a version that says Luas, the main problem currently is to get the annoucments to work in the first place. I cant understand why it is taking too long, they appear to be trialling the latest version currently and its not quite right yet. There are 4 sets fitted thats 4 4 coach trains, its rather complex but in practice arriving from Clontraf you won't get Luas but arriving from Tara Street you will

Yes it is a farce but that said if Luas want a plug shouldn't they put up the cash? OR should they be one single standardised set of annocuments to be used on all modes of transport set by a overal body ? Anyway I find the bus faster, cheaper and more comfortable between Connolly and Heuston so.

It took 2 meetings and a letter to get a crummy Luas sign put up in Heuston so you can see its a major uphill battle against with brick walls everywhere on the way

Only a limited number of copies of the timetable are printed and it is printed at a loss from what I've been told. Again there should be a printed copy available at all times. The new one is due out in the next week or two. The single line timetables are easy enough pick up, it is all online with the changes that occur over a year in place

Displays suffer failures, vandals, storm damage, a failure where the board says "not in use" is quite rare now

dowlingm

IE favouring DB over LUAS just another reason for CIE to be fully broken up... cross-mode coordination is a job for Dublin Transit which should favour nobody over anybody - including the likes of Aircoach.