Bus Éireann hilarity - Lads learn your routes...

Chris_533976

So I'm up in Galway at the moment, and wanted to go into the college library today to do some study (exams start Tuesday). So I got the early morning bus in. Now on a Sunday, two seperate weekday services are joined together so the bus goes through a few more estates. Works fairly well, saves a bit of money on a Sunday for Bus Eireann.

On the bus I got - first bus of the morning - bus driver drove off. He drove straight past the crossroads. Slows down a bit, turns his head round.

"Lads was I supposed to turn left there??"

"Yes" came from the passengers.

"Ah shite"

So he drove the bus up a sidestreet, did a three point turn near a garage and went the way he was **supposed** to go.

Got into college, was in the library for 20 minutes when the power went out due to the high winds or something. So they booted everyone out and I decided to head home. Waited at the bus stop for a bit, got on the bus to find the same driver.

Now like I said, the bus service is supposed to go a different way on a Sunday. A mile after going the **wrong** way, the driver turns round "I really should have gone the other way, shouldnt I".

"yes"

"Ah shite".

I didnt mind cos it got me home quicker than normal. But I'd say a few people were pissed.

Though the driver was very apologetic afterwards.... said he didnt usually work Sundays...


Only in Ireland :rolleyes:

bazzer

And only in Bus Eireann, where they just don't train drivers in on all routes. They are left to work it out for themselves, or in your case , to ask the passengers! :rolleyes:

MrPudding

I remember having to direct a driver on the 45 where he was supposed to go.

MrP

patrickc

as with mr p, i once had to direct a driver 3 weeks in a row, from dublin to carlow in my student days.. used to have to sit on the steps beside him and direct him on such an easy route.. but got on for free each week so not too bad.

John R

Chris_533976 wrote:

A mile after going the **wrong** way, the driver turns round "I really should have gone the other way, shouldnt I".

"yes"


Only in Ireland :rolleyes:

Only in Ireland would the passengers sit like retarded fools on the bus going the wrong way without saying anything.

Chris_533976 wrote:

I didnt mind cos it got me home quicker than normal. But I'd say a few people were pissed.

I'll remember that one the next time you complain about drivers not caring about passengers.

jlang

My 46A driver forgot to stop on Stephen's Green last week. A few of us had gathered at the front downstairs but he missed the stop. I asked him where the next stop was and he pulled in after turning the corner onto Dawson St.

AlekSmart

.......Sound of banjo`s and tin whistles tuning up.....Ah 1 ...ah 2 ah 3...Hit it Barney......."Ahha Great crowd had gatherrrred outside aaa Kilmainhaaaaaam ....But none of themmmm had botherdd to ringa da Belll.......".............:rolleyes:

(With apologies and acknowledgements to R.Drew,B.McKenna and countless other Beardies all over the World.....:D )

BuffyBot

Only in Ireland

Errr, no actually. It happens elsewhere too. Had an interesting trip on the outskirts of Glasgow once, where I was even less qualified than the driver in where to go..

godtabh

John R wrote:

Only in Ireland would the passengers sit like retarded fools on the bus going the wrong way without saying anything.

If I was on that bus I wouldnt have noticed.

I've been on DB when drivers were getting trained. Never had a problem

HelterSkelter

Chris_533976 wrote:

A mile after going the **wrong** way, the driver turns round "I really should have gone the other way, shouldnt I".

Why didn't anybody tell him he went the wrong way????????

BendiBus

HelterSkelter wrote:

Why didn't anybody tell him he went the wrong way????????

One reason is that I'm sure the OP was relishing the thought of telling us all about it today and didn't want to spoil the fun

Chris_533976

Yeah I was like "Wow this will make a great story on the C/T forum..."

Nah I didnt even notice until he mentioned it, cos my stop is on the original route and I didnt need to think about the extra Sunday route. Surprised noone else mentioned it though, I would have been the first to say something if I'd have been effected.

Cant always cover up for others though

John R

BuffyBot wrote:

Errr, no actually. It happens elsewhere too. Had an interesting trip on the outskirts of Glasgow once, where I was even less qualified than the driver in where to go..

I am sure it happens everywhere, there are all sorts of reasons why drivers end up on routes they are unfamiliar with. Marathon day has traditionally been a popular time for dublin bus drivers to chop the top deck off buses on Sandwith St. bridge while on diversion, no excuse for that sort of stupidity though.

I went the wrong way myself a few times when I was driving in the UK. I ended up on country lane routes that I had never learned once or twice while covering for other drivers. I had some vague directions but some of those routes were mazes.

Problem is that listening to passengers is not always the best thing in those situations either. One driver I knew did that and had some old git direct him down a dead-end laneway to his front door. There was nowhere to turn and he had to reverse the bus back for over a mile. He never lived that one down.

Wishbone Ash

John R wrote:

Problem is that listening to passengers is not always the best thing in those situations either

In my area of Dublin, schoolchildren used to have a field day with drivers who were unfamiliar with the route. They would direct him along what seemed like a logical route, i.e. straight ahead on the Main Street instead of a left turn. He would be none the wiser until meeting a sign a mile further on reading "ROAD UNSUITABLE FOR LARGE VEHICLES". :eek:

John R wrote:

he had to reverse the bus back for over a mile

That happened to me in an articulated bus. I was on a narrow road and came upon roadworks at a bend. I needed to utilise the full width of the road to clear the corner but was unable to do so. I had to reverse about 500 metres on a dark wet night. (I didn't have any passengers aboard - although that also meant I had no one to assist me).

John R wrote:

I am sure it happens everywhere, there are all sorts of reasons why drivers end up on routes they are unfamiliar with.

Yes, it's a regular occurance. I've occasionally got a call asking me to take a busload of passengers to places I've never been to. I usually make a fairly good stab at it but I will ask passengers if I'm unsure. Most are very helpful.

ardmacha

While a GPS routefinder is probably out of the question, could Bus Eireann not provide a map with the route marked in red marker.