Route 4 to Blackrock?

paulm17781

Today while cycling to work I saw a no.4 with "Blackrock" written on the front, when I got to Blackrock I saw a 4 leaving with "Ballymun" written on the front. Have they changed the 4 to go as far as Blackrock now or is it just the occasional service? In a surprising move for a CIE company there is nothing on the Dublin bus website about the 4 going to Blackrock, not even in the 4 timetable. :rolleyes:

enterprise

According to Garaiste the extension to Blackrock started on Sunday. No advice on DB website, which is unusual.

paulm17781

Thanks for that. Any idea when the timetable will be updated? I have to base my Thursday on whether this bus will definitely run or not.

enterprise

What is next Wednesday lotto numbers?

I suggest a quick email to info@dublinbus.ie to ask when the TT will be updated.

enterprise

What is next Wednesday lotto numbers?

I suggest a quick email to info@dublinbus.ie to ask when the TT will be updated.

paulm17781

I saw another two with Blackrock written on them yesterday evening, this morning I saw one waiting at Frascatti. I think It's safe to assume they are running. I'm not so worried about the time table, I would just rather not wait for a bus that doesn't go to my stop, it seems the 4 does.

SickCert

Yes in full swing, extra drivers extra buses.

You all have computers get onto DB about its website.

MiniD

I rang Dublin Bus today to inquire why there was no mention of the route extension on it's timetable. The reply was that there will be a timetable there in the next week and that the route is being tested at the moment. When I asked how a passenger was to to know the timetable I was told they are "about every 10 - 20 minutes depending on when you're waiting".

I'm guessing since the route has been extended, the whole timetable has been knocked out of shape and passengers waiting at stops from Ballymun across to St.Vincents are reading an incorrect timetable.

I fail to see what testing needs to be done. This is a busy corridor and buses have been running this road for years. Get your plans in place before altering a route and leaving the public guessing...

I find this type of behaviour a disgrace. There seems to be no communication at all between the Dublin Bus head office, the garage and the people in charge of issuing timetables to the public. This is the latest in a long list of timetable errors which have been issued to the public following timetable/route changes.

honru

Whatever about not providing updated information/timetable, it's great news to see the service extended to Blackrock.

It's possible that the "testing" is to ensure there's no congestion at Blackrock Station... I presume that's where the terminus is.

Victor

I wonder how well the bendi-buses would deal with the side street down to the station.

I suspect the would just do Rock Road - Main Street - Carysfort Avenue (bottom section) - Blackrock Bypass - Rock Road. Although if more than one bus is early, it could get crowded.

MarkoP11

The terminus is not in Blackrock village, it the bus stop at Frascati bus comes into the village and then follows the 17 route up the main street right at the Central Cafe and then right onto the bypass

Certainly haven't seen a bendy bus down at the station.

It was thought the 4 would continue to a terminus in Stradbrook up at the TK roundabout

KC61

This is an absolutely farcical situation.

There have been changes before that have not been advised to the public for some time (such as the 25X ex-Adamstown and the 46B extension to Belarmine), but never anything on this scale.

To use the "testing" excuse is nothing more than that - an excuse and this in itself is inexcusable. It is in breach of the customer charter which states:

"When we change a timetable or a bus route, we will let you know".

They have failed to do either of these in this case. The route has got a full timetable with new driver rosters and to suggest otherwise is just flannel.

At the end of the day the company have continued to operate in the old way....tell the public after the event has taken place.

KC61

Victor wrote:

I wonder how well the bendi-buses would deal with the side street down to the station.

I suspect the would just do Rock Road - Main Street - Carysfort Avenue (bottom section) - Blackrock Bypass - Rock Road. Although if more than one bus is early, it could get crowded.

The route is exactly that with the terminus at the Frascati Shopping Centre.

The buses do NOT serve Blackrock DART Station - there is no space for them there.

There "may" be extensions along Stradbrook Road and Deans Grange Road to the TK Roundabout in due course.

The extension is a very welcome one and will allow the Rock Road QBC to become operational, but why the change is not being advertised is truly beyond me.

SickCert

Victor wrote:

I wonder how well the bendi-buses would deal with the side street down to the station.

I suspect the would just do Rock Road - Main Street - Carysfort Avenue (bottom section) - Blackrock Bypass - Rock Road. Although if more than one bus is early, it could get crowded.

The testing will come in the summer mornings when you get two bendi's parked there and 7s,45,s and 17s refusing to stop.
The depot manager in the high office of Donnybrook was told about the possibility of non stopping buses here several weeks ago, so its not a last minute hitch. New drivers for the route 4/a were advertised in the depots upto 4 weeks ago with marking in sheets up 2 weeks ago.

KC61

SickCert wrote:

The testing will come in the summer mornings when you get two bendi's parked there and 7s,45,s and 17s refusing to stop.
The depot manager in the high office of Donnybrook was told about the possibility of non stopping buses here several weeks ago, so its not a last minute hitch. New drivers for the route 4/a were advertised in the depots upto 4 weeks ago with marking in sheets up 2 weeks ago.

I guess the departure of the depot manager in Donnybrook for pastures new (a waste disposal company I understand) probably hasn't helped in all of this.

SickCert

A Waste?
He was still to implement the new 46a/b/746 timing bill from several months ago. So maybe route 4 will be addressed by 2008.

The man next door to him isnt any better.

honru

Got the 4 today, the last stop was Blackrock Village as told by the bus driver.

It didn't go right back around to Frascati Shopping Centre though... I wonder where the buses go?

SickCert

Some are blocking the stops at Carysfort around the next right from where you jumped ship.