Best route for Swords to Sandyford daily commute.

Wibbler

Hi folks,

While fully aware that most people who want to commute to Sandyford every day wouldn't start in Swords, I'm looking for input on the best morning and evening routes.

I leave Swords at 06:30 and if I go via the Eastlink can be in the office by 07:30. Can that be beaten?

The return trip in the evening, leaving Sandyford at 16:30 is absolute hell. On the few occasions that I've tried it, the traffic for the Eastlink has been backed up to the mini roundabout on the Strand Road and hardly moved. My attempts to go through town have been scuppered by the traffic around either Pearse St. or Christchurch (1 hour 45 mins). I've tried the M50, but accidents have led to nearly 2 hour commutes and even when it's accident free 1 hour 30 mins is pretty normal.

Any help on finding a better route would be appreciated.

BTW, I chose to drive because the public transport options are even more onerous than the drive. I was going to do a Swords Express & Luas combo, but with the express leaving from Swords village, a 35 minute walk from my house, a walk between Tara street and Stephen's Green and waiting for the bus / Luas, I think it would take me longer and with not much less stress. Has anyone tried this or other public transport options?

Regards.

gurramok

Tough one

Maybe try goin down grand canal before you hit town, turn right maybe at Portobello or further on to get across to northside, then head east against the flow past ncr?

The quicker the Macken St bridge is built, the likes of your Pearse st blockage will be removed, fingers crossed!

It's a mess alright.

breadmonkey

gurramok wrote: »

Tough one

Maybe try goin down grand canal before you hit town, turn right maybe at Portobello or further on to get across to northside, then head east against the flow past ncr?

The quicker the Macken St bridge is built, the likes of your Pearse st blockage will be removed, fingers crossed!

It's a mess alright.

As an aside, that Macken street bridge is going to look fantastic!

gurramok

breadmonkey wrote: »

As an aside, that Macken street bridge is going to look fantastic!

It better be, it was proposed donkeys years ago. It must be the most delayed bridge to be built ever!

breadmonkey

Yeah I know. Check out my super crude MS Paint drawing of this wonder! It's supposed to look like a harp on its side. The whole bridge swivels about the pier to allow vessels to pass.



The plyon isn't actually as high as I made it out.

EDIT: just to note that the delay wasn't caused by problems designing the bridge!

markpb

Wibbler wrote: »

BTW, I chose to drive because the public transport options are even more onerous than the drive. I was going to do a Swords Express & Luas combo, but with the express leaving from Swords village, a 35 minute walk from my house, a walk between Tara street and Stephen's Green and waiting for the bus / Luas, I think it would take me longer and with not much less stress. Has anyone tried this or other public transport options?

Does the 41x runs anywhere near you in Swords? If it does, it would leave you closer to the Luas than the Swords Express. I commute from just south of you in Coolock and it takes 60 minutes by bike (to Stephens Green) and Luas or 75 minutes by bus (to Adelaide St) and Luas.

mackerski

That sounds like a really messy commute. Surely you'd be better off working somewhere closer where you live. Blanchardstown springs to mind...

Victor

gurramok wrote: »

It better be, it was proposed donkeys years ago. It must be the most delayed bridge to be built ever!

At least as far back as 1940.

gurramok

1940!...Thats indeed scandalous, a vital artery delayed like that for so long.

On reflection, if OP is going by car back from Sandyford(where my other half travels the exact same route to town), its just getting past Pearse st or Eastlink is the problem on the southside.

If only that tunnel was made a bit cheaper for cars, just imagine if that tunnel was open at eastlink rates, it would help but wouldn't help the OP get past the backlog at the eastlink itself(copy of westlink barrier tolling!)

It is a bloody mess :mad:...best wait for the metro in your case, just be patient

Wibbler

Well this thread didn't stay on topic for long

I had a look at the 41x timetable and there isn't a bus early enough for me in the morning. BTW, Dublin Bus has 80mins down for the route time! Feckin'ell, so much for QBCs is all I can say!

markpb

I didn't realise you had to be in early. At that time in the morning, a regular 41 that doesn't go into the airport would probably be just as fast. Hop off at Parnell Sq and get a 10 to Kildare St and the Luas from there.

I'm not sure if you'll beat an hour in the morning but it should be faster in the evening (Luas, 15 from Dawson St to Liberty Hall and 41 from Abbey St).

Wibbler

gurramok wrote: »

On reflection, if OP is going by car back from Sandyford(where my other half travels the exact same route to town), its just getting past Pearse st or Eastlink is the problem on the southside.

Indeed! It's only the evening trip back that's really bad. It looks like everyone tries to get out of the city early and this coincides with me arriving into it from the south. I could try leaving earlier, but I don't think it would help much.

gurramok wrote: »

If only that tunnel was made a bit cheaper for cars, just imagine if that tunnel was open at eastlink rates, it would help but wouldn't help the OP get past the backlog at the eastlink itself(copy of westlink barrier tolling!)
It is a bloody mess :mad:...best wait for the metro in your case, just be patient

Seven years ago I used to work on the Merrion Road and would always head home over the Eastlink. Even at rush hour it was never so bad as to backup such a distance along Strand Road. I knew traffic had gotten worse, but I didn't think that it could be so bad so early in the evening.

I heard Noel Dempsey on NewsTalk last evening while I was sitting in traffic. He was withering on about congestion charges and removing car parking from the city. To be honest, in the absence of proper integrated public transport options, I don't know how they can be considering these measures.

whosedaddy?

Wibbler wrote: »

I heard Noel Dempsey on NewsTalk last evening while I was sitting in traffic. He was withering on about congestion charges and removing car parking from the city. To be honest, in the absence of proper integrated public transport options, I don't know how they can be considering these measures.

Of course, we have then a three lane M50 that will be able to handle all the traffic

But what about all those learner driver commuters that need to cross town, but are not allowed on the M50?

Sorry that was OT...

kravmaga

Wibbler wrote: »

Hi folks,

While fully aware that most people who want to commute to Sandyford every day wouldn't start in Swords, I'm looking for input on the best morning and evening routes.

I leave Swords at 06:30 and if I go via the Eastlink can be in the office by 07:30. Can that be beaten?

The return trip in the evening, leaving Sandyford at 16:30 is absolute hell. On the few occasions that I've tried it, the traffic for the Eastlink has been backed up to the mini roundabout on the Strand Road and hardly moved. My attempts to go through town have been scuppered by the traffic around either Pearse St. or Christchurch (1 hour 45 mins). I've tried the M50, but accidents have led to nearly 2 hour commutes and even when it's accident free 1 hour 30 mins is pretty normal.

Any help on finding a better route would be appreciated.

BTW, I chose to drive because the public transport options are even more onerous than the drive. I was going to do a Swords Express & Luas combo, but with the express leaving from Swords village, a 35 minute walk from my house, a walk between Tara street and Stephen's Green and waiting for the bus / Luas, I think it would take me longer and with not much less stress. Has anyone tried this or other public transport options?

Regards.

There is no other way than Eastlink bridge, yes its a bitch if you do not leave Sandyford Ind Estate early on your return commute, Its a mess with so much construction and traffic.

M50 is a non runner due to up-grade works so unless like me you change jobs to a better location what else can you do........