Stunningly inaccurate article in Independent 21/04/2008 (on Dublin Bus)

Aquavid

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/dublin-bus-feeling-offcolour-yet-again-1353864.html

Over the years, I've seen my fair share of misreporting of transport issues, but the article in today's Independent really takes the biscuit. The central premise is supposition presented as fact, and it then concludes with a potted history of the Dublin Bus fleet that is riddled with major errors.

On the basis that the the new Dublin Transportation Authority (DTA) *may* at some stage after its establishment, seek to impose a common branding across public transport, the author leads off with this statement:

"just when commuters had become used to the yellow and blue livery, Transport Minister Noel Dempsey has ordered that the company get the painters in and change the colours all over again"

Excuse me, he has done no such thing. He has published a bill to set up the DTA, which might, at some stage in the future, look to impose a standard livery across all public transport. Or might not - it could make do with a simple logo on existing liveries, or a theme of some kind. There is certainly no getting the painters in when the body is still way in the future, never mind deciding what to do. And who is to say that decision might not be that yellow and blue is the brand?

After a few more paragraphs of this, the article starts to look at the past.

"In the cash-strapped 1970s and 1980s, yellow buses under the CIE logo -- many of which were cast-offs from other towns and cities -- took Dubliners from A to B."

Yellow buses? We had blue & cream, then orange, never yellow, but that pales into insignificance compared to the next statement:

"Not until 1987, when Dublin Bus was formally set up, did new buses arrive."

So no new buses, and running "cast offs" until 1987?

CIE always bought and built its own new buses, and from the end of the second World War onwards, the only years in which Dublin did not have new buses entering service were 1962, 1963, 1980 and 1986.

The only substantial break in bus deliveries, from the early part of 79 to early 1981 was not due to any lack of cash or lack of interest in new buses, but because the VanHool bus factory at Spa Road had gone out of business, and the new Bombardier plant in Shannon was being set up.

There were new buses for Dublin in 1981, 82, 83, 84, 85.

"Not until 1987, when Dublin Bus was formally set up, did new buses arrive.

And when they did, they were green. At the same time, the 46a route -- the busiest in the country -- became a 'driver only' route, ushering in the age of conductor-free buses".

The green buses (Bombardiers) arrived in 1981 (not 1987) and the arrival of one-person operation was much later.

The article continues with other similar mistakes.

Anyone reading it would think that Dublin never saw a new bus before 1987, we were just the poor Irish using second-hand cast offs.

Makes you wonder just how accurate articles on other topics are . . .

Aquavid

Ham'nd'egger

I read this today and I was shocked at just how appallingly pathetic it was as journalism goes. It is hard to pick out five truths in the whole article it is so incorrect; if it were a serious piece and taken to the courts, it would be a case of how libelous it is, not if it is.

But then again, this is the Irish Independent we are talking about.

icdg

It is an outstandingly badly researched article, and more of an excuse to look back at the various CIE & BAC liveries than anything else. But behind lies a good point - we need a single Logo for Dublin across Dublin's transport network, just like the Transport for London roundel, the British Rail double arrows, the instantly recognisable "S" and "U" in Germany, I could mention others.

The Bill does indeed provide for a single branding - Section 11 (1) (d) (vi) - but to suggest it will be personally ordered by Dempsey is inaccurate....

Run_to_da_hills

I never liked those Whistling brown busses CIE had during the 70ies http://busesinireland.bravepages.com/yesteryear/d_class_an68s.htm

AlekSmart

The colour was known as "Mid Buff" and the whistling was caused by several batches of Cheapo Replacement Engine Cooling Radiators which were sourced from somebodys brother-in-law in order to save money

The cooling fins on these were poorly aligned which caused the emission of musical notes as the engine fan speed changed...some of the vehicles could REALLY play serious music and it was also a safety feature as it kept the passengers awake thus preventing them from missing their stop ! :eek:

Reyman

It's about what you expect from the Independent. It's a dreadful rag of a paper - lowest common denominator and even lower!

How does anyone work in there?

darkman2

Aquavid wrote: »

Excuse me, he has done no such thing

Not withstanding whether the article is correct or not - I think your wrong at least in part. I (and im sure many others) have noticed in recent weeks the new lick of yellow paint on the bus stop signs;)

Complete waste of my tax money. Would someone from Dublin Bus please explain the mentality behind this?

Aquavid

The repainting of bus stops yellow has been ongoing for at least a year, and is nothing to do with the impending DTA.

It is part of a DB scheme to make them more visible to the visually impaired, while at the same time fitting in with the current corporate colour scheme.

Not sure how much extra cost is involved, a certain poportion of stops would be repainted every year anyway.

Aquavid