Shape up or lose funds, Dublin Bus told

Run_to_da_hills

Noel Dempsey warned Dublin Bus that if it dosn't get its act together it will not recieve any state money for new vehicles.

Unless major changes to services are implemented, and new routes provided to centres of employment, the Government will not sanction any major investment in the company.

I thought they now had a surplus of over 100 vehicles that are to be taken out of service due to cut backs, why would they want any more?

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/shape-up-or-lose-funds-dublin-bus-told-1615612.html

paulm17781

I think it's to do with the routes not really changing in the last 80 years. I read something that said they need to be more efficient rather than having more buses. Sounds like Noel doing his best to do nothing but sound like he understands his role.

Reyman

It'll take more than Noel Dempsey to sort out Dublin Bus. It's another HSE run by the workers for themselves, with the customers playing second fiddle

Don't hold your breath for any change.

BrianD

Well it just shows how inept the current Government is at the moment. Blaming everybody else for their problems.

If Dempsey and his predecessor had have run their department correctly we wouldn't have this problem because their would be a DTO (or whatever they prefer to be called) who would be planning the routes, tendering them out and measuring the quality of service on routes.

Perhaps DB should respond and tell the government to get their act together and actually do some governing!! I'm not an apologist for DB but it's plain to see that we need to have an overally body leading all the private and transport companies and integrating them to best serve the population.

Cool Mo D

How can Dublin Bus reform their routes when the Department of Transport tells them to take a running jump when they want to run a decent new service?

Run_to_da_hills

Cool Mo D wrote: »

How can Dublin Bus reform their routes when the Department of Transport tells them to take a running jump when they want to run a decent new service?

Its called scapegoating.

paulm17781

Noel, working hard to make himself look rosy as usual.

Sponge Bob

Dempsey and Cullen are two of the thickest cabinet ministers of all time

thebman

I don't think its a bad idea to have the subsidy linked to performance and attempts at improving service for the people.

I think the main problem is that these types of statements have been made by ministers in this position in the past.

It seems quite clear to me that it is a standard FF soundbite for the public.

paulm17781

thebman wrote: »

I don't think its a bad idea to have the subsidy linked to performance and attempts at improving service for the people.

I think it's an excellent idea. I've said it here before that DB should get subsidy based on increased bus usage, better services etc.

If buses are on time (based on GPS data not what a driver says), passengers carried increases, dwell time at stops reduces etc. DB should get huge subsidy increases. As it is they get their fare increases every year without fail.

I blame the government for most of this but I'm sure if DB management really wanted to improve the company, they could.

thebman

paulm17781 wrote: »

I think it's an excellent idea. I've said it here before that DB should get subsidy based on increased bus usage, better services etc.

If buses are on time (based on GPS data not what a driver says), passengers carried increases, dwell time at stops reduces etc. DB should get huge subsidy increases. As it is they get their fare increases every year without fail.

I blame the government for most of this but I'm sure if DB management really wanted to improve the company, they could.

I agree with that too, they just don't care. Of course if they make no attempt to improve the service then they aren't doing their jobs and we do need to make cuts in the public sector

Although we might have strike action if we did that :rolleyes:

Reyman

I'm going back a while now, but I remember when 'CIE' tried to introduce radio comms to the buses (the 70s). The union wouldn't have it unless they got 'productivity payments'.
I don't know how it was resolved, but I believe one of the conditions of introducing it was that the horse racing results would be provided from base to the bus drivers.

Any of you old stager drivers please correct me if I have the detail of this wrong.

BendiBus

paulm17781 wrote: »

I think it's an excellent idea. I've said it here before that DB should get subsidy based on increased bus usage, better services etc.

The idea is good. It's successful implementation that may be difficult.

If usage decreases initially (say in the unlikely event of a global recession ), then so would subvention. The double hit on revenues makes it harder to improve the business, resulting in further reductions in usage, further reductions in subsidy. A downward spiral.

shltter

thebman wrote: »

I agree with that too, they just don't care. Of course if they make no attempt to improve the service then they aren't doing their jobs and we do need to make cuts in the public sector

Although we might have strike action if we did that :rolleyes:

Dublin Bus is not the public sector, employees are not direct government employees and are not covered by public sector pay deals like benchmarking or the current public sector pay talks/cuts.
They are also not covered by the public sector pensions.

The PSO (Public service obligation) payment made to Dublin Bus is actually tied to performance standards as set out by the Dept of Transport.

shltter

BendiBus wrote: »

The idea is good. It's successful implementation that may be difficult.

If usage decreases initially (say in the unlikely event of a global recession ), then so would subvention. The double hit on revenues makes it harder to improve the business, resulting in further reductions in usage, further reductions in subsidy. A downward spiral.

It depends on what you base it on above the current standards

Just passenger numbers as you say is hard to justify given the recession and the introduction of alternatives like LUAS and Metro (if it comes)

But it is also true that the recession actually makes it easier in some ways to deliver services there has been a notable drop in traffic congestion particularly in the last six month.
On my own route we are now keeping to the timetable on most journeys all week including peak periods.
Last year we were running upto 45 minutes late on a regular basis on some journeys.
I have not had a bus handed over to me running late since before last summer nearly where this was a regular occurance prior to that.

I have not had a late break payment for about 3 months where i used to get it 4 or 5 days a week

shltter

Reyman wrote: »

I'm going back a while now, but I remember when 'CIE' tried to introduce radio comms to the buses (the 70s). The union wouldn't have it unless they got 'productivity payments'.
I don't know how it was resolved, but I believe one of the conditions of introducing it was that the horse racing results would be provided from base to the bus drivers.

Any of you old stager drivers please correct me if I have the detail of this wrong.

All Dublin Buses have radios and the system was upgraded about 5 years ago. BTW no payments for radio or for wheelchair ramps or GPS or Internal cameras or new wheelchair arm etc etc etc etc

http://www.dublinbus.ie/projects/trunked_mobile_radio_system.asp


And I have never heard racing results on the old or the current system.

spareman

Reyman wrote: »

but I believe one of the conditions of introducing it was that the horse racing results would be provided from base to the bus drivers.

Any of you old stager drivers please correct me if I have the detail of this wrong.

Do you mind me asking where your getting this from?

shltter

spareman wrote: »

Do you mind me asking where your getting this from?

You not getting the sports results either thought it was just me that was missing out on racing at Kempton:rolleyes:

K-9

It's a shame, there's a thread over on politics on a DB staff member losing her job, just newly recruited and everything.

LIFO always seems to be the motto of Unions.