Buses (or lack of) last night from Blackrock to city centre

MOH

Anyone know what was up with the buses in the Blackrock area last night?
Just missed a 45 at five to seven, was left standing at the bus stop for 30 minutes before I gave up and got a taxi. During that time at least five buses should have passed (4 at 18.55 and 19.15, 4a at about 1905, and at least two 7s).

Instead of which at least nine buses passed out of service, four of which were the single decker 'bendy' buses which I've only seen on the 4(a) route.

Passed dozens of people on the way into town all waiting for non-existent buses.

Could have done without spending 13 quid on a taxi when I'm already paying over a grand a year for a bus/rail ticket :mad:

dereko1969

Traffic's been really heavy the past two nights, i'd normally get the bus to Monkstown around 630 and fly home but it's taken ages the last two nights so presumably the buses that should have been picking you up were still heading out to their termini. i'm surprised that so many out of service buses ran past you, you would think only one or two would run out of service.

Run_to_da_hills

You should have taken the Dart.

markpb

I used to have the same problem when I lived on the 7/45 route - this was before the 4/4a were introduced. I found buses from the cc to ballsbridge were fine but inbound were terribly unreliable.

If you're ever left standing for long, ring the depot and ask them what's up. Often on my bus (27b), they're able to tell me that it's stuck in traffic and won't be along for ages.

crocro

There seem to be a lot of out of service buses during evening rush hour. Something about the shift having to change at that time.

KC61

All of the EURO duties pull into the garage between 6 and 7.30.

These are the extra buses that operate additional peak hour services in the morning and evening rush hour (generally in the peak traffic direction).

Services such as the 116/117/118/46D/46E and some 46A journeys are all EURO duties.

As such many people would see these buses returning empty to the depot from the outer terminus as drivers have to finish their duty within 12 hours of starting it.

As for the 4/4A there must have been some significant traffic issues yesterday to cause a delay such as that. I would imagine that the empty articulated buses were trying to being sent empty to get back on schedule, but there should have been at least one in service.

As markpb says, take down the number of the depot and if there is a delay ring it and ask for the controller for the route that you are waiting on.

MOH

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

You should have taken the Dart.

Well yes, obviously I would have taken the DART if I'd known in advance I'd be standing there for half an hour.

KC61 wrote: »

As markpb says, take down the number of the depot and if there is a delay ring it and ask for the controller for the route that you are waiting on.

To be honest, I don't really see the point. All they're going to tell me is there's a delay, which by the time I resort to ringing I already know, and I'm just wasting more money.

There weren't any significant traffic issues that I'm aware of, taxi driver even commented that the traffic had been fairly good.

I'm wondering if it's somehow related to the earlier unofficial bus drivers protest .

paulm17781

I used to work in Blackrock and expected to take 30 minutes for a bus. There was one or two at about 6, if I missed them I would be waiting up to an hour for the next one. Disgraceful for one of the busier roads in South Dublin. This was before the 4 was extended to Blackrock but I had to wonder what sort of public transport operator timetables a shortage of buses at rush hour.

KC61

MOH wrote: »

Well yes, obviously I would have taken the DART if I'd known in advance I'd be standing there for half an hour.



To be honest, I don't really see the point. All they're going to tell me is there's a delay, which by the time I resort to ringing I already know, and I'm just wasting more money.

There weren't any significant traffic issues that I'm aware of, taxi driver even commented that the traffic had been fairly good.

I'm wondering if it's somehow related to the earlier unofficial bus drivers protest .

Well from my experience (waiting for a 16 in Terenure) they've been able to tell me where the next bus is and that enabled me to decide whether to fork out for a taxi or not!