Train commuters,what you going to do? (Merged with Commuter Hell thread)

Moonbeam

So I was wondering,how on earth are people going to get to work?

There is going to be no where near enough capacity on the buses,it won't be easy to get buggies and wheel chairs on them.

Personally this could not have happened at a worse time as my child starts creche and I am back to work next week:(


No idea what we are going to do yet.

Victor

Theres that 10% of buses that they cut.

Moonbeam

I was trying to work out how many buses would be needed to cover for each train,the number got impossibly big and I gave up!!

LeoB

They will have to put express buses on duty. Remember the big bendy buses that were supposed to take thousands off the roads? Hope they can find about 10 or 15 of them for Monday. But lets not hold our breath.

hoser expat

I have no confidence in them arranging enough buses, especially if they all just follow the 33. They'll all be full by the first stop! We need express buses direct from each affected station.

I'm going to have to head off very very early Monday and see how it goes. If they haven't got it fugured out and it becomes the mayhem I think it will, then I'm going to make some phone calls about chartering my own bus. One run a day each way from Skerries, charge everyone a fiver. I wonder if any charter companies have already thought of this? There's a few pennies to be made if anyone has a bus not booked out already.

hoser expat

LeoB wrote: »

They will have to put express buses on duty. Remember the big bendy buses that were supposed to take thousands off the roads? Hope they can find about 10 or 15 of them for Monday. But lets not hold our breath.

10 or 15 buses would take about 3/4 of the people from one of the 5 or 6 rush hour trains. Not nearly enough.

Bluetonic

hoser expat wrote: »

If they haven't got it fugured out and it becomes the mayhem I think it will, then I'm going to make some phone calls about chartering my own bus. One run a day each way from Skerries, charge everyone a fiver. I wonder if any charter companies have already thought of this? There's a few pennies to be made if anyone has a bus not booked out already.

€5 per person. I doubt you've really taught about it to be honest.

Victor

hoser expat wrote: »

then I'm going to make some phone calls about chartering my own bus.

Do you have a licence to operate a bus service? Insurance?

What if you don't fill your bus?

hoser expat

I chartered a large coach a few months ago for €200 per half day, €400 per full day, Skerries to St. Stephen's Green return. So €5 per person is not out of line. It could even make a couple of runs.

I think quite honestly it would not be hard to fill such a bus. And the bus company would have a license to operate, we just get 50 people together and rent the bus.

Think outside of the box people.

Victor

They have a licence to operate a bus. They need a separate licence to operate a bus route.

Bluetonic

hoser expat wrote: »

I chartered a large coach a few months ago for €200 per half day, €400 per full day, Skerries to St. Stephen's Green return. So €5 per person is not out of line. It could even make a couple of runs.

I think quite honestly it would not be hard to fill such a bus. And the bus company would have a license to operate, we just get 50 people together and rent the bus.

Think outside of the box people.

How many runs at rush hour do you think you bus could make?

Gillo

Very glad I am off next week, hopefully the confusion will be gone by the following week. Moonbeam I feel for you, have you considered a local creche, there's pro's and con's but even short term it may be better. What ever happens tomorrow folks please bear in mind the lads working in the station can't do much and it's not their fault so tempting as it may be please don't go hurling abuse at them when you have trouble getting to work.

hoser expat

Victor wrote: »

They have a licence to operate a bus. They need a separate licence to operate a bus route.

Not if it is a charter bus. We rent the bus (myself and 50 others, depending on capacity), we ask them to pick us up in Skerries and drop us off in Dublin. it's not a route, it's a private hire.

di2772

I got a parking space in Swords off a friend.
Im driving to Swords and then getting the Swords express.
Hes got another 2 if anyone wants them. If you want me to find out let me know. He probably wont charge much for them.

Bluetonic

di2772 wrote: »

I got a parking space in Swords off a friend.
Im driving to Swords and then getting the Swords express.
Hes got another 2 if anyone wants them. If you want me to find out let me know. He probably wont charge much for them.

Profiteering at it's best. Why would you bother paying for parking in Swords when the town is full of free parking.

susanna

I'll be moving to my boyfriend's house in Tallaght for three months by the looks of things.

Can get the luas, or the drive into town takes about an hour at peak times.

I'm lucky to have the option, its going to be bedlam commuting from Skerries on the 33!

Fyr.Fytr

Bluetonic wrote: »

Profiteering at it's best. Why would you bother paying for parking in Swords when the town is full of free parking.

Not so much anymore, pay and display is taking over, this means that estates that are still free are ever more busy with people parking to avoid pay and display

Bluetonic

Fyr.Fytr wrote: »

Not so much anymore, pay and display is taking over, this means that estates that are still free are ever more busy with people parking to avoid pay and display

Aside from the main street the majority of public roads are free parking.

di2772

Bluetonic wrote: »

Aside from the main street the majority of public roads are free parking.

Im getting my space for free anyway.
But for everyone else, why not help them out by giving them a list of the streets they can park on, if you know them?
When is the last time you tried to park there?

Bluetonic

di2772 wrote: »

Im getting my space for free anyway.
But for everyone else, why not help them out by giving them a list of the streets they can park on, if you know them?
When is the last time you tried to park there?

Giving a list of would be little silly. As I said aside from the main street (and it's side streets) few streets are paid parking.

I parked in Swords on Friday, non paid parking just off the main street.

Eoineo

Carpool?
My dh works near the DART line and he will be filling the car with family members and dropping them off to the closest station in the mornings; collecting them in the evening. He would be making the journey anyway so it makes sense to fill the car.

WRT to the queries about private coach hire. There is no route in place if the coach driver does not take a "fare" from each passenger and is paid an invoiced amount.

Does anybody have children attending secondary/primary schools on the rail line - e.g. Malahide, Portmarnock, Baldoyle, Sutton, Howth? This is going to be a nightmare to get them up and down to school.

di2772

Bluetonic wrote: »

Giving a list of would be little silly. As I said aside from the main street (and it's side streets) few streets are paid parking.

I parked in Swords on Friday, non paid parking just off the main street.

I think we should all be trying to help out our fellow commuters here. Why not give a hand?

Bluetonic

di2772 wrote: »

I think we should all be trying to help out our fellow commuters here. Why not give a hand?

Just like all the free parking in Dublin 1, 2 and 4 I'm not going to be advertising publically anything that might risk my parking space as I'm sure you'll understand.

OisinDunne

From http://www.irishrail.ie/contact_us/contact_ne_service_delays.asp

Customer Service Section for Northern and Eastern Routes Welcome to the Customer Service Section for the Northern and Eastern Division.
Serious Service Delay
If you have experienced a serious delay while traveling on our services you may be entitled to a Discount Voucher.
Passengers delayed between one and two hours are entitled to a 50% refund on the affected leg of the journey. Passengers delayed by over two hours are entitled to a full refund on the affected leg of the journey.
In order for us to process your Discount Application your ticket(s) for this journey on-line is required.
We aim to process Refund Applications within 15 working days of receipt of application. Occasionally, when serious disruptions occur, we are sometimes unable to meet our response targets. Please bear with us; we will always process your Application as quickly as we can.
In order for us to process your Discount Application please print out the Discount Application Form in PDF format (PDF File) and return the completed form by post together with your ticket(s) for this journey to:
Customer Relations Department
Northern and Eastern
Iarnród Éireann
Connolly Station
Amien Street
Dublin 1
Telephone (01) 703 2601
Fax (01) 703 4369

cailinoBAC

Do Bus Eireann do monthly tickets from Balbriggan and how much are they?r
I don't have a car and even if I did, I don't know where I'd park it around Grand Canal Dock. Definitely don't want to be taking the 33 bus. My Dad rang Bus Eireann and they said they're in discussion with Irish Rail about accepting their tickets. But how long do those buses actually take into town in rush hour?
I'm thinking I'll probably end up staying in town for a while.

shopaholic

cailinoBAC,
If you hop on a bus you can buy a single, return or weekly 10 journey ticket - no monthly one. BUT I've a taxsaver ticket from them up to drogheda that I get monthly - might be an idea to get onto your hr dept to see if they can set you up with one. The advantage over the annual taxsaver is it can be cancelled with just a months notice.

graphene

cailinoBAC wrote: »

Do Bus Eireann do monthly tickets from Balbriggan and how much are they?r
I don't have a car and even if I did, I don't know where I'd park it around Grand Canal Dock. Definitely don't want to be taking the 33 bus. My Dad rang Bus Eireann and they said they're in discussion with Irish Rail about accepting their tickets. But how long do those buses actually take into town in rush hour?
I'm thinking I'll probably end up staying in town for a while.

A ten journey from balbriggan is about 35euros.

However this bus will go down the old road to the airport and through santry (probably take at least 90 min in rush hour) while the extra buses put on to cover the trains will go down the motorway so probably be at least half an hour quicker

wow sierra

Fyr.Fytr wrote: »

Not so much anymore, pay and display is taking over, this means that estates that are still free are ever more busy with people parking to avoid pay and display

I agree with that. I work in Swords and people are constantly complaining about the lack of parking as it is. I reckon for North County commuters hoping to get the 41 etc in Swords, will now end up taking up the few remaining free parking spaces there are.

God the next few months are going to be a serious pain in the ass even for those of us who never got the train. Gridlock on the M1 etc.

Gillo

cailinoBAC wrote: »

Do Bus Eireann do monthly tickets from Balbriggan and how much are they?

I'd to get the bus today and asked the driver (Bus Eireann) he said they were told yesterday not to take them but the ring the depot and check tomorrow, TBH I'd say it'd be crap if they don't especially since they are basically the same company.

cailinoBAC

I'm just taking the 635 Dublin Bus in tomorrow. Wasn't able to get confirmation of any other times, then staying somewhere for the week, then think I'll be staying closer to town for the forseeable future, but that's not exactly an option for most people.

Larianne

Could people not park in say, a big retail park area of some sort and then get Dublin Bus (41, 41c,41b) or Swords Express on the main road?

Auvers

Larianne wrote: »

Could people not park in say, a big retail park area of some sort and then get Dublin Bus (41, 41c,41b) or Swords Express on the main road?

nah if you want to park in the big retail park *cough* airside *cough* they will clamp your car

Canoga

I cannot believe how bad the proposed contingency plans are. There is going to be complete chaos until a real alternative is put in place. As far as I can see the only workable alternative is a direct train from each affected station to the city centre at regular intervals during peak hours. Where are our public representatives? They should be demanding that proper services are put in place to minimise the disruption. Instead they are sitting back, waiting until the whole city and its environs come to a complete standstill and then they'll come out and complain. Perhaps I'm too cynical but I think if it was the southern commuter line that was being affected the response would have been far better!

I live in Balbriggan and if I was to get the bus in and out every day I would be spending 8 hours on the bus...and that's not taking into account the horrendous traffic delays

I hope other people are as angry as me and that they make sure to voice their criticisms to their public representatives and the department of transport who are ultimately responsible for sorting out this mess

Wishbone Ash

Auvers wrote: »

nah if you want to park in the big retail park *cough* airside *cough* they will clamp your car

Ease off on the scare-mongering! :rolleyes:

I've parked in Airside on many occasions for several hours without shopping there and was never clamped. If there was clamping in operation, they would have signage in place indicating this.

Sparky84

It gets worse. Anybody with a monthly / yearly train ticket will have to also pay for buses. :mad:
Just goes to prove if you work in this country ya must be mad

Unshelved

Decided not to rely on the vagaries of Dublin Bus so we drove into town. Left Skerries at 6.30 and we were in work in the south city centre by 7.15. Pretty plain sailing all the way. However Monday isn't a typical day - traffic is usually much heavier on Tuesdays and Wednesdays - and it'll be a lot worse next week with the schools back.

Passed the 33X parked near the garage on the Dublin Road - didn't seem to be very busy. Did anyone use the buses? Were they accepting rail tickets?

The Hill Billy

Latest Update from Irish Rail as at 06:50 24.08.2009
Link here to go directly to the Irish Rail webpage for the links referred to below.

UPDATE Northern Commuter & Belfast Enterprise services: Mon 24th to Fri 28th August by Corporate Communications


UPDATE 06.50HRS 24TH AUGUST There is significant disruption to Northern commuter, and Belfast Enterprise services due to a serious incident in which a 20 metre section of the viaduct has given way across Broadmeadow estuary, North of Malahide Station on Friday the 21st of August.

The following service arrangements will be in operation from Monday 24th August to Friday 28th August - PLEASE NOTE CHANGES TO DONABATE ARRANGEMENTS:

Intercity: Enterprise
Scheduled train services will operate in both directions between Belfast and Drogheda with a direct bus connection between Drogheda and Dublin Connolly. Existing train times will operate. Delays of approximately 30 minutes can be expected on arrival in Connolly and Belfast.

Northern Commuter – Dundalk/Drogheda to Skerries rail service:
A limited Dundalk/Drogheda to Skerries rail service will operate. There will be no connecting bus services for these trains.

Customers travelling to/from the city centre are advised of the following arrangements:

Dundalk/Drogheda/Laytown/Gormanston to city centre: alternative bus services

A special bus service will operate directly between Drogheda and Dublin Connolly. Rail tickets are valid on these special services. Customers from Dundalk, Laytown and Gormanston can connect to this special bus service by using the Dundalk/Drogheda to Skerries rail services. This bus service will use the Dublin Port Tunnel. Please note there is reduced capacity at Drogheda Station car park, to provide an area for the bus service departures and arrivals. If you live nearby the station, please walk or cycle to the station, or please car pool with other commuters.

For timings from your station, please download the appropriate timetable below:

Dundalk timetable click here
Drogheda timetables click here
Laytown timetable click here
Gormanston timetable click here



Balbriggan/Skerries/Rush & Lusk/Donabate to city centre: additional bus services

For Balbriggan/Skerries/Rush&Lusk, Dublin Bus will provide an enhanced No. 33 bus service and will accept rail tickets on this service. Passengers are to board the No. 33 at the scheduled stops to Dublin City Centre (Lower Abbey Street) and return from Lower Abbey Street. Additional buses will use the Dublin Port Tunnel, in line with Route 33X. Regular no. 33 timetable is available on the Dublin Bus website http://www.dublinbus.ie/en/Your-Journey1/Timetables/All-Timetables/33/ and additional bus times will operate to meet the increased demand. Individual station information is below.

Skerries timetable click here
Balbriggan timetable click here
Rush & Lusk timetable click here



Donabate
An enhanced peak-time bus shuttle service will operate directly between Donabate Station (Dublin Bus Stop) and Malahide Train Station to connect with DART services. A limited off-peak bus shuttle service will operate between Malahide and Donabate. Dublin Bus are honouring train tickets. No Rail services will operate from Donabate.

Donabate timetable click here

Peak services: Donabate Station to Malahide DART Station: 07.00, 07.30, 08.00, 08.30, 09.00.

Malahide DART Station to Donabate Station: 17.00, 17.30, 18.00, 18.30, 19.00.



Dublin Connolly to Drogheda
A direct bus transfer will be in place between Dublin Connolly and Drogheda.

Dublin Connolly timetable click here

Tara Street & Pearse Station to DroghedaNorthern Commuters from Tara Street & Pearse Station are advised to take the DART to Dublin Connolly to avail of bus transfers to Drogheda.

Dublin Connolly timetable click here


DART: Normal DART Services will operate, including to/from Malahide.

Due to the severe damage to the viaduct, we regret to inform customers that the line across the estuary will not reopen for at least three months, with resulting disruption continuing.

Iarnród Éireann apologises for the severe inconvenience caused.

Unshelved

Thanks HillBilly - I saw this on the IR website last night, but the details are so vague. What exactly do they mean by an "enhanced" service though? There should be timetables at least. Are we supposed to turn up at the station and hope for the best? I'm assuming that we can use our monthly or annual tickets on these buses - I'm certainly not paying extra for the dubious privilege of travelling by bus.

IR really need to get their act together and start to organise this a LOT better.

Alan Farrell

Unshelved wrote: »

Decided not to rely on the vagaries of Dublin Bus so we drove into town. Left Skerries at 6.30 and we were in work in the south city centre by 7.15. Pretty plain sailing all the way. However Monday isn't a typical day - traffic is usually much heavier on Tuesdays and Wednesdays - and it'll be a lot worse next week with the schools back.

Passed the 33X parked near the garage on the Dublin Road - didn't seem to be very busy. Did anyone use the buses? Were they accepting rail tickets?

Strangely quiet on all local roads around Malahide, I expected chaos. A Irish Rail man standing outside the entrance to the DART Station waving people off was a bit stupid, I have no doubt once the traffic picks up next week that will cause a great deal of pain in the mornings.

hoser expat

I took the 33x at 6:45 from Skerries. Was fine through Skerries but was full by Loughshinny, and it zoomed past everyone in Rush. Made it to Abbey St by 7:35. Obviously taking the port tunnnel halped a lot.

The only problem I noticed was that the buses aren't going from the Skerries train station....they bypass that and go down Dublin Road and then main street. I thought all buses went through the train station?

shaungil

Cycled in left Skerries at 6.30 in city centre for 7.30 , roads a bit busier than normal I thought (normally only cycle Friday though) and were a few more cyclists than normal.

Am interested to hear about anyone getting the bus though. Esp nex week when schools are back and the heavens open.

dcr22B

To say that I'm genuinely surprised this morning is an UNDERSTATEMENT.

Got up at 6.30am and was waiting for the regular 33X at 6.55am (which subsequently passed full). Hopped in the car and drove to the train station as they were running direct buses from there via DPT into town. Boarded at 7.20am (subsequently passed my home stop and picked up, €8 a week + petrol straight off) and arrived in Talbot Street at 7.50am.

The next few months may not be as bad as I feared although I'll reserve judgement until the kids go back to school.

hoser expat

Don't turn up a the station (at least in Skerries). I went there this morning and was told to catch buses from teh stop outside the Texaco station.

Alan Farrell

dcr22B wrote: »

To say that I'm genuinely surprised this morning is an UNDERSTATEMENT.

Got up at 6.30am and was waiting for the regular 33X at 6.55am (which subsequently passed full). Hopped in the car and drove to the train station as they were running direct buses from there via DPT into town. Boarded at 7.20am (subsequently passed my home stop and picked up, €8 a week + petrol straight off) and arrived in Talbot Street at 7.50am.

The next few months may not be as bad as I feared although I'll reserve judgement until the kids go back to school.

Fingers crossed but I would imagine that the kids will destroy whatever happy arrangements are made.

Gillo

I still can't believe Bus Eireann aren't taking rail tickets, that would take a massive strain from Balbriggan and free up the 33 for Skerries, Rush and Lusk. Was anyone down at the stations this morning, curious to know what happened.

Alan Farrell

Canoga wrote: »

I cannot believe how bad the proposed contingency plans are. There is going to be complete chaos until a real alternative is put in place. As far as I can see the only workable alternative is a direct train from each affected station to the city centre at regular intervals during peak hours. Where are our public representatives? They should be demanding that proper services are put in place to minimise the disruption. Instead they are sitting back, waiting until the whole city and its environs come to a complete standstill and then they'll come out and complain. Perhaps I'm too cynical but I think if it was the southern commuter line that was being affected the response would have been far better!

Local reps must all be on holiday... Still, from what I've heard so far this morning nightmare stories don't seem to feature. Tbh, the additional buses seem to be working.

Anyone thinking of driving to Malahide can park on the Coast Road car park opposite The Island View Hotel/Oscar Taylors for free. Its 500 metres down the coast road toward Portmarnock.

Sparky84 wrote: »

It gets worse. Anybody with a monthly / yearly train ticket will have to also pay for buses. :mad:
Just goes to prove if you work in this country ya must be mad

I heard the complete opposite, they are honouring all tickets.

Eoineo

Some children are starting back as early as Wednesday so maybe the rest of the week won't be so easy. Took my other half 35 mins to get from Balbriggan to Howth Junction area (leaving at 7.05) so it's not too bad today.

Mehh

Got the 101 Bus in Balbriggan at 7:00 and was in town for 8:10 which is grand. Although, he wouldn't take train tickets which is a joke :mad:

dcr22B

Sparky84 wrote: »

It gets worse. Anybody with a monthly / yearly train ticket will have to also pay for buses. :mad:
Just goes to prove if you work in this country ya must be mad

They didn't even check our tickets getting on the bus this morning!

darraghjm

Arrived at the bus stop at balbriggan church at 6.50, no bus till 7.25, somebody rang dublin bus and they said buses were running from skerries train station to town every 15minutes but not from balbriggan, at balbriggan train station they were telling people to go to the bus stop at the church. bus left at 7.25 and got to town at 8.45, it was a 33x as well that went balbriggan, skerries, rush lusk and then onto the motorway at swords and thru the port tunnel.
Surely there would be enough people to warrant a couple bus going direct from balbriggan up the motorway to dublin if there were buses leaving every 15minutes from skerries station.
bit of nightmare first day, but a first day so i expected some hickups, hopefully it will get better as the week goes on.

cruizer101

I went to skerries station this morning about 7ish and there was group of people standing there beside a bus. So i thought grand however in the time it took me to get a ticket for car bus had pulled off even though he could clearly see me getting a ticket.

Anyway, bus was still going through rush lusk and then onto M1 afaik and tbh while wouldn't mind getting bus in too much Abbey street is going to be a complete mess this evening.

So onto plan B, Malahide was there for about 730 but no parking left in station, and I don't know Malahide that well so didn't know where I could park.

Plan C, I drove on to Portmarnock, which has a MASSIVE carpark. Then while waiting for the 750 DART a commuter turned up. Apparently it started in Malahide, and was waiting for the shutlle buses coming from Donabate, it then went on to pearse. Now this wasn't on the displays or anything and when we got to Tara st I saw a confused looking Rail worker looking at his book trying to figure out which train it was. So seems Irish rail aren't to sure what contingencies they have put in place.