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Citylink might be starting a Belfast service

  • 28-01-2010 7:46pm
    #1
    JJayoo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,589 ✭✭✭


    I am not 100% on this, but apparently its in the pipeline, This route would service tuam and cavan, of course other towns along the way but these are the names that stuck in my head.

    The new bus station is also meant to be finished this year, and two coffee shops added.

    At the moment best way to belfast from galway is direct bus to dublin airport and then aircoach to belfast.

    Do many people here travel to belfast??


Comments

  • #2
    kraggy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,414 ✭✭✭kraggy


    No but only because there isn't a service that doesn't stop in numerous towns on the way.

    Looks like this one will too.


  • #3
    JJayoo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,589 ✭✭✭JJayoo


    Well it will def make stops along the way, i just amn't sure of the details.


  • #4
    biko
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 81,220 ✭✭✭✭biko


    Do you have a link?
    I wouldn't mind taking the bus up, if it's about the same as driving.
    Think it was close to 7 hours last I checked buses, which was when I started driving.


  • #5
    Dunjohn
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,345 ✭✭✭Dunjohn


    Y'know I've never actually been to Belfast. If Citylink are starting a direct service, that'd be great, I'd love to make a day trip.

    So yeah, thanks for the heads-up. Hope it's fully licenced....


  • #6
    spender.j
    Closed Accounts Posts: 327 ✭✭spender.j


    Think it'd be a bit infeasible to make Belfast a day trip by public transport... would be at least 9 hours travel anyway! :P


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  • #7
    Dunjohn
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,345 ✭✭✭Dunjohn


    spender.j wrote: »
    Think it'd be a bit infeasible to make Belfast a day trip by public transport... would be at least 9 hours travel anyway! :P

    That's why I've never been.... but I can get up early.


  • #8
    JJayoo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,589 ✭✭✭JJayoo


    I think it will take about 5hours. One problem with this is that bus drivers by law have to take a break after 4hours of driving, so this may mean a stop of or else two drivers per bus.

    When the new part of the coach station is open it will add an extra 5 bus bays. so more routes may become available.


  • #9
    unJustMary
    Closed Accounts Posts: 199 ✭✭unJustMary


    Cool ...

    Interstingly, the FAS website today has a listing for:
    "Due to recent contractual changes GoBus now have vacancies for Full and Part Time Coach Drivers to operate the M6 Motorway service between Galway and Dublin Airport. Drivers qualifications must include; For insurance reasons, our drivers must be over the age of 25 with full class D Licence, have Drivers CPC and at least 2 years experience driving 12 metre coaches, clean record with no penalty points. Working hours are on a rostered basis which include weekends, bank holidays and evening shifts. Candidates must have a courteous and professional manner, a good personality and a positive attitude."

    I wonder if that's contractual changes for their existing staff, or for their bus-licence.


  • #10
    GerardKeating
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,806 ✭✭✭GerardKeating


    unJustMary wrote: »
    Cool ...

    Interstingly, the FAS website today has a listing for:



    I wonder if that's contractual changes for their existing staff, or for their bus-licence.

    they current hire some buses, so maybe they are taking more drivers in house.


  • #11
    citycentre
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 263 ✭✭citycentre


    I travel to belfast by bus quite regularly. At the moment it's a Gobus to the Quays in Dublin, a walk to Busaras and hop on the hourly (24hours) service to Belfast. The Belfast bus only stops at the Airport, Newry, Banbridge and Sprucefield and at peak hours Bus Eireann run a non-stop bus from dublin to Belfast so the total journey time tends to be around 5-5.5 hours. I'm well used to it now so it doesn't cost me a thought and it's cheap too as the Dublin to belfast bus is only €22 return.

    I wonder if Citylink are planning on just running their buses onwards to Belfast from the Airport and back. It would actually be a shorter journey time than travelling the horrible roads and small towns of the midlands & south Ulster... The bus journey at the moment from Galway to Belfast via Athlone, Cavan, Monaghan etc is an absolute nightmare though I suppose there is probably a market for services to and from Galway from such places.


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  • #12
    muppetkiller
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,200 ✭✭✭muppetkiller


    Why not Aer Arann Galway to Belfast ...i'd prefer that :D


  • #13
    unJustMary
    Closed Accounts Posts: 199 ✭✭unJustMary


    muppetkiller wrote: »
    Why not Aer Arann Galway to Belfast ...i'd prefer that :D

    Because adding E20 each way to the fare, for the taxi from Galway city to the airport, kills the economics of it.

    (Belfast City airport, btw, has a range of reasonably-priced public transport to it ... as does Belfast International, though it is a good deal further away (google the link yourslef if you want it).


  • #14
    inisboffin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,398 ✭✭✭inisboffin


    BTH wrote: »
    I travel to belfast by bus quite regularly. At the moment it's a Gobus to the Quays in Dublin, a walk to Busaras and hop on the hourly (24hours) service to Belfast. The Belfast bus only stops at the Airport, Newry, Banbridge and Sprucefield and at peak hours Bus Eireann run a non-stop bus from dublin to Belfast so the total journey time tends to be around 5-5.5 hours. I'm well used to it now so it doesn't cost me a thought and it's cheap too as the Dublin to belfast bus is only €22 return.

    Just curious, have you ever tried the other option of Gobus from Galway to Dublin Airport and hop on to the Aircoach to Belfast?

    Maybe BE suits your hours better? I was trying to do a price comparison both ways, and the Aircoach site froze. It's usually ok though.


  • #15
    Robbo
    Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 10,581 Mod ✭✭✭✭Robbo


    muppetkiller wrote: »
    Why not Aer Arann Galway to Belfast ...i'd prefer that :D
    FlyBE used to run that route until about December 2007. Don't think they could make it pay.


  • #16
    citycentre
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 263 ✭✭citycentre


    inisboffin wrote: »
    Just curious, have you ever tried the other option of Gobus from Galway to Dublin Airport and hop on to the Aircoach to Belfast?

    Maybe BE suits your hours better? I was trying to do a price comparison both ways, and the Aircoach site froze. It's usually ok though.

    It's an extra 5euro to get to the airport from Galway and then it's the same price to travel either Aircoach or BusEireann from the airport to Belfast as it is to get the BE service from Busaras... So saving of 10euro on the round trip! It's all about economizing these days! ;-)


  • #17
    Original Steyr
    Closed Accounts Posts: 181 ✭✭Original Steyr


    Robbo wrote: »
    FlyBE used to run that route until about December 2007. Don't think they could make it pay.

    AFAIK that was only a seasonal thing too, pity, its always nice to see something other than an RE bird or Bizjet land at Carnmore.


  • #18
    judyfrances
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4 ✭judyfrances


    does anybody have anymore information on the indirect route from galway to belfast, not through dublin, is it very bad


  • #19
    judyfrances
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4 ✭judyfrances


    is the indirect route from galway to belfast,not through dublin. very bad?


  • #20
    judyfrances
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4 ✭judyfrances


    is the indirect route from galway to belfast (not through dublin) very bad?


  • #21
    citycentre
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 263 ✭✭citycentre


    Yes it's terrible! Best option by far is to go GoBus or Citylink non stop to Dublin then get the BusEireann from Busaras or a cheap train from Connolly if you book far enough in advance for certain days and times. Its much more relaxing and comfortable than being stuck on the abysmal roads on one of the dirty buses that BE run on the geographically "direct" route that goes via Athlone, Cavan etc, works out cheaper and is actually faster if you time the transfer in Dublin properly.


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  • #22
    996tt
    Closed Accounts Posts: 210 ✭✭996tt


    citycentre wrote: »
    Yes it's terrible! Best option by far is to go GoBus or Citylink non stop to Dublin then get the BusEireann from Busaras or a cheap train from Connolly if you book far enough in advance for certain days and times. Its much more relaxing and comfortable than being stuck on the abysmal roads on one of the dirty buses that BE run on the geographically "direct" route that goes via Athlone, Cavan etc, works out cheaper and is actually faster if you time the transfer in Dublin properly.


    another option is gobus/citylink to the airport and the airport to belfast via aircoach


  • #23
    DubDani
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,156 ✭✭✭DubDani


    996tt wrote: »
    another option is gobus/citylink to the airport and the airport to belfast via aircoach

    There is no Aircoach service to Belfast anymore. Aircoach have stopped all their Belfast Services.


  • #24
    dolphin city
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,210 ✭✭✭dolphin city


    so who would do the dublin belfast route then.
    Its a sad state of affairs in this day and age that there is no direct route to belfast from the west.


  • #25
    LXFlyer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,284 ✭✭✭✭LXFlyer


    muppetkiller wrote: »
    Why not Aer Arann Galway to Belfast ...i'd prefer that :D

    You can still fly on the route. Manx2 fly from Galway to Belfast and v.v. every Friday and Sunday.

    Timetable is here.

    By bus there are two routes avoiding Dublin but both are very slow:

    Via Athlone, Longford, Cavan & Monaghan

    Via Sligo & Enniskillen


  • #26
    citycentre
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 263 ✭✭citycentre


    996tt wrote: »
    another option is gobus/citylink to the airport and the airport to belfast via aircoach

    As I mentioned above it works out €5 one way more expensive doing it this way. Bus Eireann charge the same fare from the Airport to Belfast as they do from Busaras. It's handier in that you don't have to walk between O'Connell Bridge and Busaras but only worth it really if you have a lot of baggage...


  • #27
    dowlingm
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,346 ✭✭✭dowlingm


    citycentre wrote: »
    As I mentioned above it works out €5 one way more expensive doing it this way. Bus Eireann charge the same fare from the Airport to Belfast as they do from Busaras. It's handier in that you don't have to walk between O'Connell Bridge and Busaras but only worth it really if you have a lot of baggage...
    Maybe this will make a difference?

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056180897


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