Dublin Bus - First bus, different route?

Jack Bracken

On Monday morning I had to get the first 84 at about 05:40 from Shankill to UCD. It went along as normal from Shankill, through Cherrywood as far as Cabinteely, but then turned towards Dean's Grange. None of the other passengers seemed alarmed, so I assumed in my tiredness I must have mistaken it for a 45 (it wouldn't be the first time it's happened) and got off in Dean's Grange. But as it was driving off, I checked and it was definitely an 84. I ended up getting the first 46a and was on time anyway, but it made me curious, especially as I have to be in as early again tomorrow morning.

Does the first 84 regularly follow a completely different route? Does it end up at UCD at all, and if so at what time? Or would I be better off waiting for the first 145 which should get me there for about 07:55?

Thanks.

Cookie_Monster

I asked about this before, apparently it doubles a staff collecting bus and detours around the area to pick them up.

They least they could do is stick that info on the timetable so people know about it

Jack Bracken

Ah, well that's good to know. Thought I might be losing my mind with the lack of answers I could find.

xper

Yeah, it is a much earlier start than most other routes, primarily to get DB staff into work. Also does* a quick detour in Bray to go up Boghall Rd and then back down to the Vevay Rd on the 45 route. None of this actually ever appeared on a timetable of course.

* or did back in yesteryear when I would occasionally avail of it.

In its previous pre-Network Direct incarnation, it was very nearly a 24 hour service with the last departure from the city returning back as far as Bray in service after 1am.

CIE

Where does this 84-via-route-45 originate?

And does the un-timetabled route 84A still run...? (which is not the same as the 84A in the past)

At least there were some route 69 buses that actually specified in the timetable "Via Route 51" and some 27B buses from Castletimon that specified "Operates via Route 27A", in the past. Keeping unusual moves out of the timetable is an insult to the passengers; similar to (but not exactly like) this mystery route 84/45, there was one route 66 in the early morning that operated via the Irish Meat Packers in Leixlip (current Hewlett Packard location, today's route 66B terminus) en route to Maynooth, which wasn't so indicated in the timetable (it was in the timetable, but nothing showing any "Via IMP Leixlip" or "Via Barnhall"...also, the few short turn un-numbered Leixlip trips that terminated in Barnhall didn't indicate so either, leaving one confused whether the bus would operate to Louisa Bridge only; some trips doubled back from Louisa Bridge to Barnhall)...

Cookie_Monster

There are (were) lots of oddities around
The first 7 of the day used to operate on the N11 corridor to Foxrock Church, not on the timetable anymore though

Random 3's from Bray to UCD, supposedly short working of the 84 before its change also.

7b's going to Cherrywood despite it not being on the timetable (only 1 should iirc) and the route planner in Donnybrook emailing me confirming that, yet it still on the running boards for drivers.

liger

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

I asked about this before, apparently it doubles a staff collecting bus and detours around the area to pick them up.

They least they could do is stick that info on the timetable so people know about it

Imagine if you turn up to drive that bus only to find out it goes all over the place and at 4.30am you have to figure it out!!!! Happened to me one sat morning!!!!

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

Random 3's from Bray to UCD, supposedly short working of the 84 before its change also.

Think that was discussed here before, none of the buses, 84, 145 etc had a destination programmed to only go as far UCD so drivers were told to use 3 UCD.

Cookie_Monster

liger wrote: »

Think that was discussed here before, none of the buses, 84, 145 etc had a destination programmed to only go as far UCD so drivers were told to use 3 UCD.

an yet they do now, showing how easy it would be to do...
but anyway

Imagine if you turn up to drive that bus only to find out it goes all over the place and at 4.30am you have to figure it out!!!! Happened to me one sat morning!!!!

LOL, I bet that was a fun morning

Heart

Regarding the 84 to UCD scroll issue, there was a scroll '84 Belfield / Ollscoil' available long before the route was changed to terminate here... However, passengers never read the destination and when the bus reached UCD and finished they wouldn't be aware of this, therefore to attract attention drivers used '3 Belfield' instead. Personally, I think 84A would have looked different enough if that could have been programmed.

H

Cookie_Monster

Another mystery bus spotted today, the 19.40 No 5 from Loughlinstown to Blackrock

antoinolachtnai

Everything about the Number 5 is a mystery to me.

the groutch

anyone know the exact route of this bus after it goes down Stradbrook Hill

Conway635

There is also an untimetabled 5 that runs in the morning from Sandyford to Blackrock Village (which then goes on to become one of the inbound 46Es)

C635

LXFlyer

From an old version of the 84 timetable which did have the variant detailed, I think it follows route 84 from Newcastle to Cornelscourt, and then goes via Clonkeen Road, right at Deansgrange cross onto Kill Lane, left onto Abbey Road at Bakers Corner, then it follows route 4 from the TDK roundabout onto Stradbrook Road, before turning left onto Newtownpark Avenue and back onto the normal route at Whites Cross.