Possible Dublin Bus Xpresso Changes

The_Wrecker

Times are a changing.

Possible changes are being proposed at the moment which could effect your services and you need to be vocal rapid.

All the below are suggestions, to be added or discarded by next week.

The possible merging of the first two deparures, 630 and 645 ~ with a new 640 from Newcastle.

The 725 being removed, the excess going onto the 730.

All stops being observed from the N11 to Kilcoole/Newcastle.

Cabinteely being added to the stops.

Evening services, 1650, 1710N, 1730, 1750 and 1830 from Eden quay/Heuston Stn or Parnell. TBA.

I know from past meetings you guys are good with emails and getting under managers skins..........................;)

psycho-hope

The_Wrecker wrote: »

Times are a changing.

Possible changes are being proposed at the moment which could effect your services and you need to be vocal rapid.

All the below are suggestions, to be added or discarded by next week.

The possible merging of the first two deparures, 630 and 645 ~ with a new 640 from Newcastle.

The 725 being removed, the excess going onto the 730.

All stops being observed from the N11 to Kilcoole/Newcastle.

Cabinteely being added to the stops.

Evening services, 1650, 1710N, 1730, 1750 and 1830 from Eden quay/Heuston Stn or Parnell. TBA.

I know from past meetings you guys are good with emails and getting under managers skins..........................;)

when you say all stops being observed from the n11 do you mean once it comes off the motorway at southerncross? as i thought they stopped at most stops from there on anyway

The_Wrecker

psycho-hope wrote: »

when you say all stops being observed from the n11 do you mean once it comes off the motorway at southerncross? as i thought they stopped at most stops from there on anyway

An extra 14 to Kilcoole, another 6 beyond to Newcastle.

Gargamello

The_Wrecker how do you know all this?
Where and when will this be decided?
Thanks.

In general has anyone thought if it would be more beneficial to run the 84X out the Farrenkelly road (well at least some of them). Starting from Blacklion and out through Charlesland. I reckon it would cut more than 15 minutes off the journey keeping it to an hour, or under, from Greystones DART station to City centre.
I know it would skip Windgates (2 people max) and the southern cross. However it would be much quicker and therefore more popular for most. But as I said not all the buses would need to take this route.

mikedragon32

The OP is well connected in DB and used to post under another ID.

His info is good. Actually in the process of e-mailing DB as I write, just popped in to collect the facts!

The_Wrecker

Gargamello wrote: »

The_Wrecker how do you know all this?
Where and when will this be decided?
Thanks.

In general has anyone thought if it would be more beneficial to run the 84X out the Farrenkelly road (well at least some of them). Starting from Blacklion and out through Charlesland. I reckon it would cut more than 15 minutes off the journey keeping it to an hour, or under, from Greystones DART station to City centre.
I know it would skip Windgates (2 people max) and the southern cross. However it would be much quicker and therefore more popular for most. But as I said not all the buses would need to take this route.

Later journeys down the Southern X do collects quite large numbers.
Drafts will be produced on the northern Wicklow routes towards the end of the week and i will try and keep you updated when its decided.

mikedragon32

Has anyone heard back from DB on this?

All I got was a standard response earlier in the week.

I did contact the councillors in Greystones TC and got responses from two who said they'd look into it. Of the two only one has followed up with any progress.

With the possible withdrawal of the Charlesland Shuttle, it's vital now that everyone does what they can to ensure that other services aren't hit. If DB get little resistance to curtailment of the 84X, what's to stop them doing the same to the 184?

The_Wrecker

The draft/daft proposal shown last thurs has 6 inward runs in the AM........:eek:

Pathetic and its going to a depot meeting on Monday.

You guys want to keep your service, we want to keep our jobs.

Annasopra

The_Wrecker wrote: »

The draft/daft proposal shown last thurs has 6 inward runs in the AM........:eek:

how many are there at the moment?

LXFlyer

Johnnymcg wrote: »

how many are there at the moment?

Eight.

The_Wrecker

The 630 and 725 are not included in the new schedules being discussed today.

d31b0y

Slightly off topic, but people might be more receptive to DB timetable changes if the buses were more reliable didn't break down so often. At least once a day every week for the past 4 weeks I have been on an 84x that has broken down. DB need to fix their buses rather than removing them from routes.
[/offtopic]

I really can't believe that DB are even thinking about dropping buses from the 84x route. Surely it has to be one of their biggest money makers? Anytime I have been on it (which is daily), it's chocker block by the time it gets off the Southern Cross.

It's madness I tells ya!

Also, the timing will be convenient if the changes do come in. I imagine they will be introduced when the colleges finish up for the summer so the full extent of the withdrawal won't really be felt until September, by which time it'll be too late.

The_Wrecker

Expect it to happen within 14/21 days.
Draft 2 expected Thur/fri for union discussion.

Back to junkers on the route breaking down ~ incompetant controllers sending out 2008 EV class machines on route 18/47. Which leaves 2000/01 stock for the 84x.

mikedragon32

One would expect them, if they're cutting the service, to at least stick a couple of the larger busses on the route, but I guess that's down to the incompetant controllers too.

Really appreciate you keeping us in the loop.

LXFlyer

The_Wrecker wrote: »

Expect it to happen within 14/21 days.
Draft 2 expected Thur/fri for union discussion.

Back to junkers on the route breaking down ~ incompetant controllers sending out 2008 EV class machines on route 18/47. Which leaves 2000/01 stock for the 84x.

On a positive note presumably this will also resolve the 145 running time issues given that the 84x and 145 are interlinked driverwise?

hoser expat

Hello,

I just popped into this thread as I am thinking of moving to Greystones and was wondering what commuting would be like. I work at St. Stephen's Green so the 84X seems perfect...any ideas how long it takes on average to get to town if I left Greystones at 7:30 am? Is it packed every day during rush hour? Is the DART a better option....considering it's a 10 minute walk from my office to Pearse.

Thanks!

Annasopra

hoser expat wrote: »

Hello,

I just popped into this thread as I am thinking of moving to Greystones and was wondering what commuting would be like. I work at St. Stephen's Green so the 84X seems perfect...any ideas how long it takes on average to get to town if I left Greystones at 7:30 am? Is it packed every day during rush hour? Is the DART a better option....considering it's a 10 minute walk from my office to Pearse.

Thanks!

Roughly an hour

mikedragon32

Johnnymcg wrote: »

Roughly an hour

Traffic dependent. It can take up to 90 mins.

Cranipea

Hi, I get the 84X every day from Charlesland & get the 7.20, 7.30 or 7.40. I get off at Leeson St & it takes roughly 50 - 60 minutes. Rarely would it take more than an hour to get in. The earlier one gets into town in about 50 mins.

Cranipea

Oh and there is always seats on it at greystones. Might not be seats after blacklion but unlikely you would have to stand the whole way into town.

hoser expat

Thanks for the info!

The_Wrecker

I hope to update you folk by mid next week on the changes.

My main fear expressed is that local N11 users will fill the evening outbound seats leaving you guys behind.

Cranipea

I'd say your right about N11 users taking the seats. I waited for an hour & 10 mins for the 84X on tuesday evening between 5.30 & 6.40. One 84X passed in this time & didnt stop as it was full Not looking forward to a reducded service!

mikedragon32

For some reason the 5:45 departure from Eden Quay seems to be a bit of a lottery. Sometimes it comes, sometimes it doesn't. I've given up on that bus and if it's a thing that I think won't make the 5:30 bus, I'll hang on in work and then get the 6:30 instead.

The only way to prevent N11 users hopping on is to cut out the stops between UCD and Loughlinstown hospital, but then you'd annoy the people who look to get on at those stops.

The_Wrecker

The regular drivers will be returning to the 5.45 soon.

d31b0y

Bus Eireann runs a pick up only service on a lot of it's buses. Eg One Dublin to Waterford bus runs through Bray, will pick people up, but won't let people off. I know there is no way of enforcing this fully. How can you stop people from getting off when the bus is stopped to let people on.

All you could really do is tell people they don't stop and then they run the risk of not being able to get off if there is no one at the stop to pick up.

What really gets me though, is the people who get on in the CC and get off at UCD! I mean, how many other buses are there that they could get. I've been on the bus that has filled at my stop (Lower Leeson Street) and stopped people getting on, only to have 2 - 3 people get off at UCD. It's ridiculous.
I guess they just don't think of it like that. It's just whichever bus comes first. Annoying none the less.

Jammyc

d31b0y wrote: »

Bus Eireann runs a pick up only service on a lot of it's buses. Eg One Dublin to Waterford bus runs through Bray, will pick people up, but won't let people off. I know there is no way of enforcing this fully. How can you stop people from getting off when the bus is stopped to let people on.

All you could really do is tell people they don't stop and then they run the risk of not being able to get off if there is no one at the stop to pick up.

What really gets me though, is the people who get on in the CC and get off at UCD! I mean, how many other buses are there that they could get. I've been on the bus that has filled at my stop (Lower Leeson Street) and stopped people getting on, only to have 2 - 3 people get off at UCD. It's ridiculous.
I guess they just don't think of it like that. It's just whichever bus comes first. Annoying none the less.

Off-topic but similar on the DART. People diving past others for seats at rush hour when getting on in the city centre, to get off in Sandymount or Sydney Parade.

The_Wrecker

The regular drivers were handed rosters todays, with a start date of Sun April 3rd.

84X AM... 640NC, 700K, 710K, 715NC, 730K, 740K and 750K.
84X PM... 1650K,1710NC,1730K,1750K and1830K

d31b0y

Thanks, The_Wrecker.
Not leaving much time to inform us eh? Just threw together a quick table to show journey times based on the new timetable.

Newcastle 06:40 07:15
Kilcoole 06:50 07:00 07:10 07:25 07:30 07:40 07:50
Charlesland 07:00 07:10 07:20 07:35 07:40 07:50 08:00
Greystones 07:05 07:15 07:25 07:40 07:45 07:55 08:05
Southern Cross 07:10 07:20 07:30 07:45 07:50 08:00 08:10
Loughlinstown Hospital 07:30 07:40 07:50 08:05 08:10 08:20 08:30
Eden Quay 08:10 08:20 08:30 08:45 08:50 09:00 09:10

Annasopra

The_Wrecker wrote: »

Times are a changing.

Possible changes are being proposed at the moment which could effect your services and you need to be vocal rapid.

All the below are suggestions, to be added or discarded by next week.

The possible merging of the first two deparures, 630 and 645 ~ with a new 640 from Newcastle.

The 725 being removed, the excess going onto the 730.

All stops being observed from the N11 to Kilcoole/Newcastle.

Cabinteely being added to the stops.

Evening services, 1650, 1710N, 1730, 1750 and 1830 from Eden quay/Heuston Stn or Parnell. TBA.

I know from past meetings you guys are good with emails and getting under managers skins..........................;)

I see the timetable changes above - what about the other proposed changes you mentioned?

The_Wrecker

Johnnymcg wrote: »

I see the timetable changes above - what about the other proposed changes you mentioned?

Nothing said.
The main network di-wrecked man has taken a back seat, allowing the depot to have some say. So you've only lost the 630, the 725 is now slotted into a 750 departure. I believe there was some pressure from local TDs in your area too...........:cool:

d31b0y

The_Wrecker wrote: »

The regular drivers were handed rosters todays, with a start date of Sun April 3rd.

Any word on whether this is still to go ahead on this date? Considering it's this weekend, I imagine not but I'd be interested in finding out when so I can make arrangements...

The_Wrecker

Delayed to april 10th due to a rattle getting thrown out of a play pen.

Annasopra

They have put up the changes

http://www.dublinbus.ie/en/News-Centre/Travel-News/Routes-84x-and-184-Timetable-Changes/

I see that the 184 is being cut back on Saturdays and Sundays

On saturdays it is currently every 45 minutes - now every hour

On sundays it is currently every 1 hour - now every 2 hours

LXFlyer

Previously the 184 only had 45 minutes on Saturday and Sunday to get from Bray to Newtownmountkennedy and v.v.

Now it's given an hour presumably to improve reliability. The same number of buses are being used, hence the drop in departures. The Sunday service was every 90 minutes and not hourly as stated above.

The 145 has a new driver roster from the same date which should vastly improve reliability as well, as it will now have far more realistic running times.

The_Wrecker

Talk about rocking the boat when were so close!
Theres a drivers vote this Thursday to decide if this gets accepted or not. Happy to say will be out of the country and my mobile will be off.:cool:

Rasmus

Great! The new times mean that no bus on a Saturday is likely to make a Dart.

karl75

well folks the new bill was defeated so nought will be happening for another few weeks now back to the drawing board

dazmetron

karl75 wrote: »

well folks the new bill was defeated so nought will be happening for another few weeks now back to the drawing board

And so the saga continues. I know most of the people on this thread would be mainly concerned with the 84x / 184 changes but the 145 badly needs a few mores buses to allow it increase the running times and keep to the timetable.

mikedragon32

Flyers distributed at stops along the route and on the bus this evening stating new timetable is effective from Monday 11th. For Charlsland it works out as an 84x every ten mins between 07:05 til 08:05.

karl75

bill will be going ahead on monday labour court see nought wrong so it starts on monday

Pigwidgeon

Well the 184 changed today anyway, which I forgot, and ended up standing at the bus stop for over an hour. No signs or timetables changed that I could see.

d31b0y

Was on the 07.30 84x this morning. It was one of the larger buses. I thought they couldn't be used on the x route since they weren't able to display the destination or something? Much better bus that normal. Hopefully this will be a permanent fixture.

mikedragon32

I was on the one that came through Charlesland at 7:15, again it was one of the larger buses. Happy days! The seats are a lot more comfortable.

Rasmus

When you both say 'larger buses' what do you mean? I haven't noticed any diffs...
Regarding the 184, I saw a man come and replace the timetable at the stop by the Greystones DART station today.

The_Wrecker

mikedragon32 wrote: »

I was on the one that came through Charlesland at 7:15, again it was one of the larger buses. Happy days! The seats are a lot more comfortable.

Morning inbound 'X's then continue to Heuston to join the 145 roster.
The only problem area reported is southbound at Killincarrig for the tight left turn.

mikedragon32

Rasmus wrote: »

When you both say 'larger buses' what do you mean? I haven't noticed any diffs...
Regarding the 184, I saw a man come and replace the timetable at the stop by the Greystones DART station today.

It's a 3-axel bus and takes a lot more people. Seats are more comfortable too.

Odd though that they're not putting them on the evening runs back... It means the capacity in the evening is much lower than the morning services.

haulier

A friend recently found, having missed it at midnight, that this bus no longer waits for its time at Bray Stn.

On inquiry to DB, he was told that it was no longer "timed" at Bray Stn & therefore, just keeps going.

In view of the now earlier timings on the alternative I84 [2300/2200] this leaves a bit of a problem as to when the last bus to GS departs Bray.

Has anybody else had any experiences with this matter recently or heard anything similar from DB ?

d31b0y

I notice the 7.30 bus through Charlesland is now normally the 3 axle bus. I've been on it a few times now and it's rarely more than 3/4 full. In fact today, I would guess at it being half full.

However, if you are on the 7.40 bus through Charlesland (normally one of the smaller, older buses), you are lucky to get a seat once it is on the Southern Cross. It's definitely a busier bus and a busier time.

I know with colleges and schools off at the moment are having an impact on numbers, but you would think they would have the common sense to put the bigger bus on at the busier time. The mind boggles sometimes...

The_Wrecker

d31b0y wrote: »

I notice the 7.30 bus through Charlesland is now normally the 3 axle bus. I've been on it a few times now and it's rarely more than 3/4 full. In fact today, I would guess at it being half full.

However, if you are on the 7.40 bus through Charlesland (normally one of the smaller, older buses), you are lucky to get a seat once it is on the Southern Cross. It's definitely a busier bus and a busier time.

I know with colleges and schools off at the moment are having an impact on numbers, but you would think they would have the common sense to put the bigger bus on at the busier time. The mind boggles sometimes...

The tri-axle continues off to Heuston after Eden quay. The tiddler goes back to the shed.

LXFlyer

In other words the tri-axle is then out all day on the 145 while the smaller bus is only used at peak hour.

What bus operates which departure really depends on the entire roster for the day - it's not quite as easy as you might think.