Matthews Coach Question.

SDTimeout

The last thread had the title :"Matthews Coache are a bloody shambles!!!" so I didn't want to top that and give publicity which is incorrect and trollish.

I'm starting the commute tomorrow morning to Ballyfermot.

I'll know my timetable from tomorrow morning and was going to get the 7:30 bus leaving Dundalk direct. I'll be getting my Dublin bus from Eden Quay ( across O'Connell street and it leaves at 8:47 ) Generally enough Matthews are there in around an hour or 1:10 minutes. Worst case scenario giving me 7 minutes to get there. However for days when I'll not need a 9am start I'm just wondering does the bus usually get held up around the 6:30/7/7:30 bus into Dublin due to the traffic ?

The only solace getting me through the fact I'm commuting for the year is the comfy seats on the Matthews and the Wi-Fi.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

They are generally good on time. Getting from Parnell Sq to Eden Quay in 7 minutes will be a push though.

tabouli

Yes it does get held up around those times, I don't think you'd make your Dublin bus if you only left Dundalk at half 7 tbh, could always get the 7am one instead? Matthews coaches take an hour/hour and ten mins when the roads are quiet, not on weekday mornings coming into the city!

Antibac

I use this everyday from Drogheda takes 1 hour each day. Best bet would be to get the 7 as traffic gets heavy from the 7.30 one

amacachi

At the moment the traffic isn't too bad but they're going to be doing widening around the Malhide bridge from November.

You could get the bus to the IFSC, gets there about 8.35 by going through the port tunnel.

SDTimeout

Got the seven this morning, then the 8:27 from the quay and arrived in around 8:50.

Made the 8:27 by a few minutes. Thankfully not in at 9 every day so it should be touch and go otherwise. The 78/a seems to be a great service as there was another bus at 8:31.

Finally I got my ten trip ticket today and I'm home now so it has one stamp in it. Did he forget to stamp it this morning or does that count as one of the ten.

Kaylee

SDTimeout wrote: »

Finally I got my ten trip ticket today and I'm home now so it has one stamp in it. Did he forget to stamp it this morning or does that count as one of the ten.

The ticket counts as one of the ten

20 Times 20 Times

Here is my question , Heading to DIT aungier street myself , Plan on getting the seven bus direct , is there a couple of buses there at that time going to IFSC / Parnel ?

amacachi

Little Pea wrote: »

Here is my question , Heading to DIT aungier street myself , Plan on getting the seven bus direct , is there a couple of buses there at that time going to IFSC / Parnel ?

At half 7 one goes to Parnell St. and one goes to the IFSC.

20 Times 20 Times

amacachi wrote: »

At half 7 one goes to Parnell St. and one goes to the IFSC.

What is the average time the one at 7.30 gets to Parnell St. ?

Might have to get the 7 , if im in dit aungier street for 9 ???

amacachi

Little Pea wrote: »

What is the average time the one at 7.30 gets to Parnell St. ?

Might have to get the 7 , if im in dit aungier street for 9 ???

If I'm getting the 7.30 I go to the IFSC. I imagine the 7.30 should be in between 8.35 and 8.45.

20 Times 20 Times

Leaving it a bit tight , Looks like 7' starts for me for the next year until i get the Msc after my name anyway :-P .

Thanks for the answers anyway , good stuff.

amacachi

Didn't notice your United sig, get the 8, you'll be grand. :pac:

annex

Little Pea wrote: »

Leaving it a bit tight , Looks like 7' starts for me for the next year until i get the Msc after my name anyway :-P .

Thanks for the answers anyway , good stuff.

I have the same problem, getting from Parnell to Aungier in time but I got the 16 bus this morning on O'Connell St (€1.20) and it drops off outside the building, it could be an option for you, its a bit of a walk if you are late for class. I think I was in Aungier by about 8.35am.

calex71

annex wrote: »

I have the same problem, getting from Parnell to Aungier in time but I got the 16 bus this morning on O'Connell St (€1.20) and it drops off outside the building, it could be an option for you, its a bit of a walk if you are late for class. I think I was in Aungier by about 8.35am.

16a will take the same route from the same stop as the regular 16 so don't afraid to get on which ever one comes first.

kormak

amacachi wrote: »

At the moment the traffic isn't too bad but they're going to be doing widening around the Malhide bridge from November.

You could get the bus to the IFSC, gets there about 8.35 by going through the port tunnel.

WHAT??!! Don't tell me we're going to have more roadworks on the M1 causing chaotic 9 miles tailbacks?!!

delly

kormak wrote: »

WHAT??!! Don't tell me we're going to have more roadworks on the M1 causing chaotic 9 miles tailbacks?!!

Ah here, I'm thinking the same. I have only started using the M1 again this Summer having used the M2 from Drogheda for the previous year because of the slowdown approaching Swords. Now its gonna go back to the way it was. Ah well, hello Ashbourne!

amacachi

I'm not joking alas. I'd say it'll be a bit worse than last time too since it's going right back as far as Junction 4 which is already a bit of a pinch point. If they're not retards they should do the bridge/junction area either first or last as a seperate part rather than having the works the full length the whole time.

gipi

More roadworks on M1...ah fcek it!

**Timbuk2**

Does the Malahide bridge really need widening? I thought that since the 3 lane section has opened, it has helped greatly at reducing traffic tailbacks - are there ever queues leading back as far as the Malahide bridge?

annex

I think I may be a jinx
The last time I used the Matthews service regularly the Malahide viaduct collapsed.

tenchi-fan

SDTimeout wrote: »

I'll know my timetable from tomorrow morning and was going to get the 7:30 bus leaving Dundalk direct.

It can take well over 90 minutes some mornings and you probably won't arrive in Dublin before 9. It's not a nice commute.

This isn't the fault of Matthew's bus. They are stuck in the same traffic from the airport to the city centre as everyone else. The govt need to make a bus/carpool lane from Dundalk to Dublin and forget daft notions like extending the dart to the airport.

amacachi

tenchi-fan wrote: »

It can take well over 90 minutes some mornings and you probably won't arrive in Dublin before 9. It's not a nice commute.

This isn't the fault of Matthew's bus. They are stuck in the same traffic from the airport to the city centre as everyone else. The govt need to make a bus/carpool lane from Dundalk to Dublin and forget daft notions like extending the dart to the airport.

When was the last time it took that long other than an accident on the motorway?

doncarlos

amacachi wrote: »

When was the last time it took that long other than an accident on the motorway?

Takes that long regularly when the schools and colleges are back

20 Times 20 Times

Well looks like a 7'oclock bus for me then :-)

kormak

doncarlos wrote: »

Takes that long regularly when the schools and colleges are back

I drive from M'Boice to Ballsbridge every day, at varying times throughout the morning. Don't use the East Link either and it still has not taken me 90 minutes once.
I would consider 1hr15mins busy these days...

Lollymcd

Have you seen that Matthews are intending to run a bus to UCD? http://matthews.ie/en/about-us/news perhaps when they organize the stops there will be one closer to Eden Quay which will be more convenient for the 78A?

Just a thought.

amacachi

doncarlos wrote: »

Takes that long regularly when the schools and colleges are back

Last year it didn't. We got as far as the Port Tunnel by 8.15, 8.20 at the very latest once the roadworks were clearing up last spring.

neacy69

tenchi-fan wrote: »

It can take well over 90 minutes some mornings and you probably won't arrive in Dublin before 9. It's not a nice commute.

This isn't the fault of Matthew's bus. They are stuck in the same traffic from the airport to the city centre as everyone else. The govt need to make a bus/carpool lane from Dundalk to Dublin and forget daft notions like extending the dart to the airport.

Do you even use the matthews bus?

This week alone i have gotten the 6, 6.30, 7 and the 7.30 and the longest journey was 1hour 10 mins....

tenchi-fan

neacy69 wrote: »

Do you even use the matthews bus?

This week alone i have gotten the 6, 6.30, 7 and the 7.30 and the longest journey was 1hour 10 mins....

I used to get the 7.30 bus until last November and it was terrible. The earlier buses were fine. Summer time was always ok, but as the days get shorter and weather gets worse the commute gets worse.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

neacy69 wrote: »

Do you even use the matthews bus?

This week alone i have gotten the 6, 6.30, 7 and the 7.30 and the longest journey was 1hour 10 mins....

Matthews' stick to the speed limit for buses!!!

neacy69

tenchi-fan wrote: »

I used to get the 7.30 bus until last November and it was terrible. The earlier buses were fine. Summer time was always ok, but as the days get shorter and weather gets worse the commute gets worse.

It was around this time last year when the road widening started at the airport and I agree with you then it was pretty awful...but you cant blame matthews for that.

If the earlier posts about more roadworks are true then commuters could be in for another horrible time

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

neacy69 wrote: »

the road widening started at the airport and I agree with you then it was pretty awful...but you can blame matthews for that.

Is there a typo here? Surely it should be can't blame!

**Timbuk2**

Gracelynn Billions Can wrote: »

Matthews' stick to the speed limit for buses!!!

The speed limit for coaches is 100km/h on the motorway and 80km/h on non-motorway roads (unless a lower speed limit applies), if I remember correctly, which they do stick to. If there is no problems with traffic then 1 hour 10 minutes is quite easily acheivable by sticking to the limit. Matthews seem to get through the Drumcondra bottleneck fairly quickly - driving to Dublin via Drumcondra is nearly always a nightmare, but the bus lanes make it much quicker on the bus!

I saw the UCD service arrive this morning at around 8.30am in UCD - I couldn't see how many people were on it, does anyone know if it was busy?
I think Matthews may have made a mistake in announcing the new route so late, people might have chosen to commute to UCD each day if they knew there was a bus directly there - a lot of people will now have made arrangements for accommodation.

mmm_cheesey

Matthews just started a new UCD service that might be useful.

nc6000

Can anyone please tell me how long it takes the 09.00 bus from Grange Rath to get into Parnell Street? I'm wondering if it gets delayed much at the couple of schools it has to pass on the way to the M1.

Would it usually make it into town for 10.00?

Mylow

Timetable

gavinfitz

Hi,

I'm planning on testing out the matthews coach commute service.
I'll be traveling from drogheda to parnell st. (job is on parnell st. itself)

I would aim to get in for 8.30 in the mornings.
Would the 7.30 bus from drogheda get into Parnell St. for this time?
Or would I be better off getting the IFSC bus and walking across from Amien st?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

They run very much to schedule, so what does their timetable say?

gipi

The timetable allocates an hour for the trip, I think, but the actual journey time all depends on the traffic volume on any given day (and that can be harder to predict than the winning lottery numbers ).

There are roadworks just starting on the M1 which, if they have the same effect as the last ones, will cause serious delays and I suspect the 7.30am won't get there by 8.30am.

As the IFSC bus also has to pass the roadworks, it may be delayed too, although it makes up a lot of time by bypassing Santry, etc.

If your start time is exactly 8.30am, then you might have to consider an earlier bus just to be certain. If your start time is 8.30-ish, then the 7.30am would probably be ok - it might get you in at 8.30, but might be a tad later now and again.

kormak

gipi wrote: »

There are roadworks just starting on the M1 which, if they have the same effect as the last ones, will cause serious delays and I suspect the 7.30am won't get there by 8.30am.

are these roadworks actually happening?! I haven't seen any signs of it yet...

nc6000

kormak wrote: »

are these roadworks actually happening?! I haven't seen any signs of it yet...

Plenty of roadworks signs up today and traffic cones lined out, one of the big signs over the motorway has a red X where there used to be an arrow showing a lane.

Maybe they'll be starting over the weekend so the traffic over the next few months could be great fun.

kormak

nc6000 wrote: »

Plenty of roadworks signs up today and traffic cones lined out, one of the big signs over the motorway has a red X where there used to be an arrow showing a lane.

Maybe they'll be starting over the weekend so the traffic over the next few months could be great fun.

Ohh yeah!! I spoke too soon...
feckin road works signs, cones all out this morning!!! :mad:
all that's left now is impending traffic pain.

to e honest I don't see anything wrong with the existing lane setup?!

Rossin

How can they justify bumping their single tickets up to €9?! 2 euro price hike!

I don't think ill be on a Matthews bus again any time soon!

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Rossin wrote: »

How can they justify bumping their single tickets up to €9?! 2 euro price hike!

I don't think ill be on a Matthews bus again any time soon!

You'll have a long walk so.

Same price as Bus Eireann but Matthews' offer a 10 trip ticket for €60 and move frequent departures, with quicker travel times - so no debate in my book. A great service and long may it last. They really shook up CIE in this area.

As for how can they justify it: have you bought Diesel lately? €1.55 a litre now around town. It's costing me a fortune just to drive to the bus!!! Cost me over €30 to drive to Dublin one day last week and that was without parking charges. €150 min per week to drive; €60 with Matthews (and no hassle) means a no brainer to me.

Rossin

the same ticket with bus eireann is 5.50

only really getting any value if you but the ten trip i guess, im not sure if its worth it anymore, id still be losing 50c per trip hmmmmmmm

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Rossin wrote: »

the same ticket with bus eireann is 5.50

only really getting any value if you but the ten trip i guess, im not sure if its worth it anymore, id still be losing 50c per trip hmmmmmmm

I paid €14 return with Bus Eireann last week!

Rossin

well im not sure what journey you take but its 5.50 drog-dun 10.5 return compared to 9e and 14e return for matthews

it turns out i have to get a bus home on tues nights at 9.30. which means i have to get the matthews, so im actually better off paying the 60 just because of that one trip, ah well so much for moaning

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Ah fro fecks sake! You're only talking about from Drogheda to Dundalk (The topic was Dublin)

The prices I quote for both is the full journey of Dundalk-Dublin-Dundalk.

Paddy_Smith

Am I the only one who thinks this service is a bloody shambles??!! :mad:

Jesus, how can they put up the price, with so many problems with the service is an absolute disgrace!!? ...They're very inconsistent with their arrival times, and the air-con is more or less non-existent. They're the two biggest problems I have with the service.

I'll probably be keeping away from the service in the meantime, until they get their act together.

Dunny

ALWAYS on time in my years using the service, apart from the snow which backed up the M1. I myself have never had one complaint with the service/company or even heard of anyone having a complaint.

Bus Eireann have also put prices up, and Im sure Dublin Bus and other companies have aswell.