Dublin Coach to Limerick

highlydebased

Unless my eyes were playing tricks on me today, there is now a Dublin coach bus stop at Arthurs Quay in Limerick, the same place JJ Kavanagh use. I'll try go back tommorow for a closer look at it...I wonder is it a sign for something (express?!) to come?

Armada

highlydebased wrote: »

Unless my eyes were playing tricks on me today, there is now a Dublin coach bus stop at Arthurs Quay in Limerick, the same place JJ Kavanagh use. I'll try go back tommorow for a closer look at it...I wonder is it a sign for something (express?!) to come?

I was just going to post that I spotted a bus stop sign at Finnegans Roundabout for Dublin Coach.
I email them and they said they are starting a service to Dublin on Wednesday 12/12, no other details given, just siad watch the website for updates. nothing yet though...

highlydebased

Went back for a closer look today and it says for Northbound passengers to Kildare Village, Dublin Airport (change at red cow) and Dublin City. Looks like it will be an express service so...!

devnull

Stopping at Westmoreland Street no doubt, wonder how the transfer to the airport will work out for these guys, seeing as I guess it will meet up with the service from Portlaoise, meaning a wait for people on either service for the other bus to turn up perhaps?

Also funny to see that John O'Sullivan's old (Aircoach) and new (Dublin Coach) companies will now be sharing the same very overcrowded stop. The NTA should never have allowed them to stop here.

Also probably explains the problems with regards to Kelly Travels proposed very similar service, looks like they both seem to be after the same route?

http://www.kellytravel.ie/plaza-express/

highlydebased

I wonder will multiple licenses be granted....hardly. Common sense might dictate that the operator with more planned departures would get it- surely Dublin Coach will have more than 2.

Also people are probably far more likely to choose Dublin Coach because it goes from city centre-city centre, and as above, will probably leave at social hours too....

highlydebased

Timetable is up now, journey time is 2hrs 45, takes passengers at Limerick, UL, annacotty and then Kildare Village, Red cow and westmoreland street.

At that journey time I'll definately try it- no info on fares yet.

ZombieBride

Excellent, nice to see some alternatives to Bus Eireann.

cson

highlydebased wrote: »

Timetable is up now, journey time is 2hrs 45, takes passengers at Limerick, UL, annacotty and then Kildare Village, Red cow and westmoreland street.

At that journey time I'll definately try it- no info on fares yet.

Annacotty and Kildare Village are pointless stops tbh.

First one won't have the load factor and the second is already served by JJ Kavanagh. Could have easily knocked 10mins off it there, as it stands it's only 30mins faster than BÉ [although that never runs to schedule on the timetable]. I'd even argue the Red Cow one is pointless too if they're going into the City anyway.

bk

Yes, seems like a strange route. But perhaps a different operator had already applied for a more direct route, probably Limerick -> Dublin City -> Dublin Airport.

Seems likely as it is crazy for Dublin Coach not to operate to Dublin Airport.

Their website could do with a lot of work, no ticket prices, no ability to buy tickets, no info if the buses have free wifi and onboard toilets, but looks like it will be coming soon.

Schedule looks good with wide ranging hourly service. Could do with an earlier departure from both Limerick and Dublin to get you into both before 9 and a late departure from Limerick to get you to Dublin Airport for early morning flights.

However delighted to see another good option like this open up for people. Seems to be some new bus license activity going on, hopefully we will see more for Cork and Waterford soon.

highlydebased

Well Annacotty is on the way from UL to the M7, so I guess that explains that. I assume it stops on the main road as opposed to going into the village.

SandyfordGuy

The 'website' makes them look like an amateur company, I know they're not as they're founded by the same guy who founded Aircoach, but to have that site online completely unfinished, with parts saying 'Hello World" "<something> goes here' creates a very bad impression.

d1980

Saw the bus coming up Clare St today so must be up and running.

The_Wrecker

I spotted new coaches in the Quickpark last week when flying out.

Armada

highlydebased wrote: »

Timetable is up now, journey time is 2hrs 45, takes passengers at Limerick, UL, annacotty and then Kildare Village, Red cow and westmoreland street.

At that journey time I'll definately try it- no info on fares yet.

Link?
No sign of it on http://dublincoach.ie/timetables.html

LXFlyer

Armada wrote: »

highlydebased wrote: »

Timetable is up now, journey time is 2hrs 45, takes passengers at Limerick, UL, annacotty and then Kildare Village, Red cow and westmoreland street.

At that journey time I'll definately try it- no info on fares yet.

Link?
No sign of it on http://dublincoach.ie/timetables.html

It's not on the main site but what appears to be a temporary site:

http://dublincoach.ie/wordpress/routes/limerick-to-dublin-city

LXFlyer

bk wrote: »

Yes, seems like a strange route. But perhaps a different operator had already applied for a more direct route, probably Limerick -> Dublin City -> Dublin Airport.

Seems likely as it is crazy for Dublin Coach not to operate to Dublin Airport.

Their website could do with a lot of work, no ticket prices, no ability to buy tickets, no info if the buses have free wifi and onboard toilets, but looks like it will be coming soon.

Schedule looks good with wide ranging hourly service. Could do with an earlier departure from both Limerick and Dublin to get you into both before 9 and a late departure from Limerick to get you to Dublin Airport for early morning flights.

However delighted to see another good option like this open up for people. Seems to be some new bus license activity going on, hopefully we will see more for Cork and Waterford soon.

Bus Eireann have services at 0230 and 0530 from Limerick, the former going to the airport with limited stops and have later services in the opposite direction.

Again there may not be a sufficient demand for a non stop service any later.

d1980

Ad in Limerick post this week. €10 tickets, wi-fi on board, leather seats for those of you into that. 15 times a days.

SandyfordGuy

I'm sure it will be a good service - just wish the NTA didn't allow them to stop at Westmoreland Street because you now have far too many coaches stopping there now. it was tight before with a good few Dublin Bus Routes, Aircoach Cork and Airport services and occasional Bus Eireann, but now it's crazy.

Please don't tell me the Dublin Coach vehicles will lay over there for half an hour?

Kumsheen

highlydebased wrote: »

Timetable is up now, journey time is 2hrs 45, takes passengers at Limerick, UL, annacotty and then Kildare Village, Red cow and westmoreland street.

At that journey time I'll definately try it- no info on fares yet.

Strange, i can't seem to see the timetable on the website, anybody post a link to it please?

Maybe they will have a facility where Dublin Airport passengers will switch coaches at the red cow stop.

SandyfordGuy

Kumsheen wrote: »

Maybe they will have a facility where Dublin Airport passengers will switch coaches at the red cow stop.

http://dublincoach.ie/wordpress/routes/limerick-to-dublin-city

I believe they will but holding buses from the other route is not the best idea really though - what happens in the case of delays? Do you make passengers late by waiting fior the other bus or does it just not wait?

bk

d1980 wrote: »

Ad in Limerick post this week. €10 tickets, wi-fi on board, leather seats for those of you into that. 15 times a days.

No toilets on board, that is a pity

LXFlyer

bk wrote: »

No toilets on board, that is a pity

I don't want to harp on about this, but frankly unless you're prepared to take the risk and stump the money up to invest in a fleet of buses and then operate these services to the spec that you want (which you've stated you are not), I find it somewhat rich that you continually make these criticisms about private operators.

They are taking a huge risk in starting these services and you seem to forget that in your posts.

Sorry if I'm coming across as harsh, but constantly expecting someone else to do something that you want to a standard that you want while they take all the risk is frankly pushing your luck!

Armada

Having looked at the timetable I think they are being very optimistic. Red Cow Luas to Westmoreland street in 20 minutes at all times of the day? I cant see how they can run at the times quoted, I think they are over promising.

I wouldnt worry about no Toilet - at €10 it is fast and cheap - no toilet is a small sacrifice.

Has anyone ever tried to use the toilet on a coach travelling at full speed? Not a fun experience!!

bk

lxflyer there is a specific reason why I keep harping on about this.

Personally I'm a big fan of using coach buses for intercity travel and I want it to be successful. I believe that the private coach operators are faced with a once in a life time opportunity here and I'd love to see them grab it and make the most of it.

Most people see intercity bus coaches as slow, uncomfortable and crap. Because in the past they were, they were one to two hours longer then the train, they were uncomfortable because of the crap roads they travelled and if you needed to use the toilets, you asked the driver to stop and you snuck around behind a bush to go!!!

Buses were seen as a cheap, crap option only used by students who couldn't afford the train.

But now we have a once in a lifetime opportunity to change this view.

- We are in the middle of a recession, so everyone is looking to save money and people who might never before consider taking a bus over a train, might be willing to give it a chance.
- We have a motorway network which allows for journey times just as fast as the train.
- The motorway network also allows for a much more comfortable wide.

If you can use modern comfortable coaches with on board toilets, then I'm certain you can sell this to people as a premium service just as good, but much cheaper then train and not just a crappy service for students.

You could really change peoples opinions and maybe those people will never go back to the train again.

This is what I've seen in Galway. Excellent frequent service with very modern, comfortable coaches with free wifi and onboard toilets. Having used this service, I'd never use the train to Galway again.

I'm less sure about taking a bus to Cork or Limerick for 3 hours with no toilet break and no onboard toilets. It doesn't give a very nice image to people or make them comfortable about depending on this service.

In my mind it goes from a premium service to a cheap and nasty service only suitable for students.

I'm jsut giving you my opinion. I believe my opinion reflects many commuters who might consider using such services. Of course these companies can take my opinion on board or reject it. But I think they will be poor for rejecting it.

bk

Armada wrote: »

I wouldnt worry about no Toilet - at €10 it is fast and cheap - no toilet is a small sacrifice.

Exactly it is a cheap service, not a premium service. Coach companies should be looking to build it up in peoples minds as being a premium service. Otherwise they will only ever be serving students and only being able to charge very cheap tickets.

Armada wrote: »

Has anyone ever tried to use the toilet on a coach travelling at full speed? Not a fun experience!!

I have, it is no problem, you just need to sit down, they aren't designed for the typical male standing up use.

SandyfordGuy

They are Using Setra Coaches - that is about as premium as coaches come brand wise. They may not have a toilet but everything else is top class and what you would expect from a premium brand such as Daimler/Mercedes. They're better than anything Gobus has.

The coaches used to be on their Portlaoise route until recently. The Portlaoise route is now being run by 7 year old double decker coaches which have come from the UK on lease. No doubt they did this rather than acquiring new coaches because of the cost factor in a recession.

Quite frankly if someone isn't happy on one of these coaches Dublin Coach will operate, they're never going to be convinced, toilets or not.

bk

SandyfordGuy wrote: »

They are Using Setra Coaches - that is about as premium as coaches come brand wise. They may not have a toilet but everything else is top class and what you would expect from a premium brand such as Daimler/Mercedes. They're better than anything Gobus has.

Very nice coach, but I'd rather use a GoBus coach with a toilet onboard, then a Setra without.

The most comfortable coach in the world is no comfort at all if you are dying to take a piss. People feel happier buying a ticket on a coach that has a toilet, knowing they will have the facility if they get caught short.

Can the Setra Coaches be retrofitted with toilets?

I honestly believe toilets are a minimum requirement for comfortable, premium, intercity travel.

Specially when there are no toilet facilities at most of the bus stops of these private operators.

cson

Never felt the need for toilets on journeys < 2.5hrs. Generally I'd find if you're proactive about it you'll be grand. Good to go when you get off alright but grand for the journey.

AlekSmart

cson wrote: »

Never felt the need for toilets on journeys < 2.5hrs. Generally I'd find if you're proactive about it you'll be grand. Good to go when you get off alright but grand for the journey.

Spot-On cson.

The on-board toilet issue is a bit of a non-runner really and I would doubt if it even entered into a prospective passengers head when comparing services.

Price and Journey Time will be the defining factors as far as I can see.

I would also suggest that on board toilets,particularly in an Irish context (sub 3 hour journeys) swiftly degenerate into a very good reason NOT to try Coach Travel.

Over the years I have driven various designs of coach,from established coachbuilders such as Plaxton,Van Hool,Irizar and Sunsundegui and rarely finished a round trip without having to place the bog Out Of Service.

Often the yoke would go-tech,mid way through a journey,which tended to leave those sitting closest to the action a trifle more fragrant than they might have wished.

Then there is also the added cost now associated with having the required "charging" facilities at each end of the journey to service the on-board equipment to what are now quite stringent Health & Safety standards.

Bearing in mind the Irish Governments committment to the "Polluter Pays" principle then perhaps the question actually is whether or not intending passengers wish to pay a "Convenience" supplement in order to allow for the proper treatment of their own bodily waste products ?

A reliable,comfortable,and rapid Coach Service will IMO attract the business irrespective of the On-Board Toilet and perhaps even due to the absence of it ...;)

bk

cson wrote: »

Never felt the need for toilets on journeys < 2.5hrs. Generally I'd find if you're proactive about it you'll be grand. Good to go when you get off alright but grand for the journey.

The problem with using such private operators from Limerick to Dublin, is that there are no toilet facilities at the start or end of the journey as they pick up on and leave you off on the street and have to hope some pub doesn't mind you using the loo.

It is noticeable that the pubs down by Tara St. where many of the Galway buses operate from all have signs on the front door saying that the toilets are strictly for customer use.

AlekSmart wrote: »

The on-board toilet issue is a bit of a non-runner really and I would doubt if it even entered into a prospective passengers head when comparing services.

Tonight I meet two friends from Cork, who all now live in Dublin but head down to Cork frequently. They all agreed that they wouldn't use the bus unless there was a toilet on board. That makes three for three.

AlekSmart

bk wrote: »

Tonight I meet two friends from Cork, who all now live in Dublin but head down to Cork frequently. They all agreed that they wouldn't use the bus unless there was a toilet on board. That makes three for three.

Still not a mass market issue I fear,as in this case,presumably the trio will continue to use Irish Rail.....or Aer Lingus !!! :eek:

BenShermin

I remember travelling from Dublin to Birmingham by coach a few years ago and being stuck beside the coach toilet. I never used the bus between Ireland and mainline Blighty again after that experience:o.

Having said that I think the one and only reason that people still travel by intercity rail in this country is because of the lack of toilets on intercity coaches. Several of my Corkonian relatives point blankly refuse to travel to Dublin by coach even on Friday and Sunday evenings when Bus Éireann is faster and cheaper than Irish Rail.

This Sunday evening I'll be travelling from Cork to Dublin by train even though the bus was around €10 cheaper for me at the time of booking, and I've also no doubt the Bus would have been faster! The reason being, I can now enjoy a few pints in Cork on Sunday afternoon without having to worry about my bladder. Had the bus a toilet, Irish Rail would have lost another customer.

Armada

Spotted a Dublin Coach sprinter in Limerick today, grabbed this snap as I drive past, best I could do lol


Defo not a Setra!

AlekSmart

Armada wrote: »

Spotted a Dublin Coach sprinter in Limerick today, grabbed this snap as I drive past, best I could do lol

Defo not a Setra!

Defo not a lorra room for Mr Thomas Crappers closet either.....big sigh of relief from Iarnrod Eireann ?

Armada

AlekSmart wrote: »

Defo not a lorra room for Mr Thomas Crappers closet either.....big sigh of relief from Iarnrod Eireann ?

Probably a short term solution to keep costs down while numbers are growing but I think it could negatively impact public perception and word of mouth.

SandyfordGuy

Looks like a Merc sprinter to me, a nice Minibus, but a luxury coach it ain't.

Kumsheen

I really hope that "pub bus" is only a temporary measure and a proper coach will be deployed.

SandyfordGuy

To be fair I've seen them use three Setra coaches on it as well as this bus.

Alan McG

I used one of these coaches from the Red Cow to UL last Sunday.

You'll all be glad to hear there was a toilet on board so I don't want to hear any more complaints about that. WiFi was excellent too.

It's a fantastic service, it got me down for €10 in less than 2 hours, compared to the almost 4 hours which Kavanaghs takes.

The Red Cow stop is fantastic as it means people like me can use the M50 to get a lift to the bus instead of having to make the nasty journey into the city, this increases the catchment area of the bus drastically.

I'd personally pay 50% more than what they're charging for this service, streets ahead of all competition.

Armada

Does anyone know how much a same day return ticket is?
No mention of it on their website.


Also, they have the following:

Travel within Zone 1 €10
Travel within Zone 2 €5
Travel between Zones 1 & 2 €10

Zone 1:
Limerick City (Arthur’s Quay) University of Limerick Annacotty

ZONE2: Kildare Village Red Cow LUAS Dublin City (Westmoreland St)

Does this mean Limerick to Westmoreland St is €10 one way or not?

LXFlyer

Armada wrote: »

Does anyone know how much a same day return ticket is?
No mention of it on their website.


Also, they have the following:

Travel within Zone 1 €10
Travel within Zone 2 €5
Travel between Zones 1 & 2 €10

Zone 1:
Limerick City (Arthur’s Quay) University of Limerick Annacotty

ZONE2: Kildare Village Red Cow LUAS Dublin City (Westmoreland St)

Does this mean Limerick to Westmoreland St is €10 one way or not?

€ 10 one way and € 20 return.

SandyfordGuy

There is only one coach of the five that has a toilet, the 2010 registered one.

They have at least two Mercedes Sprinter minibuses going around, one in Green and one in plain white. They're nowhere near adequate for such a journey so hopefully a short term measure.

Red Silurian

Armada wrote: »

Does anyone know how much a same day return ticket is?
No mention of it on their website.


Also, they have the following:

Travel within Zone 1 €10
Travel within Zone 2 €5
Travel between Zones 1 & 2 €10

Zone 1:
Limerick City (Arthur’s Quay) University of Limerick Annacotty

ZONE2: Kildare Village Red Cow LUAS Dublin City (Westmoreland St)

Does this mean Limerick to Westmoreland St is €10 one way or not?

So going to Annacotty from the City Centre costs the same as going to Westmorland Street? Who figured out that price?

highlydebased

colmtheperson wrote: »

So going to Annacotty from the City Centre costs the same as going to Westmorland Street? Who figured out that price?

They probably just don't want the "hassle" of carrying such passengers I'd say.

gingerno1

Does anyone know if i could get the luas from the Red Cow stop to Dundrum or would i have to continue into town. Tried Luas.ie but im a bit on the blonde side so couldnt follow it.

L1011

gingerno1 wrote: »

Does anyone know if i could get the luas from the Red Cow stop to Dundrum or would i have to continue into town. Tried Luas.ie but im a bit on the blonde side so couldnt follow it.

Wrong line. You'd need to get the (Red) Luas in to the city, walk to the other (Green) line, and get it.

Probably quicker and definitely easier to stay on the bus to the city and then get the Green Luas

LXFlyer

As MYOB says, wrong line.

You do have a few options though:

1) Red Line LUAS from Red Cow to Tallaght and 75 bus to Dundrum.
2) Dublin Coach to Westmoreland Street and 44 or 61 bus from Townsend Street or (longer journey time but more frequent) 14 bus from D'Olier Street to Dundrum.
3) Dublin Coach to Westmoreland Street and walk to St Stephen's Green and Green Line LUAS to Dundrum.

gingerno1

Thanks a mil. Going to take advantage of this new service, 20 euros return, not bad. Will go for the option 3. Might as well stay on the coach and go straight into town

foggy_lad

Armada wrote: »

Spotted a Dublin Coach sprinter in Limerick today, grabbed this snap as I drive past, best I could do lol


Defo not a Setra!

This mini-coach could just be used for ferrying drivers and staff around the country? and also for some advertising if left parked around limerick.

devnull

It was actually in service but they are hiring coaches in now.

eleP

Got this service to Limerick twice now and both times I found the service to be prompt and reliable. Its well worth the ten euro.