Is Dublin Bus providing a service to Marlay Park for gigs in August 2012?

ap1986

I checked the Dublin bus website and it didn't say anything about a special service to marlay park for any of the gigs.any one heard of anything about??

KD345

ap1986 wrote: »

I checked the Dublin bus website and it didn't say anything about a special service to marlay park for any of the gigs.any one heard of anything about??

I don't think so, they haven't for the last few concerts.

You can use the regular bus services in the area, the 14, 16, 75, 116 or 161.

The 16 and 161 will leave you at the wall of Marlay Park, and the 14, 75 and 116 will leave you at Ballinteer Shopping Centre, about a 10 minute walk.

The 16 is the best option and runs every 10/15 minutes. In the city centre you can get it from O'Connell Street, D'Olier Street, College Green or George's Street. The last bus leaves Ballinteer at 23.30 to the city centre.

ap1986

thats a pity they aint doin special busses oh well thanks for the help

markpb

If even a small percentage of those going to to the concert take the 16, it should be interesting. Hundreds of people all asking the driver if he's going there, how much it is, can you call me when I should get off, not having the fare ready because they won't know it in advance, etc, etc.

ap1986

and could ya imagine if its a mucky day.....all the 9-5 ers coming home in their suits wont like that!! pity bublin bus aint doing a service....its normally good craic on the specials goin out

LXFlyer

It's normally hell for anyone living out there who use public transport.

Many people I know just don't go home until the concert is in full swing thereby avoiding the crowds.

There may be a private operator shuttle, but this will obviously be rather limited.

Be aware there will be very few Dublin Bus services going back to the city after the concert (3 x 16 and 3 x 14). Inbound LUAS services run until midnight and might be a better option - walk to Balally.

ap1986

cheers for that info....hopefully a kind taxi man might take us if it finishes any way late....thats providing the rain stays off and wont be too mucky!!

Losty Dublin

There will be shuttles provided for the concerts courtesy of Marathon travel; information as per the link below.

http://www.bushiredublin.net/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=7:concert-coach-hire

ap1986

cheers for that...still annoyed at dublin bus though

Losty Dublin

To be fair, it's a big ask for Dublin Bus to be able to provide dozens of it's own buses and drivers at peak hour services plus late night for the return trips, especially now as the city fleet is shrinking. Marathon are used to running shuttle services so rest assured, you will be safe in their hands.

schemingbohemia

ap1986 wrote: »

cheers for that...still annoyed at dublin bus though

What's your problem with just getting on a normal 16? Why does it have to say "special" on the front if it gets you there and back?

LXFlyer

Well from experience - the 16 is pretty much full as it is in the evening peak. The 14 might be a better bet. Or LUAS and 14 from Dundrum.

Del2005

ap1986 wrote: »

hopefully a kind taxi man might take us if it finishes any way late

I'd say that there will be loads of taxis around Marlay after the gigs. They're desperate for work and most trips from there will be profitable for them.

markpb

schemingbohemia wrote: »

What's your problem with just getting on a normal 16? Why does it have to say "special" on the front if it gets you there and back?

The normal 16 is unlikely to be able to accommodate the potentially thousands of people who will take public transport to this event.

Dublin really needs to move towards the model of other cities and either deny event permission for venues that are badly served by public transport, levy a fee on the event organisers to pay for improved public transport for the event or make it a condition of event permission that public transport is provided.

schemingbohemia

I'm sure if MCD offered Dublin Bus a load of money to provide the service it would be provided. I'm not sure why Subvention to Dublin Bus should be used to transport concert goers and deprive other areas of buses at the same time.

Losty Dublin

markpb wrote: »

The normal 16 is unlikely to be able to accommodate the potentially thousands of people who will take public transport to this event.

Dublin really needs to move towards the model of other cities and either deny event permission for venues that are badly served by public transport, levy a fee on the event organisers to pay for improved public transport for the event or make it a condition of event permission that public transport is provided.

MCD have provided just this with Marathon.

Mrs OBumble

I'm a bit puzzled as to why anyone expects that a state-owned operator should be the one that provides publically-accessible transport to a special event.

Surely the state-owned buses should all be busy providing socially necessary but not economic transport?

Bruscar

JustMary wrote: »

I'm a bit puzzled as to why anyone expects that a state-owned operator should be the one that provides publically-accessible transport to a special event.

Surely the state-owned buses should all be busy providing socially necessary but not economic transport?

• Opportunity to use any spare resources to provide a useful service and gain much needed additional funds (don't profit making routes help subsidize loss making routes?)
• Opportunity to limit impact on existing routes (16,161 etc). A sudden influx of passengers to existing routes will have a negative impact on regular customers.

Providing transport for one off events like this is surely win-win. What is so puzzling about that?? Or am I missing something?

LXFlyer

Bruscar wrote: »

• Opportunity to use any spare resources to provide a useful service and gain much needed additional funds (don't profit making routes help subsidize loss making routes?)
• Opportunity to limit impact on existing routes (16,161 etc). A sudden influx of passengers to existing routes will have a negative impact on regular customers.

Providing transport for one off events like this is surely win-win. What is so puzzling about that?? Or am I missing something?

But alternative transport is being provided by private operators.

I think the point is that it does not necessarily need to be provided by Dublin Bus, but by someone.

KD345

Bruscar wrote: »

• Opportunity to use any spare resources to provide a useful service and gain much needed additional funds (don't profit making routes help subsidize loss making routes?)
• Opportunity to limit impact on existing routes (16,161 etc). A sudden influx of passengers to existing routes will have a negative impact on regular customers.

Providing transport for one off events like this is surely win-win. What is so puzzling about that?? Or am I missing something?

The problem is that there are very few, if any, spare resources. The Dublin Bus fleet has shrunk, there are less drivers and every bus is deployed during the evening peak. Asking drivers to work longer shifts in the evenings and at weekends means possible problems under the new restrictions on working hours.

There was a time a few years back when Dublin Bus could provide such special services, but I think it's now become a lot more difficult.