Dublin - Belfast bus route

bk

Thought it might be worth starting a thread to start talking about the Dublin to Belfast coach route.

I've been hearing that the new Aircoach Dublin to Belfast service is doing quiet well and BE/UB are suffering. Not sure if it is true or not, but it does make sense.

The Aircoach service is minimum 15 minutes faster and otherwise costs the same. While BE/UB have new coaches, the Aircoach coaches are actually more comfortable with more leg room and fully leather.

Aircoach's lack of toilets on this route isn't as big of a deal as the journey time of 2 hours 10 minutes is more reasonable to not have a toilet on (but still preferable), but also BE/UB don't have toilets themselves, so Aircoach are at no disadvantage.

But what is very surprising is how bad the advertising and information on the BE/UB Belfast service is.

- Can't book tickets online for the service
- Can't find how much the tickets are anywhere on either the BE or UB sites!!!

I realise this is down to the nature of the joint service between BE and UB, but it is pretty shocking that even Aircoach's awful website gives you far more useful information about their Belfast service and you can of course buy tickets online for it.

I'm surprised BE/UB don't create a joint brand and website like the gobe.ie.

I mean gobe.ie website isn't anything shocking, but at least it gives you all the most important information on one easy to read and understand page.

Hardly surprising, I expect the gobe website was created by GoBus, who have a very good website themselves, rather the BE who have a pretty awful site too.

I know it is a small thing, but these small things can make a difference.

devnull

From everything I have saw Aircoach are not attracting that many passengers between Belfast and Dublin. The service is faster but UB and BE have very strong brand recognition thanks to their respective status in each country. This means that such things as online booking and being able to buy tickets online are not required when you are in such position.

Lack of luggage is a problem on the Belfast route for the two public operators which have teamed up though, as despite BE having double deck vehicles they have less room for luggage than the single decker version they are replacing.

Ulsterbus meanwhile will be using these:
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6215/7036681789_740797d53c_z.jpg

Very low spec vehicle that looks more like a bus than a coach.

dowlingm

The complete failure of Translink/CIE to develop Enterprise is a good pointer to how they can't get their act together on this either.

horseburger

The Bus Éireann Translink Ulsterbus Dublin Belfast service is running on an hourly basis throughout the night from both Bus Aras and the Europa Bus Centre from 2nd June till 21st September.

http://www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1367495210-001X.pdf

http://www.translink.co.uk/Services/Goldline/Routes--Timetables/All-Timetables/Goldline-Service-X1-X2-Inbound1/

http://www.translink.co.uk/Services/Goldline/Routes--Timetables/All-Timetables/Goldline-Service-X1-X2-Outbound1/?parentid=4521

devnull

I notice during the day they are now running an express and a non express bus at exactly the same time a few times which I would say is clearly aimed at trying to win back any customers they have lost to Aircoach, although is this really sustainable long term and would there be enough customers to allow both services to break a profit?

LXFlyer

The additional X2 services are only for the summer months.

Vic_08

devnull wrote: »

I notice during the day they are now running an express and a non express bus at exactly the same time a few times which I would say is clearly aimed at trying to win back any customers they have lost to Aircoach, although is this really sustainable long term and would there be enough customers to allow both services to break a profit?

The Aircoach cheerleading is very tiresome especially as it is based on nothing but assumptions that are incorrect more often than not.

The additional services are extras for the busier summer period and have been run for the last 3 years, nothing to do with aircoach. The Dublin-Derry route has also switched to a summer timetable with additional departures.

Also the previous post about the Ulsterbus i4 coaches is rubbish, they are clearly coaches not buses, are not in any way low-spec and it is all irrelevant anyway as Ulsterbus have a batch of new tri-axle i6 coaches allocated to the Dublin route.

devnull

Vic_08 wrote: »

The Aircoach cheerleading is very tiresome especially as it is based on nothing but assumptions that are incorrect more often than not.

The additional services are extras for the busier summer period and have been run for the last 3 years, nothing to do with aircoach. The Dublin-Derry route has also switched to a summer timetable with additional departures.

Also the previous post about the Ulsterbus i4 coaches is rubbish, they are clearly coaches not buses, are not in any way low-spec and it is all irrelevant anyway as Ulsterbus have a batch of new tri-axle i6 coaches allocated to the Dublin route.

Do you still work for Bus Eireann, seeing as I remember you said you did in the past (sorry if I'm wrong). I don't work or cheerlead for any company and actually you'll find I've slated Aircoach on here many times for their poor customer care, bad website and other things.

I'll remember not to ask question on boards now as clearly it's not allowed. I didn't know however about these summer services running back to back with stopping services, I just knew they operated extra ones in the summer but thanks for the courteous response. :rolleyes:

veryangryman

devnull wrote: »

I just knew they operated extra ones in the summer but thanks for the courteous response. :rolleyes:

Definitely sounds like a bus driver to me. The word and concept "courteous" does not exist to them.

AlekSmart

veryangryman wrote: »

Definitely sounds like a bus driver to me. The word and concept "courteous" does not exist to them.

Ah yes...the veryangryperson's representative on earth....I'll say hello for you,when I meet your constituents later this evening...;)

Victor

bk wrote: »

But what is very surprising is how bad the advertising and information on the BE/UB Belfast service is.

- Can't book tickets online for the service
- Can't find how much the tickets are anywhere on either the BE or UB sites!!!

From the Bus Éireann Fare Finder http://www.buseireann.ie/inner.php?id=238Service 801A
17.00 : Adult Single
25.00 : Adult Rtn
25.00 : Adult Day Rtn
10.20 : Child Single
15.00 : Child Return
15.00 : Child Day Rtn
13.50 : Student Single
22.00 : Student Rtn
25.00 : Adult MW Rtn
15.00 : Child MW Rtn
66.00 : Family Rtn

LXFlyer

Ulsterbus promotional X1/X2 fares available to buy online (albeit limited).

http://www.translink.co.uk/Services/Goldline/Special-Offers/Goldline-X1-X2-Service-Belfast-to-Dublin-Promotional-Web-Fares/

LoonyLovegood

I've done the Dublin-Belfast with BÉ/UB twice, and found them grand. Both times buses came in on time, and now that Europa is open all night it's much nicer. It's a quick enough journey, especially with using the motorway all way. I've never done the trip with Aircoach, where's their drop off in Belfast?

Victor

CTYIgirl wrote: »

I've done the Dublin-Belfast with BÉ/UB twice, and found them grand. Both times buses came in on time, and now that Europa is open all night it's much nicer. It's a quick enough journey, especially with using the motorway all way. I've never done the trip with Aircoach, where's their drop off in Belfast?

Europa Buscentre.

I get the impression that only Antrim and North Down services use the Laganside Buscentre.

BenShermin

It's one route that I'll always take the train on if the times suit me, the enterprise service is great value for money IMO.

I'm not sure if I'd use Aircoach or Bus Éireann on this route in the future when the train times don't suit. I really like the BÉ double decks, comfy seats and good legroom, if they had a toilet they'd be the perfect intercity coach IMO. On the other hand, Aircoach have the Setras which are an excellent coach. It would be a flip the coin choice from me I'd say .

highlydebased

I dont like the UB/BE service at all, had a couple of bad trips on it (drivers rude, buses stuffy etc), IMO its worth the extra for the train. I've not tried the Aircoach one yet.

Aircoach drops off on Glengall street next to Europa bus station as "legally" it is part of the bus station.

bk

Well the Aircoach is scheduled to be 15 minutes faster and is €5 cheaper return if booked online (and €2 cheaper walk up), then I'd probably take them.

I will say in fairness to BE, their coaches include power at every seat and ISOFIx attachments for child seats, that is very impressive and major respect to them for that, I hope all other companies follow suit.

Though it is a pity these coaches don't have a toilet onboard.

I will complain though that info about the x1 and x2 service is very hard to find on the site.

1) You can't buy tickets online or thus find out the price of the tickets.
2) For some bizarre reason, under the fare finder the Belfast route is listed as route 801A, rather then the x1, x2. Took me ages to find it, very very confusing.

I understand that the problem stems from the fact that it is a joint venture. But in that case they should do something like the gobe.ie website, a separate site with all the information you need about the service on one page.

Mikehaw

bk wrote: »

Well the Aircoach is scheduled to be 15 minutes faster and is €5 cheaper return if booked online (and €2 cheaper walk up), then I'd probably take them.

I will say in fairness to BE, their coaches include power at every seat and ISOFIx attachments for child seats, that is very impressive and major respect to them for that, I hope all other companies follow suit.

Though it is a pity these coaches don't have a toilet onboard.

Its only a 2.5hr trip which starts and ends near toilet facilities. if you cant mange that then you should really visit a doctor about your bladder problem. I hear that their is medication available.

markpb

Mikehaw wrote: »

Its only a 2.5hr trip which starts and ends near toilet facilities. if you cant mange that then you should really visit a doctor about your bladder problem. I hear that their is medication available.

What about pregnant women, young children, some old people, people with the medical problem that you deride?

foggy_lad

markpb wrote: »

What about pregnant women, young children, some old people, people with the medical problem that you deride?

There is a huge range of very discrete incontinence wear available for all shapes and sizes of people.

markpb

foggy_lad wrote: »

There is a huge range of very discrete incontinence wear available for all shapes and sizes of people.

You'd make a great transport operator Foggy 'wear a nappy or get off my bus' Lad.