Derry - Dublin Bus route

sligotrain

I recently travelled down from Derry to Dublin by bus so thought I would share my own experiences here.

On arrival at Derry Bus station you know you've arrived at a bus station. There's the odd beggar hanging around and a colourful collection of skangers looking to borrow cigarettes. All give you the traditional response of "f*** off" when you avoid them.

Our chosen bus was a double deck Ulsterbus Goldliner, a resplendent double decker complete with restful matching upholstery on most of the seats. Some seats also had a yellow plastic handle which doubled up as a knee-knocker when the need to get up out of the seat arose. The smell of must and wee are helpfully wafted around the bus. Since it was a wet and cold day I rubbed at the windows with my coat sleeve to have an occasional look out at the view.

I had with me my laptop for the journey and a flask of coffee. The bus trundles out of the bus station and soon we are on our way before a short stop in Strabane. We stop again in Omagh and then trundle slowly to Monaghan town. Since the jax is locked I dash out to the jax in Monaghan bus station, the former GNR Railway station. I dash back on and politely ask the person now sitting in my seat to move. They don't.

On the bright side, it's quite pleasant to stand from Monaghan to Ardee. You can really see a lot in the standing position compared to when you sit. From Ardee to the airport I can now sit again and discover why the jax was locked. It stinks.

At Dublin Airport I bid farewell to my chosen form of transport and think to myself, how lucky we are in Ireland to have a great bus service.

foggy_lad

sligotrain wrote: »

I recently travelled down from Derry to Dublin by bus so thought I would share my own experiences here.

On arrival at Derry Bus station you know you've arrived at a bus station. There's the odd beggar hanging around and a colourful collection of skangers looking to borrow cigarettes. All give you the traditional response of "f*** off" when you avoid them.

Our chosen bus was a double deck Ulsterbus Goldliner, a resplendent double decker complete with restful matching upholstery on most of the seats. Some seats also had a yellow plastic handle which doubled up as a knee-knocker when the need to get up out of the seat arose. The smell of must and wee are helpfully wafted around the bus. Since it was a wet and cold day I rubbed at the windows with my coat sleeve to have an occasional look out at the view.

I had with me my laptop for the journey and a flask of coffee. The bus trundles out of the bus station and soon we are on our way before a short stop in Strabane. We stop again in Omagh and then trundle slowly to Monaghan town. Since the jax is locked I dash out to the jax in Monaghan bus station, the former GNR Railway station. I dash back on and politely ask the person now sitting in my seat to move. They don't.

On the bright side, it's quite pleasant to stand from Monaghan to Ardee. You can really see a lot in the standing position compared to when you sit. From Ardee to the airport I can now sit again and discover why the jax was locked. It stinks.

At Dublin Airport I bid farewell to my chosen form of transport and think to myself, how lucky we are in Ireland to have a great bus service.

How else would you get from Londonderry to Dublin if not the bus which you so clearly despise? There is no rail line and never will be and flights over such a short distance are not really an option especially with the distance to the airport in Londonderry.

Londonderry bus centre must be an awful place because any time I have been to other bus stations in the north there were no beggars or other unsavoury characters and the buses were all very clean inside although some were a bit old and tatty looking.

Tarabuses

foggy_lad wrote: »

How else would you get from Londonderry to Dublin if not the bus which you so clearly despise? There is no rail line and never will be and flights over such a short distance are not really an option especially with the distance to the airport in Londonderry.

Londonderry bus centre must be an awful place because any time I have been to other bus stations in the north there were no beggars or other unsavoury characters and the buses were all very clean inside although some were a bit old and tatty looking.

I suppose it is because there is no alternative public transport between Derry and Dublin that they provide such a woeful service.

Run_to_da_hills

foggy_lad wrote: »

How else would you get from Londonderry to Dublin if not the bus which you so clearly despise? There is no rail line and never will be and flights over such a short distance are not really an option especially with the distance to the airport in Londonderry.

Londonderry bus centre must be an awful place because any time I have been to other bus stations in the north there were no beggars or other unsavoury characters and the buses were all very clean inside although some were a bit old and tatty looking.

No busses go from Dublin to Londonderry.

Enterprise to Belfast, Translink to Derry.

seanmacc

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

Enterprise to Belfast, Translink to Derry.

Done it a couple of times and its a much more comfortable way to do it and can be quicker at peak times. Your only challenge is getting from Belfast Central to the Europa Bus Station. Its about 10-15 min walk or 3 quid in a taxi.
The train from Belfast to Derry is unbearably slow and follows the coast. Te Bus is very direct and has some fantastic scenery.

foggy_lad

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

No busses go from Dublin to Londonderry.

Enterprise to Belfast, Translink to Derry.

There is one from Dublin to Derry http://www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1319192481-33.pdf

Apologies for the London addition, a throwback to schooldays and calling it Londonderry to annoy a teacher who didn't like me:D

coylemj

foggy_lad wrote: »

Apologies for the London addition, a throwback to schooldays and calling it Londonderry to annoy a teacher who didn't like me:D

You can't be very old. Saying something just to annoy a teacher wasn't an option for those of us who grew up in the days of the cane and the leather strap.

Run_to_da_hills

foggy_lad wrote: »

There is one from Dublin to Derry http://www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1319192481-33.pdf

Apologies for the London addition, a throwback to schooldays and calling it Londonderry to annoy a teacher who didn't like me:D

That's what I meant, you don't see Londonderry on the BE timetables.

seanmacc wrote: »

Done it a couple of times and its a much more comfortable way to do it and can be quicker at peak times. Your only challenge is getting from Belfast Central to the Europa Bus Station. Its about 10-15 min walk or 3 quid in a taxi.
The train from Belfast to Derry is unbearably slow and follows the coast. Te Bus is very direct and has some fantastic scenery.

If you produce your rail ticket at the stop outside Belfast Central you can get a free bus ride to city center / city hall.

coylemj

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

That's what I meant, you don't see Londonderry on the BE timetables.

You know when a story in the Irish Indo has been copied and pasted direct from their UK sister paper when you see mention of Londonderry!

currins_02

John McGinley coaches operate a twice daily service between Dublin City / Airport and Derry. In winter months they show DVD's on evening services. Coaches all immaculate and stop in Monaghan is infinitely better than the BE one (albeit not perfect either). Most coaches have wifi also.

No connection but have family up there and that's their chosen method of travel. Timetables etc on http://www.johnmcginley.com/timetable.html and click on route B

Victor

currins_02 wrote: »

No connection but have family up there and that's their chosen method of travel.

Oh really?

currins_02 wrote: »

I live in the Inishowen area and while I work in the Coach industry I must state I do not nor never have worked for any of the providers mentioned.

So, who do you work for?

currins_02

Victor, having worked as a free lance driver for over 10 years, specialising in Irish & UK tours mainly for what we'll call a large Co Kilkenny based operator I have been working for the last 3 and a half years for a specialist company providing certain services to bus and coach operators & haulage operators.

I am now Dublin based during the week but Inishowen is home. I have a company vehicle so I don't use the services. I have a family member who lives in Duncreggan Road in Derry who comes to Dublin regularly for personal reasons. Due to a lack of assistance by staff with luggage, the fact this person is of a certain age and poor condition of some buses they were, for a short while, travelling by train to Belfast and onward to Dublin. This was at incredible expense and a very roundabout journey. About 2 years ago I suggested they try McGinley's as I had become aware they were now licensed to serve Derry and since the first journey this perosn now uses them at least twice a month. The service is limited with only a morning and afternoon option but this person would rather an overnight in Dublin than travel with the alternative.

I can provide personal details on myself by private mail including PPS etc if required as you are a moderator.

I simply wanted to contextualise my post in that I genuinenly have no connection with this company but can only speak of a family members experiences of them. Back in the late 1990's I too used the service but haven't done so in many years. I make no apologies for the fact that I work in the bus & coach industry and don't see how that should preclude me from posting in some way as your post implies? There is no conflict of interest in this case and I am open to this being checked thoroughly.