Stagecoach are coming...

joegriffinjnr

Word on the grapevine is that Stagecoach are coming to Ireland very very shortly. A lot of rumors floating about the place but the top two seems to be, Stagecoach buying out Aircoach, and Stagecoach going up against the Eurolines services in and out of our lovely little country. Noticed on Megabus (owned by Stagecoach) website, saying ''services to Ireland shortly''. Intresting times ahead!!

corktina

are you sure it's not a bunch of Clydesdales singing "holidays are coming"?

The_Wrecker

Do we have the population to attract these companies?

Cookie_Monster

The_Wrecker wrote: »

Do we have the population to attract these companies?

First and veola are all ready involved so i don't see why not

joegriffinjnr

Hopefully they will give Bus Eireann and Dublin Bus the big kick up the arse that they need... and before anyone starts saying they will make things worse, can things really get as worse as they are now?

mike65

Just don't expect the bus to stop if you are the only gay in the village.

Run_to_da_hills

This is going to be a major blow to Iarnrod Eireann on intercity routes. :eek:

Alfred Borden

Good healthy competition finally

Geog1234

There's been a Megabus route from Rosslare to London for the best part of two years.

It's a shipside operation though (bus doesn't go on ferry as happens with Eurolines) - passengers travel with Irish Ferries from Rosslare across to Pembroke and then get on the bus at the terminal there.

Through ticketing available.

Will be interesting to see will something similar materialise at Holyhead.

CIE

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

This is going to be a major blow to Iarnrod Eireann on intercity routes. :eek:

Certainly, if the state keeps the lid on investment in those services and keeps them stuck in the mid-50s. Maybe they're waiting to do a copy of the UK's privatisation too? We're overdue for having Virgin Voyager-type trains running intercity here, to be sure.

AlekSmart

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

First and veola are all ready involved so i don't see why not

Most of the major private groups have maintained interest in the Irish PT market for some years now.

Regular visits by senior management and planning personnell have been maintained to assess the opportunities for expansion.

However,the UK's own Public Transport scenario has been proving challenging over the past 5 years,which has tempered the enthusiasm somewhat.

One of the major issues in the UK is the forced implementation of the Country Wide Free Travel Scheme,somethaing which is seeing substantial numbers of smaller operators leaving the business altogether.

The Irish equivalent almost certainly plays a major role in UK corporate enthusiasm for the Irish market,which is why any immediate major Private involvement will almost certainly be of the "Express" cash in hand variety.

I would expect that any major UK "Private" involvement will not occur until the issue of 1 Million + Free Travellers has been addressed as the term "Free" may well mean different things to their accountants ?

Other substantial issues are the Lack of a Fuel Rebate,similar to the Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) and general wage rates,all of which reduce the opportunity for profit.

With only Stagecoach now being in expansion mode and as First Group re-entrench further into Rail,the sense of an Aircoach aquisition does fit current Stagecoach synergy.

However,I still predict the main thrust,if it ever materializes,will be from the French/German operators,specifically the State owned sector,which I suggest would be very good news for us.

jahalpin

CIE wrote: »

Certainly, if the state keeps the lid on investment in those services and keeps them stuck in the mid-50s. Maybe they're waiting to do a copy of the UK's privatisation too? We're overdue for having Virgin Voyager-type trains running intercity here, to be sure.

Irish Rail already has a new fleet of trains made up of class 220 Intercity trains for all the intercity routes with the exception of Dublin-Cork and Dublin-Belfast and Mark 4 Intercity trains for the Dublin-Cork route

The class 220 trains are very Voyager like and are actually probably better than the Voyager trains

The state and the EU have invested a lot of money in the rail network over the last few years and the quality of the services have improved a lot over this time

newportlad

Geog1234 wrote: »

There's been a Megabus route from Rosslare to London for the best part of two years.

It's a shipside operation though (bus doesn't go on ferry as happens with Eurolines) - passengers travel with Irish Ferries from Rosslare across to Pembroke and then get on the bus at the terminal there.

Through ticketing available.

Will be interesting to see will something similar materialise at Holyhead.

Thanks for the head's up of this

Travelling from Dublin City Centre do you know what would be the best way to get to Rosslare Port? Bus Eireann or Irish Rail?

bk

Stagecoach coming to Ireland and buying Aircoach would be possibly one of the scariest scenarios for the CIE companies.

Stagecoach via Megabus in the UK and the US has been spending a great deal of money on expanding and buying top quality coaches with all the frills and the expenditure seems to be paying off, with them stealing lots of business from National Express and seemingly seeing good profits.

A well financed backer to Aircoach, allowing them to expand routes, advertise and buy new coaches, would be a very dangerous threat to the CIE companies.

Another point, Citylink is owned by the ComfortDelGro group. In Scotland, Stagecoach and ComfortDelGro have teamed up and merged to run Megabus Scotland, from the old ComfortDelGro routes, with Stagecoach seemingly taking over most of the running and management of the routes. We could possibly see the same happen here with Aircoach and CityLink. There is no overlap between their routes.

dowlingm

http://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/questions-from-a-helpless-megabus-passenger
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2010/09/12/mega-bus-crash.html

Geog1234

In reply to newportlad's post above...

Best by train - much more scenic than the road journey and faster than the bus option which entails two separate buses with a change at Wexford.

If heading onwards to Wales/England a through Sail rail ticket is available e.g. Dublin to Cardiff or Newport via Rosslare for €54 single.

Megabus in my opinion is worth using if a very cheap fare can be got (needs to be booked a few weeks ahead normally). But if the normal fares apply there's no real benefit in using it as it involves leaving Rosslare earlier (than the sea-rail option) and reaching the destination in Wales/England later than the train does.

Dublin to Rosslare rail timetable:
http://www.irishrail.ie/media/11_DublinRosslareEuroport111.pdf

Dublin to Wexford bus timetables:
http://www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1348844929-2.pdf
and
http://wexfordbus.com/timetables/wexford-dublin-city/

Wexford to Rosslare bus times:
http://www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1349425370-WatWex.pdf

Sea and rail times:
http://www.stenaline.ie/ferry/rail-and-sail/fishguard/

Mrs OBumble

The_Wrecker wrote: »

Do we have the population to attract these companies?

Stagecoach had (maybe still have) some operations in New Zealand - roughly the same number of people as the Republic.

LivelineDipso

jahalpin wrote: »

The class 220 trains are very Voyager like and are actually probably better than the Voyager trains

The state and the EU have invested a lot of money in the rail network over the last few years and the quality of the services have improved a lot over this time

I strongly disagree. Very strongly disagree in fact.

LivelineDipso

dowlingm wrote: »

http://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/questions-from-a-helpless-megabus-passenger
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2010/09/12/mega-bus-crash.html

What is the purpose and context of these links within this thread? You lost me.

The Idyl Race

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

This is going to be a major blow to Iarnrod Eireann on intercity routes. :eek:

Have any of you used South West Trains? If I was the CIE monolith I wouldn't be that worried.

The Idyl Race

bk wrote: »

Stagecoach coming to Ireland and buying Aircoach would be possibly one of the scariest scenarios for the CIE companies.

Stagecoach via Megabus in the UK and the US has been spending a great deal of money on expanding and buying top quality coaches with all the frills and the expenditure seems to be paying off, with them stealing lots of business from National Express and seemingly seeing good profits.

A well financed backer to Aircoach, allowing them to expand routes, advertise and buy new coaches, would be a very dangerous threat to the CIE companies.

Another point, Citylink is owned by the ComfortDelGro group. In Scotland, Stagecoach and ComfortDelGro have teamed up and merged to run Megabus Scotland, from the old ComfortDelGro routes, with Stagecoach seemingly taking over most of the running and management of the routes. We could possibly see the same happen here with Aircoach and CityLink. There is no overlap between their routes.

Unless posters here are touting for jobs with Stagecoach, I wouldn't be busting myself looking for them to come here. I dealt with them through Megabus and South West Trains and while deals were available, in most cases I was cheaper and quicker (by far) travelling with FGW from Bristol and Bath to London.

The Idyl Race

LivelineDipso wrote: »

What is the purpose and context of these links within this thread? You lost me.

How I met your Mother has the Robin Scherbatsky character as token Canadian. Very cool lady. Fit too.

We have dowlingm as our representative in the Great White North, and lucky we are to have him.

Losty Dublin

The Idyl Race wrote: »

Unless posters here are touting for jobs with Stagecoach, I wouldn't be busting myself looking for them to come here. I dealt with them through Megabus and South West Trains and while deals were available, in most cases I was cheaper and quicker (by far) travelling with FGW from Bristol and Bath to London.

Anything I've read and heard about Stagecoach in the past would have me favouring a return to Charles Bianconi's stagecoaches over them as a preferred operator. If the worst happens, wait till you see the bus complaint threads on here and wishing for Dublin Bus to come back

dowlingm

I think anything that betters the public transport experience for the users of it is to be welcomed - taken in the whole. Below cost selling and/or operating unsafely should be showstoppers both for incumbents and new entrants.

newportlad

Geog1234 wrote: »

In reply to newportlad's post above...

Best by train - much more scenic than the road journey and faster than the bus option which entails two separate buses with a change at Wexford.

If heading onwards to Wales/England a through Sail rail ticket is available e.g. Dublin to Cardiff or Newport via Rosslare for €54 single.

Megabus in my opinion is worth using if a very cheap fare can be got (needs to be booked a few weeks ahead normally). But if the normal fares apply there's no real benefit in using it as it involves leaving Rosslare earlier (than the sea-rail option) and reaching the destination in Wales/England later than the train does.

Dublin to Rosslare rail timetable:
http://www.irishrail.ie/media/11_DublinRosslareEuroport111.pdf

Dublin to Wexford bus timetables:
http://www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1348844929-2.pdf
and
http://wexfordbus.com/timetables/wexford-dublin-city/

Wexford to Rosslare bus times:
http://www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1349425370-WatWex.pdf

Sea and rail times:
http://www.stenaline.ie/ferry/rail-and-sail/fishguard/

Thanks very much for all that info Geog, very helpful!

I will opt for the train in that case, defo the better option:)

corktina

Good idea, take the train As we know they connect seamlessly with the ferries at Rosslare.

end of the road

corktina wrote: »

Good idea, take the train As we know they connect seamlessly with the ferries at Rosslare.

actually i think one of them does now, the 16.30 or is it 16.37? mind you rosslare eurodump isn't the most tourist or passenger friendly for sail rail unlike the old terminal which the train should still be going to but seeing as CIE want to shut the line and probably the port to the track is not going to be reinstated and the old station reopened.

patrickbrophy18

joegriffinjnr wrote: »

Word on the grapevine is that Stagecoach are coming to Ireland very very shortly. A lot of rumors floating about the place but the top two seems to be, Stagecoach buying out Aircoach, and Stagecoach going up against the Eurolines services in and out of our lovely little country. Noticed on Megabus (owned by Stagecoach) website, saying ''services to Ireland shortly''. Intresting times ahead!!

I can't see that anywhere on the website. I've been to both Megabus and Stagecoach websites and nothing about Ireland was mentioned. When did you look this up?

cbl593h

Saw a Megabus in Bristol last night with Pembroke on the front, unless its non seethrough glass it appeared to be empty and in darkness............

However a search shows this......



Your trip results

You searched for trips leaving Bristol on Thursday, 13 December 2012 to Rosslare for 1 passenger.


Outbound Trip
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• Departs 20:50 Bristol , City Centre, Colston Hall
  Arrives 06:46 Rosslare , Europort
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gobnaitolunacy

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

This is going to be a major blow to Iarnrod Eireann on intercity routes. :eek:

Aircoach are already beating IE hands down on fares, Cork - Dub €18.00 ret vs. €21.99 single...decided to sample Aircoach for next trip to see what the cut of their jib is like.

devnull

What an interesting rumour!

I'd say there.is very little in it, other than possibly expanding their cross channel services via the ferry, which would be logical as they will go head to head with Eurolines.

newportlad

There's a few £1 fares (single from Rosslare to London or London to Rosslare, bus and ferry) available on the megabus website.



Mostly in Feb and March from what I can see,

I haven't done this journey so cant vouch for it but seems a good deal, especially if you live near Rosslare!

I think the Ferry is Irish Ferries.

Here's an example, travelling on a saturday (2nd Feb)



http://uk.megabus.com/JourneyResults.aspx?originCode=83&destinationCode=56&outboundDepartureDate=02%2f02%2f2013&inboundDepartureDate=&passengerCount=1&transportType=-1&concessionCount=0&nusCount=0&outboundWheelchairSeated=0&outboundOtherDisabilityCount=0&inboundWheelchairSeated=0&inboundOtherDisabilityCount=0&outboundPcaCount=0&inboundPcaCount=0&promotionCode=&withReturn=0

man98

newportlad wrote: »

Thanks very much for all that info Geog, very helpful!

I will opt for the train in that case, defo the better option:)

You are a few months too late for a BE bus from Dublin to Rosslare Harbour! They had 20 journeys a day ( not including Route 40 from Waterford) which they then shortened to Wexford.

man98

newportlad wrote: »

There's a few £1 fares (single from Rosslare to London or London to Rosslare, bus and ferry) available on the megabus website.



Mostly in Feb and March from what I can see,

I haven't done this journey so cant vouch for it but seems a good deal, especially if you live near Rosslare!

I think the Ferry is Irish Ferries.

Here's an example, travelling on a saturday (2nd Feb)



http://uk.megabus.com/JourneyResults.aspx?originCode=83&destinationCode=56&outboundDepartureDate=02%2f02%2f2013&inboundDepartureDate=&passengerCount=1&transportType=-1&concessionCount=0&nusCount=0&outboundWheelchairSeated=0&outboundOtherDisabilityCount=0&inboundWheelchairSeated=0&inboundOtherDisabilityCount=0&outboundPcaCount=0&inboundPcaCount=0&promotionCode=&withReturn=0

Yeah, it is Irish (Cypriot) Ferries which you will go on. It is a very good rate but I don't really see a point to using it.