Galway to Dublin by double decker bus

Paddyfield

Hi,

I'm organising a trip to Dublin by bus with my kids. Which of the operators use double decker buses? My son is is eager to take the journey on a double decker bus. I have seen that some of the operators use double deckers but don't recall which. Citylink? Gobus? Bus Eireann? Other?

Thanks in advance.

snubbleste

BÉ also offering €5 one way between 10am-3pm http://www.buseireannexpressway.com/

And no I don't know which times the double decker goes at.

FouxDaFaFa

Citylink have them but don't use them every hour, you'd need to check which times they go at.

Antifa161

CityLink do them and are most likely to use them on Saturday mornings which is presumably their busiest time.

Mrs OBumble

All of them do. But not on every service.

inisboffin

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

All of them do. But not on every service.

Never seen a gobus one. Not to say they don't, but I get them a lot, so if they do then they aren't used a lot.

By double decker, I assume people mean *people* on both levels as opposed to a high bus over luggage.

stehyl15

If you cant get one from galway to dublin take him on a bus in dublin there all double deckers here but i think that be would only use them on shorter distance routes in and out of dublin

Antifa161

inisboffin wrote: »

By double decker, I assume people mean *people* on both levels as opposed to a high bus over luggage.

I doubt it matters as I assume the kid wants to sit at the front on the top deck, since it's totally badass.

Mrs OBumble

inisboffin wrote: »

Never seen a gobus one. Not to say they don't, but I get them a lot, so if they do then they aren't used a lot.

They use white DDs with no branding, occasionally.

Antifa161

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

They use white DDs

My favourite

inisboffin

Antifa161 wrote: »

I doubt it matters as I assume the kid wants to sit at the front on the top deck, since it's totally badass.

I assumed that too! But I heard someone refer to the gobus with the seats above the luggage rack as a 'double decker' one day!

dastardly00

The BE 409 from Eyre Square to Parkmore uses double decker buses!

Killeenadeema

Good fun

Mrs OBumble

dastardly00 wrote: »

The BE 409 from Eyre Square to Parkmore uses double decker buses!

Sometimes.

Squeeonline

Sure when you get to Dublin all the buses are double deckers.

flazio

I presume the unmarked ones belong to Callinan Coaches who seem to only exist to provide extra rolling stock to the highest inter city bidder.

I think Citylink uses double decker, but they're not the express routes, meaning it'll take around 3 - 4 hours instead of the 2 1/2 the other ones take.

Mrs OBumble

Deleted User wrote: »

I think Citylink uses double decker, but they're not the express routes, meaning it'll take around 3 - 4 hours instead of the 2 1/2 the other ones take.

Not true: I'm sitting on the upper deck of a CityLink express coach typing this!

Yes it's the seats high above the baggage area type, but a kid's not gonna know that.

inisboffin

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Not true: I'm sitting on the upper deck of a CityLink express coach typing this!

Yes it's the seats high above the baggage area type, but a kid's not gonna know that.

LOL! See that's not the double decker bus Mrs O'!
Of COURSE kids will know

But saying that, I was on a City Link Express to Dublin about 6 weeks ago and it was the (proper!) double decker bus. the one with the two sets of stairs and the table seats downstairs.

flazio

I reckon all the kid probably wants is the seat directly above the driver, whether it's luggage or extra seats behind the driver is irrelevant

inisboffin

flazio wrote: »

I reckon all the kid probably wants is the seat directly above the driver, whether it's luggage or extra seats behind the driver is irrelevant

The front seat on a double decker (2 levels) is much higher than on a regular tour bus. The driver is on first level, so often will have a sun shield down, so you can't see out without some obstruction, when on the seat beside or behind them.

Mrs OBumble

flazio wrote: »

I reckon all the kid probably wants is the seat directly above the driver, whether it's luggage or extra seats behind the driver is irrelevant

Agreed.

And the big kids all like that seat too, so I'd advise arriving at least 1/2 hour before the scheduled departure time if you want to get it!

inisboffin

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Agreed.

And the big kids all like that seat too, so I'd advise arriving at least 1/2 hour before the scheduled departure time if you want to get it!

I think we're talking about two different things?

On the regular 'tour' buses there is no seat above the driver, there are two seats behind on either side. There is that little low fold out seat too that they only use if super packed, and unlikely would let a kid sit there.

This bus, has luggage below, but is raised up. The driver is mid way up, with seats behind him. Same with this one. See how if you sat behind the driver you might have a restricted view.

Unrealistic

inisboffin wrote: »

I think we're talking about two different things?

On the regular 'tour' buses there is no seat above the driver, there are two seats behind on either side. There is that little low fold out seat too that they only use if super packed, and unlikely would let a kid sit there.

This bus, has luggage below, but is raised up. The driver is mid way up, with seats behind him. Same with this one. See how if you sat behind the driver you might have a restricted view.

I think maybe that was a reference to this type of bus which has only one level of passenger seating but that extends over the driver as he sits down low on the same level as the luggage. I don't know if any of the companies doing the Galway-Dublin run have buses with this configuration though.

inisboffin

Unrealistic wrote: »

I think maybe that was a reference to this type of bus which has only one level of passenger seating but that extends over the driver as he sits down low on the same level as the luggage. I don't know if any of the companies doing the Galway-Dublin run have buses with this configuration though.

Gotcha. Yeah never seen this one in Galway.

Squeeonline

inisboffin wrote: »

Gotcha. Yeah never seen this one in Galway.

I believe that both Gobus and Citylink use this kind of bus occasionally. They also have 240v sockets (at least the last one I got had.)

inisboffin

Squeeonline wrote: »

I believe that both Gobus and Citylink use this kind of bus occasionally. They also have 240v sockets (at least the last one I got had.)

Are you sure it's not the one with seating both upstairs and down?

Mrs OBumble

inisboffin wrote: »

Are you sure it's not the one with seating both upstairs and down?

The CityLink bus that I got to Dublin on Wednesday was indeed like that, and it only had seating upstairs. (No idea what they have in the downstairs area between the driver and the luggage.)

GoBus sometimes us a similar one, but with seating downstairs too. I think BE's DD intercity jobs also have up-and-down seating, too.

Kids, large and small, make a bee-line for the top front seats either way.

inisboffin

Aha. Ok. Mystery solved. Supercool double decker with seats only on top. Have yet to be on one!

GerardKeating

Squeeonline wrote: »

Sure when you get to Dublin all the buses are double deckers.

again, not all ..

antoobrien

inisboffin wrote: »

Never seen a gobus one. Not to say they don't, but I get them a lot, so if they do then they aren't used a lot.

I've been on it, the seats seem kinda tight upstairs (tighter than the normal coaches) and the roof is lowish. Not sure if it gives them much benefit tbh.

Patrickheg

As has been said both city link and gobus have proper double deckers(up and downstairs seating)

antoobrien wrote: »

I've been on it, the seats seem kinda tight upstairs (tighter than the normal coaches) and the roof is lowish. Not sure if it gives them much benefit tbh.

I'd imagine it does a lot for them. Problem with both companies is they struggle with capacity at peak times which can lead to disappointed customers who may not be inclined to use their service again if they are unable to board the bus. Double deckers would have 24 extra seats so are perfect for these occasions