[PR] Bus Éireann begging for customers on route 21

Mrs OBumble

From: http://www.buseireann.ie/news.php?id=1554&month=Aug

Bus Éireann urges customer support for improved Expressway Route 21

Lower fares available on Route 21 during August &September

Westport to Knock only €16 return, Athlone to Roscommon €13 return
Customers receive a further 5% discount if they book online
Expressway Route 21. Use it. Don’t lose it

Bus Éireann has announced an improved service on its Expressway Route 21, Westport/Knock/Roscommon/Athlone IT/Dublin city/Dublin Airport coach service. The extended route now serves Athlone IT, and connections are also available at Athlone Bus Station to/from Dublin Airport and Dublin City.
From now until the end of September next, fares have been significantly reduced, as part of a promotional campaign to travel on this route.
Route 21 is a commercial service that receives no State funding and, as such, must be commercially viable. This is why Bus Éireann is encouraging our loyal customers – and incentivising new ones - to support the service and guarantee its future and growth. A further review of Route 21 is planned for this December, at which time services may be withdrawn or reduced, if the performance has not improved.
The fares for both long and short trips are have been cut and are represent real value. Trips from Ballyhaunis to Westport and Westport to Knock are only €16 for an adult day return until the end of next September. Child day return tickets have also been reduced - including Ballyhaunis to Castlebar - for €8 child day return and the same fare applies to the Ballinlough to Balla service.
Customers travelling from Roscommon to Athlone can avail of fares from as little as €13 for an adult day return, and €9.50 for a child day return. Customers travelling to Knock and Castlerea can avail of better day trip options now, through a revised timetable for this service. There are plenty more options to choose from on our website at www.buseireann.ie. Free Travel Pass holders can also use the service.
“We are urging customers to support us and use this route. It is great service travelling from the North-West of the country to the East region. Customers can enjoy the comfort and convenience of travelling by superior coaches without the worry and hassle of toll charges, parking fees and fuel costs. With our low fares and high-quality fleet customers can sit back, relax, use Wi-Fi and enjoy being driven to their destination,” said Rory Leahy, Regional Manager, North-West, Bus Éireann.
Details of the improved Route 21 service can be found at www.buseireann.ie or by contacting your local Bus Éireann office.

Wednesday, 6th August, 2014

LXFlyer

I think that this is a clear sign of how the commercial Expressway services are going to continue.

I don't think it's a case of BE "begging for customers" - it's a more a case of making the commercial realities of the situation clear and encouraging people to use the service.

The days of Bus Eireann providing commercial services at a loss have come to an end, and services need to be economic going forward.

I suspect that we are going to see far closer monitoring of commercial services going forward, and that if they're not proving themselves that there may be more service cuts. This may lead to the NTA commissioning more PSO services in those areas where the commercial services are not economically affordable.

bk

lxflyer wrote: »

I suspect that we are going to see far closer monitoring of commercial services going forward, and that if they're not proving themselves that there may be more service cuts. This may lead to the NTA commissioning more PSO services in those areas where the commercial services are not economically affordable.

We will also likely see private companies fill some of the gaps left by BE, without the need for PSO's

LXFlyer

bk wrote: »

We will also likely see private companies fill some of the gaps left by BE, without the need for PSO's

I very much doubt any private operator would be able to make a better go of a route such as the 21, given that none of them would have the economies of scale that BE have, and that it is alongside a faster rail service.


Such a route would be more likely to develop into a PSO service, similar to the N8 (Portlaoise-Urlingford-Fermoy) and Cavan-Longford services.


BE are unlikely to pull back from major routes that private operators might be interested in operating on a commercial basis, and that only leaves a handful of commercial services that might be for the chop.

GTE

"Begging" doesn't sound like the most objective choice of word

end of the road

bk wrote: »

We will also likely see private companies fill some of the gaps left by BE, without the need for PSO's

doubt it, what could happen is maybe.
1. the expressway route goes and the service becomes a stopping service.
2. BE keeps the bits of the route that is well used as an expressway and the rest becomes a PSO service either by BE or a private operator possibly becoming a minny bus or a small bus service.

either way i'm not sure that a private operator would have better luck then BE at getting people to use the route in its current form but you never know i suppose

GoWhest

I travel between Westport and Dublin almost weekly but unfortunately service 21 cannot compete with the train. Its about a tenner cheaper but the last bus leaves Dublin on a Friday at 15:30 (which means it doesnt suit workers) whereas theirs a train at 17:10 and 18:15. The Bus takes almost 5 hours to run its route. The train takes just over 3. It pretty much runs the same route too, stopping at the same major towns (granted the bus does stop in some towns that the train doesn't). I think Iarnroid Eireann and Bus Eireann need to stop competing with each other and work together on certain routes. On Westport to Dublin IE has a big competitive advantage (better times and quicker journeys). Other routes such as Dublin-Galway, Galway - Limerick BE has the advantage as the journey times are faster.