A4 pages and lack of info

joegriffinjnr

[IMG]http://transportsceneireland.smugmug.com/BusSceneIreland/BSI-September-2014/i-GHB2pgp/his 0/L/DSC_0011%20%281024x634%29-L.jpg[/IMG]

(photo Redstarcastles irish transport forum)

The above photo of a coach operating a 191 to.... yes Im baffeled too!

Im sorry but in this day and age, an A4 sheet of paper is simply not good enough. Every bus/coach in this country operating on any route should have a destination display with route number and some sort of information on its said route.

The NTA need to start clamping down on this sort of stuff and issue some sort of fine or penalty if necessary.

While im here, in my opinion, bus stops in Ireland should be uniform. Every bus stop / shelter should be similar with a NTA design. A full time table/ contact details and RPTI at busier stops should also be mandatory.

I thought that new routes set up have to be fully wheelchair accessible aswell?

I just want to edit my post to state that Im not against private operaters. Dublin Bus and Bus Eireann can be as bad. In all fairness though, since Dublin Bus have withdrawn buses with manual destination displays they seem to be on the ball.

LXFlyer

Universal standard bus stops with standard information are coming but it's a mammoth task.

joegriffinjnr

Something like TFL standards?

foggy_lad

joegriffinjnr wrote: »

[IMG]http://transportsceneireland.smugmug.com/BusSceneIreland/BSI-September-2014/i-GHB2pgp/his 0/L/DSC_0011%20%281024x634%29-L.jpg[/IMG]

(photo Redstarcastles irish transport forum)

The above photo of a coach operating a 191 to.... yes Im baffeled too!

Im sorry but in this day and age, an A4 sheet of paper is simply not good enough. Every bus/coach in this country operating on any route should have a destination display with route number and some sort of information on its said route.

The NTA need to start clamping down on this sort of stuff and issue some sort of fine or penalty if necessary.

While in here, in my opinion, bus stops in Ireland should be uniform. Every bus stop / shelter should be similar with a NTA design. A full time table/ contact details and RPTI at busier stops should also be mandatory.

I thought that new routes set up have to be fully wheelchair accessible aswell?

I just want to edit my post to state that Im not against private operaters. Dublin Bus and Bus Eireann can be as bad. In all fairness though, since Dublin Bus have withdrawn buses with manual destination displays they seem to be on the ball.

Carolan Coaches don't appear to operate any scheduled services into or from dublin so just a guess but this is probably a private tour bus and not required to have a route number.

There is no sign or indication that it is on hire to Bus Eireann and is parked up away from the other bus stops for Swords Express and Bus Eireann on Eden Quay.

joegriffinjnr

Foggy, it was actually operating a KBR bus service to Ballbriggan. Even Worse!

Edit: Foggy, if you were standing at your bus stop (or side of road) waiting for a KBR bus to Ballbriggan, would you stick your hand out if you seen this coming?

foggy_lad

joegriffinjnr wrote: »

Foggy, it was actually operating a KBR bus service to Ballbriggan. Even Worse!

Edit: Foggy, if you were standing at your bus stop (or side of road) waiting for a KBR bus to Ballbriggan, would you stick your hand out if you seen this coming?

Ah then it is most likely not normally used on that route which has only operated since 7th July and that may be why it is not equipped with the usual destination signs. If I was living locally and got that bus regularly I would make it my business to know that it is the 191 and yes would stick out my hand for it!
http://kbrbuses.url.ph/commuter.html
Timetable,
http://kbrbuses.url.ph/STAMULLEN%20TIME%20TABLE.pdf


I find it worse that the NTA sites have no mention of the service, routing or timetable!

AlekSmart

foggy_lad wrote: »

I find it worse that the NTA sites have no mention of the service, routing or timetable!

This IS interesting....it can only have two explanations.

joegriffinjnr

Patton flyer.... ?

end of the road

joegriffinjnr wrote: »

Something like TFL standards?

meh, more chance of god existing

foggy_lad

AlekSmart wrote: »

This IS interesting....it can only have two explanations.

NTA a bit slow updating their service listings after the summer?
Route maps and timetables not forwarded to the NTA?
Service not properly licenced?

AlekSmart

foggy_lad wrote: »

NTA a bit slow updating their service listings after the summer?
Route maps and timetables not forwarded to the NTA?
Service not properly licenced?

HMmmm...I would imagine that the NTA would require a Route Specification and at least a projected timetable before considering a Request for a Licence.

I recall some mechanism whereby a Licence Applicant,could if the response time exceeded X weeks,simply work-away,but I'm not certain this still applies.

Either way....we await clarification

AlekSmart

foggy_lad wrote: »

Carolan Coaches don't appear to operate any scheduled services into or from dublin so just a guess but this is probably a private tour bus and not required to have a route number.

There is no sign or indication that it is on hire to Bus Eireann and is parked up away from the other bus stops for Swords Express and Bus Eireann on Eden Quay.

I may be mistook,but I seem to recall Carolan Coaches operating a short-lived scheduled service to UCD Belfield,via Tallaght/Knocklyon some time ago....or maybe it was another operator ?

horseburger

foggy_lad wrote: »

Ah then it is most likely not normally used on that route which has only operated since 7th July and that may be why it is not equipped with the usual destination signs. If I was living locally and got that bus regularly I would make it my business to know that it is the 191 and yes would stick out my hand for it!
http://kbrbuses.url.ph/commuter.html
Timetable,
http://kbrbuses.url.ph/STAMULLEN%20TIME%20TABLE.pdf


I find it worse that the NTA sites have no mention of the service, routing or timetable!

joegriffinjnr wrote: »

Foggy, it was actually operating a KBR bus service to Ballbriggan. Even Worse!

Edit: Foggy, if you were standing at your bus stop (or side of road) waiting for a KBR bus to Ballbriggan, would you stick your hand out if you seen this coming?

Perhaps KBR hired a bus from Carolan Coaches for that day?

Maybe they were expecting extra passengers for their commuter service on that day?

191 was clearly displayed on the bus in the picture above at Eden Quay.

Eden Quay, is a collection point on that service, http://kbrbuses.url.ph/commuter.html

If this bus was hired on that day, I'm sure the driver made sure to let anyone waiting at that stop know that the bus was the KBR 191 service.

On the KBR website, it lists a service that goes to and from the City Centre and Balbriggan/Millfied Shopping Centre and a service to and from the City Centre and Stamullen/Gormanston

Are the KBR services that start in Dublin that stop in Balbriggan, the same buses that stops in Stamullen?

Thanks foggy_lad for including that pdf file of the timetable. (I couldn't see - on the KBR website - the detailed commuter service timetable for the service, it doesn't seem to be yet included on the site)

On the pdf file, http://kbrbuses.url.ph/STAMULLEN%20TIME%20TABLE.pdf, it lists some locations, between Stamullen and Balbriggan, that on the website, are not listed as collection or drop off points. I'm just wondering are all these locations, that are listed on the pdf file, just an indication of the route or are they all actual pick up or drop off points?

If, coming from Dublin, they are all pick up and drop off points for anyone wishing to go points to and from - and between - Balbriggan and Stamullen, my next question may not apply!:)

Is it possible that the bus in the picture would have filled to capacity at Dublin City Centre and as a result would have had no intermediate collection point stops, and that its only stops after leaving Eden Quay were drop off points at Balbriggan and Stamullen?

If that was the case, it would mean that the situation would not arise where someone was hoping to pick it up at an intermediate stop, where they might not recognise it approaching if a private coach was being used.

(The picture shows passengers boarding the bus, at the time the photo was taken.)

Bus Éireann often use private company coaches and include the 'On Hire to Bus Éireann' sign on the front window.

For example, at the airport, an extra bus is often made available for the Bus Éireann/Translink Ulsterbus services that start at Bus Aras, for example, the Derry and Belfast services, and for the Letterkenny Bus Éireann service.

I presume this is done when the bus - upon leaving Bus Aras - does not have enough seats to accommodate the numbers waiting at the airport.

If an extra bus is made available, if it is a private coach, the Bus Éireann inspectors, at the airport, let waiting passengers know, where that bus is serving.

A recent example of this is the Bus Éireann/ Translink Ulsterbus service for Belfast from Dublin Bus Aras. As a result of the large numbers waiting at Dublin Airport to go to Newry, they had an extra bus going as far as Newry - which I understand ended up filling - along with the other bus going on to Belfast, which at the airport did fill to capacity, which will also stop in Newry, I guess for anyone for Newry, that got on that bus at Bus Aras.

Another recent example, at the airport, is that they had an extra bus for people for Monaghan Town, who were waiting, intending to get to Monaghan by either the number 33 Derry or number 32 Letterkenny services.

That is why I am thinking, that the bus pictured above, might be an extra service to accommodate a greater number of passengers.

I guess they hire in these private coaches to have extra buses for certain routes at specific times on days they expect extra passengers?

LXFlyer

joegriffinjnr wrote: »

Something like TFL standards?

Yes - it will be to an equivalent of TfL standards as I understand it.

foggy_lad

There is also an extra notice on the front of the bus pictured at the bottom of the windscreen near the door which is illegible in the picture but most likely shows KBR to alert people to the service being offered. This notice is at eye level for most people at the kerb and on the footpath so very easy to see.

PadelCreekMan

foggy_lad wrote: »

I find it worse that the NTA sites have no mention of the service, routing or timetable!

I found it on the National Journey Planner.
08:20 from Milford Shopping Centre, Balbriggan to Laughter lounge, Dublin

191 operated by KBR Transport

foggy_lad

PadelCreekMan wrote: »

I found it on the National Journey Planner.
08:20 from Milford Shopping Centre, Balbriggan to Laughter lounge, Dublin

191 operated by KBR Transport

It looks like they are just putting the buses onto it now! they were not listed anywhere on the site or on the route planner or timetables book yesterday.

Eye in the sky

As far as I know, Carolan Coaches have taken over the 191 service into town, their buses all now say Carolans on the window and they also have digital signs in the windows. All the buses have changed in the last few weeks, they are much nicer, and far more comfortable now. I take it instead of the train at the minute, it is much cheaper and the drivers are really friendly and helpful. Maybe it was an addition to help public recognise the bus coming down the street, maybe it was an extra busy day or maybe the digital sign was broken. Either way they have made the service better for us commuters and as long as the buses stay I dont really care what kind of sign they have!