Bus Éireann Route 2 - Upcoming Changes

TechnoFreek

Hi,

I believe there are some changes planned for this route specifically the reinstating of the Knockmore stop in Arklow.

Anyone know if any other changes are planned? Whenever they meddle with this route, they try a few different things each time.

Niles

TechnoFreek wrote: »

Hi,

I believe there are some changes planned for this route specifically the reinstating of the Knockmore stop in Arklow.

Anyone know if any other changes are planned? Whenever they meddle with this route, they try a few different things each time.

Wouldn't surprise me if Jack Whites etc disappeared with the Rathnew-Arklow leg of the M11 opening (similar to Inch disappearing in favour of the motorway route).

Fred Swanson

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TechnoFreek

Niles wrote: »

Wouldn't surprise me if Jack Whites etc disappeared with the Rathnew-Arklow leg of the M11 opening (similar to Inch disappearing in favour of the motorway route).

Yeah, exactly what I was thinking. Although if you look at the timetable as is, only a handful of services are actually supposed to stop at Jack whites. Most of the drivers seem to serve that stop at all times probably due to customer confusion.

TechnoFreek

So the Knockmore stop is coming back and the route 2 will take the new motorway and no longer stop at Jack whites etc.

Rather annoying the early morning and evening Arklow/Gorey commuter services 133 and 384 will still take the old road to service these stops. So us daily commuters don't get the benefit of the new road. So frustrating.

foggy_lad

TechnoFreek wrote: »

So the Knockmore stop is coming back and the route 2 will take the new motorway and no longer stop at Jack whites etc.

Rather annoying the early morning and evening Arklow/Gorey commuter services 133 and 384 will still take the old road to service these stops. So us daily commuters don't get the benefit of the new road. So frustrating.

No changes have been announced yet.

TechnoFreek

Confirmed by Billy Timmins TD.
Changes with NTA for approval.

foggy_lad

TechnoFreek wrote: »

Confirmed by Billy Timmins TD.
Changes with NTA for approval.

The NTA will most likely not approve the removal of services unless an alternative service is available.

Niles

foggy_lad wrote: »

The NTA will most likely not approve the removal of services unless an alternative service is available.

Not necessarily. They could, but there are previous instances of stops like Jack Whites being removed without any replacement service being deemed necessary.
That's not to say they won't, but I'd be surprised.

In any case the intention is still to route the 384 service via Jack Whites/Lil Doyles/Beehive, along with the 07:00 133 Arklow-Dublin direct service (which displays 384 in practice anyway). So these locations would have a Monday-Friday commuter service, two trips to Dublin in the morning and one return in the evening.

Fred Swanson

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TechnoFreek

The new proposed timetable has the 2 and x2 travelling the new motorway and no longer serving Jack whites etc at any time. The current timetable has only a handful of services stopping at the likes of Jack whites as it is so any of the services that aren't timetabled to stop there have being taking the new motorway since it opened.

What is a bit of a dose is that the 133 and 384 are Arklow's primary commuter and student buses and they have to go the old road. Every minute saved for commuters counts when getting to and from work.
An express non stop service would be ideal for the mostly Arklow commuters that travel on these buses.

By comparison, the x2 mostly carries Gorey commuters and it will go non-stop from Gorey to Dublin.

Declaration: I'm a 133/384 passenger. Unfortunately.

foggy_lad

TechnoFreek wrote: »

The new proposed timetable has the 2 and x2 travelling the new motorway and no longer serving Jack whites etc at any time. The current timetable has only a handful of services stopping at the likes of Jack whites as it is so any of the services that aren't timetabled to stop there have being taking the new motorway since it opened.

What is a bit of a dose is that the 133 and 384 are Arklow's primary commuter and student buses and they have to go the old road. Every minute saved for commuters counts when getting to and from work.
An express non stop service would be ideal for the mostly Arklow commuters that travel on these buses.

By comparison, the x2 mostly carries Gorey commuters and it will go non-stop from Gorey to Dublin.

Declaration: I'm a 133/384 passenger. Unfortunately.

There are 15 services each way between the 2 and x2 and 7 of these services each way stop at those three stops(Beehive, Ballinacor, Jack White's Cross).

http://www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1423753680-002.pdf

TechnoFreek

thanks for the clarification, anyway I'm only relaying bus eireanns plan.

Fred Swanson

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LXFlyer

TechnoFreek wrote: »

The new proposed timetable has the 2 and x2 travelling the new motorway and no longer serving Jack whites etc at any time. The current timetable has only a handful of services stopping at the likes of Jack whites as it is so any of the services that aren't timetabled to stop there have being taking the new motorway since it opened.

What is a bit of a dose is that the 133 and 384 are Arklow's primary commuter and student buses and they have to go the old road. Every minute saved for commuters counts when getting to and from work.
An express non stop service would be ideal for the mostly Arklow commuters that travel on these buses.

By comparison, the x2 mostly carries Gorey commuters and it will go non-stop from Gorey to Dublin.

Declaration: I'm a 133/384 passenger. Unfortunately.

The 133 and 384 are PSO services funded by the NTA - as such they're not likely to be express services.

That is usually left to the commercial operators.

Something will have to serve those stops, and perhaps something extra on top of the existing 133/384 services, will be contracted to do so.

Niles

In fairness, even on the old road I've always found the 384 to be quite an efficient service in terms of time keeping, in the evening it's not unknown for it overtake the X2 which leaves Busáras fifteen minutes earlier!

LXFlyer

http://www.buseireann.ie/news_timetable.php?id=1842&month=Aug

Route 384: Dublin – Arklow - Gorey, valid until 29 August 2015

Bus Éireann wishes to inform customers that all services on current Route 384: Dublin – Arklow – Gorey will now be incorporated into Route 133 Dublin Airport – Dublin – Wicklow – Arklow - Gorey and no services will operate as Route 384.
This change will be implemented from Sunday, 30 August 2015 and the following are the specific changes:

• The current Route 384 departure from Gorey at 06:50hrs will now operate as Route 133X and will continue to depart Gorey at 06.50.
• The current Route 384 departure from Dublin (Busáras) at 17.45 will now operate as Route 133 and will continue to depart Dublin (Busáras) at 17.45.

These changes have been approved by the National Transport Authority.
Friday, 14th August, 2015

TechnoFreek

I understand that the reinstatement of the Knockmore stop in Arklow has also been approved by the NTA. Awaiting official announcement and implementation date from BE.

dozy doctor

Hi, is there any further updates on the Knockmore bus stop being used yet for route 2, as I have seen commuters waiting there for a bus in recent days...

TechnoFreek

The latest update I got was from a local councillor which I posted above. he is in contact with BE.

Up to bus eireann now to set the restoration date but as it stands the stop isn't back yet so drivers don't have to stop.

Niles

Looking at the timetable, I see the 07:00 service is down to start at Euroshop (Main St) in Arklow as opposed to Knockmore - surprising as considerable numbers use it from Lidl and Knockmore...

TechnoFreek

That makes no sense. Has to be an oversight

Vic_08

Niles wrote: »

Looking at the timetable, I see the 07:00 service is down to start at Euroshop (Main St) in Arklow as opposed to Knockmore - surprising as considerable numbers use it from Lidl and Knockmore...

That is it's only timed departure. It never had a listing for the other stops on the 133 table before, looks like it was left off that new table as whoever compiled it only bothered with adding the "new" 133.

It has to pass the other stops anyway as that service is run from the Wicklow outstation. It goes empty to Arklow so the only sensible route is to pass Arklow on the M11 and come back in past Knockmore.

TechnoFreek

27th September for Knockmore Stop

dozy doctor

TechnoFreek wrote: »

27th September for Knockmore Stop

Another 6 weeks FFS... What is the point in holding off for that long... I was also in touch with Billy Timmins office today and I am waiting for him to get back to me, but he did acknowledge the email which is a start

Fred Swanson

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LXFlyer

dozy doctor wrote: »

Another 6 weeks FFS... What is the point in holding off for that long... I was also in touch with Billy Timmins office today and I am waiting for him to get back to me, but he did acknowledge the email which is a start

Any changes to commercial operations require approval by the NTA - need to make sure they don't offer one operator an unfair advantage over another.

Writing to TDs isn't going to make any difference - the NTA is independent from the Minister.

LXFlyer

Fred Swanson wrote: »

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The timetable has not changed as yet.

TechnoFreek

I presume Knockmore coming back on the 27th will form part of a new timetable along with any other approved by NTA changes.

TechnoFreek

Also on the cards is Reduced times to and from the airport. That will be most welcome as coming from the airport, the bus struggles to get to bus aras, load and depart on time.

LXFlyer

The following notice has appeared on the Bus Eireann website outlining the changes that will take place on September 27th. As yet no timetable is up on the website.

Revised Route 2, Dublin Airport - Dublin - Arklow -Gorey - Enniscorthy- Wexford effective 27/09/2015

Bus Éireann wishes to advise customers of alterations to Route 2, Dublin Airport - Dublin - Arklow -Gorey - Enniscorthy - Wexford effective 27 September 2015.

The amendments are:
•Removal of the following stops from the route in both directions - O3 Arena, Kilmacanogue, Beehive, Ballincor & Jack White's Cross reducing overall run time.
•An additional stop at Knockmore, Arklow in both directions
•X2 services to operate Monday to Friday only
•Revised routeing within Dublin city

Northbound - Leeson Street, Clare Street, Westland Row, Pearse Street, Custom House Quay
Southbound - Busaras, Westland Row, Merrion Square North, Leeson Street, Donnybrook

These changes have been authorised by the National Transport Authority

Saturday, 12th September, 2015

TechnoFreek

The revised reputimg through the city doesn't seem massively different except in the southbound case it's says Merrion Square North.

Currently there is a stop at Merrion Square East. For the odd service that goes through Ballsbridge it stops at North


Does this mean now that the stop is at North for all services?

TechnoFreek

Also I understand they are trying to improve the times getting from the airport as very often the bus doesn't leave bus aras on time.

They have removed the 3 arena stop but speaking to bus drivers, it is the jury's inn stop that causes big delays as the bus has to reroute to get to bus aras if they pick somebody up there.

Be very interesting to see how this improves.

I've been collating the constant late departures on the 4.30pm service to form a complaint. Hopefully I won't need to go ahead with it!

TechnoFreek

New timetable has gone up.
No stops listed between the Airport and Bus Aras.

Also looks like all southbound services pick up at Meerion Square North. This is the one just around the corner from Clare Street.

http://www.buseireann.ie/news_timetable.php?id=1869&month=Sep

dozy doctor

Hi All,,,

Does anyone know if the 0700 bus is still operating...
It is only giving me the option to get on the 0800 bus online?

Any info much appreciated...

Fred Swanson

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dozy doctor

Fred Swanson wrote: »

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Sorry coming from Wexford, heading to Dublin Airport...

Fred Swanson

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dozy doctor

Fred Swanson wrote:

According to the online timetable there is a 0700 from Wexford Mon-Sat.

Yes I saw that, but I was looking to get the 0652 from Knockmore tomorrow morning but it does not seem to be available, even though it says it will there...

Is it unusual for them not to sell tickets if the service is fully booked?

Fred Swanson

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dozy doctor

Fred Swanson wrote:

The 0652 from Knockmore is only there Saturday and Sundays only. Monday-Friday that bus bypasses Arklow completely.

Thanks buddy... Appreciate all the help 😀