Bus services

Mrs OBumble

I've been working in town, so not got a personal view of how people are coping with the lack of Bus Eireann services.

But I've heard that some companies in Cork have hired private bus companies to provide staff shuttles out to the business parks - and they're running all day, stopping at intermediate stops, and not being too fussy about checking who's staff and whos not.

Anyyhing like that happening here?

what_traffic

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

I've been working in town, so not got a personal view of how people are coping with the lack of Bus Eireann services.

But I've heard that some companies in Cork have hired private bus companies to provide staff shuttles out to the business parks - and they're running all day, stopping at intermediate stops, and not being too fussy about checking who's staff and whos not.

Anyyhing like that happening here?

No have not seen anything like that in Parkmore since the strike.
Surprised thread not started here on the strike and how it is affecting Galway City Bus commuters? We must be in the double digits in terms of days on strike at this stage.

ben.schlomo

Got a bike, won't be going back to bus eireann bar very bad weather. Hopefully they go tits up soon.

b.gud

ben.schlomo wrote: »

Got a bike, won't be going back to bus eireann bar very bad weather. Hopefully they go tits up soon.

Yeah exactly, I mean who really cares about all the people who are employed by Bus Eireann or the people who live in rural areas that rely on it for transport

ben.schlomo

b.gud wrote: »

Yeah exactly, I mean who really cares about all the people who are employed by Bus Eireann or the people who live in rural areas that rely on it for transport

If BE fold then the routes will all be tendered out. As for drivers/families etc I'm sure many will be re-employed elsewhere. If not then they have their union to blame.

inisboffin

I'm seeing loads of people offering lifts on social media to/from surrounding towns (which is something good).

City Direct still serving West of city (albeit sparse in the evening), and they're packed. East Side seems to be loads of people sharing cabs. 4 in a cab not too bad and comparable to bus, but it's just arranging it.

Go Bus have some kind of partnership with Bé but doesn't seem to be changing the Dublin service.

_Puma_

Walking into work the past two weeks. Little adjustment in terms of getting up earlier and the weather has been good thankfully. In fairness I don't mind it too much as the bus is one of a couple of options I have but for people that rely on the bus it must be a nightmare. Have Cycled in occasionally also. Car traffic in the evenings seems to be chronic and I don't envy anyone that has to go though it any evening after work.

Bredabe

ben.schlomo wrote: »

If BE fold then the routes will all be tendered out. As for drivers/families etc I'm sure many will be re-employed elsewhere. If not then they have their union to blame.

What about the able bodied BE drivers who will be perceived as too old by the private companies, but would have been able to work out the time till their retirement?

XsApollo

Maybe they should of thought of that before they went on strike.
Grass is greener and all that.

gordongekko

Bredabe wrote: »

What about the able bodied BE drivers who will be perceived as too old by the private companies, but would have been able to work out the time till their retirement?

The dont seems aworried about the poor retired elderly people that was left without a bus service.

I use the bus service a lot at weekends so i find it a pain in the arse. Its also a 2 day camel ride to go for a pint now.

Mutant z

I live in the country and i dont drive, bus eireann are the only company which serve my area, taxis are to expensives so this strike is an inconvenience for me.

b.gud

ben.schlomo wrote: »

If BE fold then the routes will all be tendered out. As for drivers/families etc I'm sure many will be re-employed elsewhere. If not then they have their union to blame.

Yeah private companies will take over routes, but lots of them will not be financially viable and there will be a load of people in rural areas will be left without much or maybe any bus services.

Mrs OBumble

b.gud wrote: »

Yeah private companies will take over routes, but lots of them will not be financially viable and there will be a load of people in rural areas will be left without much or maybe any bus services.

They aren't financially viable now: Bus Éireann are paid subsidies to run them.
There's no reason why privately-owned companies should not have access to the same subsidies.


I've also heard lately that CityLink now do take the FreeTravel pass on their services - except on Galway/Dublin. I don't know if this was in response to the strike, or started before it. But it apparently has been a lifeline for people in Connemarra with no BE services running.

Bredabe

I see this here, some routes were privatised, lots of expensive buses to popular routes and fewer busses to less popular areas-like those that dont have a hospital or school. Bus co's collect subsidies for running to those quieter areas and buses run less than a handful of times that dont suit anyone. Would be very shocked if that doesn't happen here too if they privatise. Then there is the whole under paid/overtired drivers issue.

bobbyss

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

They aren't financially viable now: Bus Éireann are paid subsidies to run them.
There's no reason why privately-owned companies should not have access to the same subsidies.


I've also heard lately that CityLink now do take the FreeTravel pass on their services - except on Galway/Dublin. I don't know if this was in response to the strike, or started before it. But it apparently has been a lifeline for people in Connemarra with no BE services running.

My understanding is that Citylink have been taking the FT Pass for quite some time bar the Dublin route.

inisboffin

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

They aren't financially viable now: Bus Éireann are paid subsidies to run them.
There's no reason why privately-owned companies should not have access to the same subsidies.


I've also heard lately that CityLink now do take the FreeTravel pass on their services - except on Galway/Dublin. I don't know if this was in response to the strike, or started before it. But it apparently has been a lifeline for people in Connemarra with no BE services running.

I think both CL and GB *used* to take the Free Travel. Do you know why they got rid of it on the Galway to Dublin? Is it because BE had the Free Travel monopoly or something.

I remember someone having hassle getting on with a Free Travel pass from Galway to Clifden on City Link. Is that ok again now?

gordongekko

inisboffin wrote: »

I think both CL and GB *used* to take the Free Travel. Do you know why they got rid of it on the Galway to Dublin? Is it because BE had the Free Travel monopoly or something.

I remember someone having hassle getting on with a Free Travel pass from Galway to Clifden on City Link. Is that ok again now?

They only got paid a fixed sum per annum. So they had the crazy situation of a bus full of free passes who in reality were paying about €1 while leaving full paying passengers behind

inisboffin

gordongekko wrote: »

They only got paid a fixed sum per annum. So they had the crazy situation of a bus full of free passes who in reality were paying about €1 while leaving full paying passengers behind

Wow. A bus full of free passes? I wonder how often this happened as they are on the hour pretty much.

Did it only happen on the Dub/Galway route or do you know what the deal is with the Gal/Clifden?

Why doesn't the same thing happen on the train I wonder?

gordongekko

inisboffin wrote: »

Wow. A bus full of free passes? I wonder how often this happened as they are on the hour pretty much.

Did it only happen on the Dub/Galway route or do you know what the deal is with the Gal/Clifden?

Why doesn't the same thing happen on the train I wonder?

Here is a previous thread. I haven't read it yet.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056741610&page=3

bobbyss

inisboffin wrote: »

Wow. A bus full of free passes? I wonder how often this happened as they are on the hour pretty much.

Did it only happen on the Dub/Galway route or do you know what the deal is with the Gal/Clifden?

Why doesn't the same thing happen on the train I wonder?

Any time I am queuing for a ticket at Heuston St for Galway I notice so, so many people holding those free passes. I would put the percentage at 50% at least on what I see. Incredible.

I thought there was a time when you could use them only outside rush hour?

ben.schlomo

Bredabe wrote: »

I see this here, some routes were privatised, lots of expensive buses to popular routes and fewer busses to less popular areas-like those that dont have a hospital or school. Bus co's collect subsidies for running to those quieter areas and buses run less than a handful of times that dont suit anyone. Would be very shocked if that doesn't happen here too if they privatise. Then there is the whole under paid/overtired drivers issue.

Certainly aren't any underpaid drivers in BE anyway,overpaid and not doing enough work inmy experience.

Mrs OBumble

inisboffin wrote: »

Wow. A bus full of free passes? I wonder how often this happened as they are on the hour pretty much.

Did it only happen on the Dub/Galway route or do you know what the deal is with the Gal/Clifden?

Why doesn't the same thing happen on the train I wonder?

CityLink had stopped taking them at all. But as I've recently learned, they have started again on all routes except Dublin/Galway express (ie they even take them on the multi-stop Dublin/Galway). Officially you have to book in advance using a special page on their website.

GoBus still don't take them.

It wouldn't surprise me if a large proportion of a train or inter-city bus was people on FTP at certain times of the day. Ditto the suburban buses at some times of day. (Don't every assume that a bus at 10am will be faster than one at 8am - there may be fewer passengers, but they take longer on average to get on and off.)

There are no rules about hours when the FTP can be used: sometimes elderly/disabled people have hospital appointments first thing in the morning, so they should be allowed to use them then is how the argument goes. I don't know if there ever were such rules here. Despite this, some of the private companies do take them, despite the effective fares they get from DSP being very, very low.

Mrs OBumble

Bredabe wrote: »

I see this here, some routes were privatised, lots of expensive buses to popular routes and fewer busses to less popular areas-like those that dont have a hospital or school. Bus co's collect subsidies for running to those quieter areas and buses run less than a handful of times that dont suit anyone. Would be very shocked if that doesn't happen here too if they privatise. Then there is the whole under paid/overtired drivers issue.

Where is here, please?

In Ireland, privates started operating on some inner city and inter-town routes that the state-owned bus company didn't want to serve. Some are better operations than the state owned company (Mr Burke and Mr BusLink, take a bow), some are worse (no names shall pass my fingers), many are much the same.

Bus Éireann aren't being missed as much as they would have hoped.

Bredabe

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Where is here, please?

In Ireland, privates started operating on some inner city and inter-town routes that the state-owned bus company didn't want to serve. Some are better operations than the state owned company (Mr Burke and Mr BusLink, take a bow), some are worse (no names shall pass my fingers), many are much the same.

Outer London and my colleagues in Birmingham have said the same, spend time in galway as part of my work as well, the only bus that works for my timetable and area is BE, tho the other crowd pass through one an hour and are a ten minute walk from me, BE are less than 5. While that's not a bad thing, as im able bodies and not overly tied to time. I can't see parts of say knocknacarra/barna being serviced on a regular enough basis to satisfy demand, due to population with private busses when BE dont do it. I dont have the answers, but what I referred is the way privatisation works in lots of places

pure.conya

gordongekko wrote: »

The dont seems aworried about the poor retired elderly people that was left without a bus service.

I use the bus service a lot at weekends so i find it a pain in the arse. Its also a 2 day camel ride to go for a pint now.

ya what a bunch of pr1ck$ the bus drivers are, they should really have accepted any cuts to their wages and entitlements just to suit the poor retired eldrely people that are left without a bus service temporarily, it's not forever like

cop onto yourself there Gordo

what_traffic

ben.schlomo wrote: »

Got a bike, won't be going back to bus eireann bar very bad weather. Hopefully they go tits up soon.

How will you be able to use the Bus Eireann services in bad weather if you hope they will go bust? Don't get it.

I cycle 95% of time in Galway City but I really value the services Bus Eireann put on in the City, they take many cars off the road in a City that already has so much car traffic (much of it generated from the County but thats for another thread).

schemingbohemia

Bredabe wrote: »

Outer London and my colleagues in Birmingham have said the same, spend time in galway as part of my work as well, the only bus that works for my timetable and area is BE, tho the other crowd pass through one an hour and are a ten minute walk from me, BE are less than 5. While that's not a bad thing, as im able bodies and not overly tied to time. I can't see parts of say knocknacarra/barna being serviced on a regular enough basis to satisfy demand, due to population with private busses when BE dont do it. I dont have the answers, but what I referred is the way privatisation works in lots of places

Not the way it will happen here. The winners of the tender get a set fee for delivery of a set number of services to a set standard.
BE, if still in existence, will be able to apply for these as well.

Mrs OBumble

what_traffic wrote: »

How will you be able to use the Bus Eireann services in bad weather if you hope they will go bust? Don't get it.

It's not BE or no one. If BE go bust, then its likely that Stagecoach or similar would tender to run the service.

While it would be great to see one of the local operators get it, i doubt they could scale up to the required extent quickly enough.

Mrs OBumble

Bredabe wrote: »

. I can't see parts of say knocknacarra/barna being serviced on a regular enough basis to satisfy demand, due to population with private busses when BE dont do it.

Are you familiar with what happened in the Rahoon end of Knocknacarra?

I wasn't here for it, but have been told that BE basically weren't interested in serving all the new developments there - and thats jow CityDirect got a look in.

Bredabe

schemingbohemia wrote: »

Not the way it will happen here. The winners of the tender get a set fee for delivery of a set number of services to a set standard.
BE, if still in existence, will be able to apply for these as well.

I hope it works the way you think it will, what i have seen is the private busses either stop in places so far from where the centre of population that it's impossible for some sectors of the population to get to the stop OR that they take the money and run the bus to those less populated areas at times no one wants to travel and years down the line, use lack of use as an excuse to not run the bus at all.

Bredabe

ben.schlomo wrote: »

Certainly aren't any underpaid drivers in BE anyway,overpaid and not doing enough work in my experience.

I dont know the figures for BE, but I do know men who drive for private busses, and it works out as less than minimum wage, meaning they have to drive more hours/tired. That is dangerous and its not what I want to see in Galway.

Bredabe

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Are you familiar with what happened in the Rahoon end of Knocknacarra?

I wasn't here for it, but have been told that BE basically weren't interested in serving all the new developments there - and thats jow CityDirect got a look in.

Yes, I remember and those routes were in dire need of an alternative route, tho CD dont service my route well at all. That in a nutshell is what im saying, private busses may not be the answer ppl think it is.

gordongekko

pure.conya wrote: »

ya what a bunch of pr1ck$ the bus drivers are, they should really have accepted any cuts to their wages and entitlements just to suit the poor retired eldrely people that are left without a bus service temporarily, it's not forever like

cop onto yourself there Gordo

Not sure what the aggressive posting is about. But in case you didn't notice we are in the 21st century. They should be able to sit down like adults and resolve their differences instead of stamping their feet and withdrawing their labour.

gordongekko

Bredabe wrote: »

I hope it works the way you think it will, what i have seen is the private busses either stop in places so far from where the centre of population

Why would they not go to where the population are?

Mrs OBumble

Bredabe wrote: »

Yes, I remember and those routes were in dire need of an alternative route, tho CD dont service my route well at all. That in a nutshell is what im saying, private busses may not be the answer ppl think it is.

They wanted to do every 15 minutes in Knockers but the NTA would only license them for every 30 minutes on each of the two routes.

The whole sparse service for Bearna is a bit odd, I agree. Not sure why its not done as an all day service. But i dont think it's any more the fault of yhe private sector operstor than the state owned one.

Bredabe

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

They wanted to do every 15 minutes in Knockers but the NTA would only license them for every 30 minutes on each of the two routes.

The whole sparse service for Bearna is a bit odd, I agree. Not sure why its not done as an all day service. But i dont think it's any more the fault of yhe private sector operator than the state owned one.

In my area we have the added issue of their stops being further away, which is odd as the area has a mixture of old ppl and young families with kids/buggies.

Im not surprised about NTA here, but my concern is that if the like of CD and other private services can't get it sorted, it may stay that way. Fewer busses and harder/more expensive to use. I think with bearna that it's the lack of numbers using the route and the car culture.

what_traffic

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

It's not BE or no one. If BE go bust, then its likely that Stagecoach or similar would tender to run the service.

But that is NOT what was said.
ben.schlomo said

Got a bike,won't be going back to bus eireann bar very bad weather. Hopefully they go tits up soon.

that is why I questioned that statement.

ben.schlomo

what_traffic wrote: »

But that is NOT what was said.
ben.schlomo said


that is why I questioned that statement.

Tough to figure it out alright!!!!!! Hope you're not too stumped.

Mrs OBumble

Bredabe wrote: »

Im not surprised about NTA here, but my concern is that if the like of CD and other private services can't get it sorted, it may stay that way. Fewer busses and harder/more expensive to use. I think with bearna that it's the lack of numbers using the route and the car culture.

The NTA for the most part are on the right track here.

And the council are not as silly as everyone makes them out to be. They won a fight with BE a few years ago about exclusive bus stops: BE were saying that the stops were theirs, and other companies couldn't use them - the council wouldn't have a bar of it.

I have no doubt there will be some mistakes (especially if giving more work to privates has to be done quicker than desired), but Ireland is definitely moving in the right direction public-transport wise: thing are hugely better than they were when I came here 10 years ago.

what_traffic

ben.schlomo wrote: »

Tough to figure it out alright!!!!!! Hope you're not too stumped.

Not stumped at all. Looks like you are happy to contradict yourself.

pjohnson

The Barna/Lettermullen/Spiddal routes are all PSO and would still be so under any company if the Unions do make BE fold. Cant see why that'll change.

ben.schlomo

what_traffic wrote: »

Not stumped at all. Looks like your happy to contradict yourself.

Hope you're(or is it your, any idea?) happy with the clarification.

what_traffic

ben.schlomo wrote: »

Hope you're(or is it your, any idea?) happy with the clarification.

Ha ha - grammer as a last resort?

ben.schlomo

what_traffic wrote: »

Ha ha - grammer as a last resort?

Yawn. You're dragging this thread off topic, best to leave it.

On topic, the strike seems unlikely to end soon after the talks broke down again.

what_traffic

ben.schlomo wrote: »

Yawn. You're dragging this thread off topic, best to leave it.

Very clear who is not addressing the topic, so here is your quote again.

Got a bike,won't be going back to bus eireann bar very bad weather. Hopefully they go tits up soon.

How can you expect to use Bus Eireann services when the weather is to bad on the bike and then in the next sentence hope that they go bust?

pjohnson

what_traffic wrote: »

Very clear who is not addressing the topic, so here is your quote again.



How can you expect to use Bus Eireann services when the weather is to bad on the bike and then in the next sentence hope that they go bust?

I would assume he meant that even if BE does actually start doing thier jobs he will ignore them in favour of cycling. This isnt rocket science..

biko

what_traffic, drop it now please.

Folks, the topic of the thread is how are you coping without bus services?
For me, I drive and walk anyway so lack of bus services doesn't really impact me.
Herself gets a private bus to work.

gordongekko

Limited services running this evening seen a 402 and a 409

J.pilkington

Bredabe wrote: »

What about the able bodied BE drivers who will be perceived as too old by the private companies, but would have been able to work out the time till their retirement?

I have been on plenty of gobus, citylink, Burke's etc services where drivers are not exactly spring chickens. All they care is that the driver can safety drive the bus and deliver passengers happily and safely to their destination without damaging their expensive assets.

Therefore are you saying that one of the reasons the tax payer should continue to fund bus Éireann is so that we have a semi retirement home for drivers who can no longer drive to the standard of private operators and at the same time pay them almost 2x (after pension, overtime rates etc) of the industry standard? And let them have a €400k asset to play bumper cars with?

Are the drivers you mention the ones who cause so much damage to the bus Éireann coaches? Their coaches always have a much larger amount of damage than normal coaches. If so these drivers should no longer be driving, they are costing the tax payers thousands and thousands in damage. I have been at the bus station plenty of times when bus Éireann drivers rub other coaches / reverse into walls / scrape bodywork of kerbs and they don't even investigate the damage. It's clear that the standard required is not as high as it should be, it's percieved as a job for life (unions) so zero consequences for incompetence.