BusConnects Dublin - Bus Network Changes Discussion

thomasj

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122714522#Comment_122714522

Sounds like Phibsboro and/or Summerhill will get the next batch of EWs with their older buses being deployed to the other depots ?

LXFlyer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122714537#Comment_122714537

Given they’re the only ones equipped so far, that would be the case yes.

TranslatorPS

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122714509#Comment_122714509

That hourly frequency will be similar to the tune of the Cs – each service is every hour, but together they form an f-15 bundle from Ringsend to Lucan. Here one can expect the E2 to also run an hourly night service, providing f-30 from Ballymun to Deansgrange. The main question is whether Bray and Dun Laoghaire will be happy with an f-60 night service each when Lucan has a collective f-30 meandering around its estates and another f-30 on the N4.

Since it doesn't appear that they're looking at doing a central transfer spot kind of night service meet-up, one should wonder if having each service every 40' at night, for an f-20 core, wouldn't be better – who knows, perhaps it's been considered, but the resources (not) available are limiting it.

p_haugh

Will the 46n be affected at all? Will provide a nice bit of extra capacity on Friday & Saturday nights if it's kept.

mikeybhoy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122714522#Comment_122714522

The whole rollout of electric buses in Dublin has been a clusterfcuk surely they should've just ordered more PAs to finish off the rest of the AXs, EVs and VGs and then look at electrics. DB used to have a fairly rigid 14 year rule until now.

LXFlyer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122715126#Comment_122715126

I think that we will just have to wait and see.

CatInABox

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122715649#Comment_122715649

They're in somewhat of a pickle though, as the government are desperate to reduce emissions due to the legally binding targets that they signed up for.

It's mad, but as far as I know, the emissions reduction that you get from improving the bus service isn't counted in the same way, so if you remove thousands of cars by getting people into the bus, that isn't reflected in the accounting, whereas replacing diesel buses with electric buses is, despite having a much smaller impact.

They'd have been better off buying more, cheaper diesel buses, but then that wouldn't have made a dent in the emissions accounting, in fact it would have made it worse.

LXFlyer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122715649#Comment_122715649

I’m not sure that would have been a solution either - from my understanding, Alexander Dennis didn’t particularly cover themselves in glory with those buses.

trellheim

I ran past Coynyngham road and Heuston last night. There is nothing I can see for traffic infra about the needed left turn /right turn for the O route ( and eventual poss N2 reroute ) onto/off Sean Heuston Bridge .. or filter right up Infirmary Road …. be a while yet I'd say and it'd need to be tied into LUAS signalling too.

noelfirl

TBH, it wouldn't surprise me if the O is introduced as running to/from Parkgate Street ("for Heuston Station") for the purposes of travelling up/down Infirmary Road. IIRC they painted some bus cages outside/adjacent to the old car dealership for holding 46a buses - would make sense for those to be repurposed for the O. The changes to signalling on Sean Heuston Bridge will be significant and complicated.

Unless that is, it's been clearly indicated somewhere that changes will be made (and I may have missed it)?

BlueSkyDreams

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122716892#Comment_122716892

How does the govt measure the volume of commuters transferring from car to bus travel?

Listening to the radio at the weekend and there was a whole segment on the importance of car travel in County Wexford, focused on a major town there.

All contributors were 100% in favour of town centre car parking and wanted to see it encouraged.

I understnad they won't have a bus network like Dublin has, but it was very revealing that all parties were in favour of car travel and parking. Public transport was barely mentioned, if even mentioned at all.

AX636

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122715649#Comment_122715649

The PA/PAD'S had issues aswel constantly breaking down, there was a reason why only 280 where ordered

trellheim

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122717723#Comment_122717723

they'll need traffic light rework on the steevens lane side into and out of Heuston as well , again matched up with the trams, and an 8 min peak time frequency is just going to get trapped in James Hospital/Childrens Hospital traffic as theres only a tiny bit of bus lane on James St unless they let the G and the O run on the tram tracks

TonyK45

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TonyK45

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TonyK45

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122120786#Comment_122120786

I was in London last month, and tap to pay didn't accept any non UK back cards! Definitely going backwards.

TonyK45

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122713121#Comment_122713121

But that would be way too logical for DB!

LXFlyer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122718351#Comment_122718351

It can be space related, plus the 15a/15b/15d has a good amount of electric buses operating them. They may want to keep them on those routes for now.

TonyK45

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122717777#Comment_122717777

Outside Dublin car travel is a tradition.

TheChrisD

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122717723#Comment_122717723

Don't see why they'd stop it up there when the bus can use the quays and turn around on Rory O'More bridge.

trellheim

well thats where the 46a currently turns so it would be faster there. But I can't see this working - where would you turn the other end of the O if its not actually going to be an orbital ? I can see a horrendous routing going northbound James St→Bow Ln→Irwin St→Military Road→and back onto Johns Road ( or alternatively down the SCR→Islandbridge→Coynyngham Rd and back on plan) … but without the infra works it will all be hopelessly snarled

halfpastneverr

Are Go Ahead going to be getting any electric/hybrid vehicles any time soon? or will they get the rickety EV's and auld GT's as cast offs when DB get more electrics in?

mikeybhoy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122719417#Comment_122719417

Go-Ahead only have 12 GTs and have not received any EVs from Dublin Bus. They have been getting 6 and 7 year old (2017 and 2018) SGs transferred from Dublin Bus by the NTA. Which are hardly ancient now.

Also I was under the impression the NTA wanted the hybrids/electrics prioritised on city centre routes. Even when DB had the current GAI routes most of them always got the older stock anyway. Many of the GAI routes were the last to get low floor buses when DB operated them.

bk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122719729#Comment_122719729

I believe the GT’s, SG’s and newer are actually owned by the NTA, while the older models were bought directly by DB. Probably makes it easier for the NTA to transfer them to GAI.

john boye

It's OK for now but the GAI fleet will probably start to look old soon if they just keep getting second-hand SGs from DB.

bk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122720290#Comment_122720290

I’m sure they will get some PA/EW’s eventually, though have to keep in mind that the NTA would need to pay to install charging infrastructure in the GAI depot to support Electric buses, so it adds cost and complexity.

Also if their are lots of breakdowns with the PA’s as others have mentioned, then a smaller fleet would find it harder to absorb those breakdowns.

p_haugh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122720311#Comment_122720311

Their recent depot upgrades in Ballymount included provision for charging infastructre in the planning application, so they're good to go on that front. Just need to get a contractor.

dublinman1990

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122720343#Comment_122720343

That's good to hear. Where would the new chargers go if they were eventually installed in Ballymount?

john boye

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122720311#Comment_122720311

I believe the PAs aren't charged but I open to correction on that.

Also I don't think breakdowns per se are the main issue with PAs, it's the subpar support system that ADL has set up over here.

p_haugh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122720371#Comment_122720371

This is from the planning application, there's space for 45 EV charging spaces on the Ballymount Road Lower side of the site.

Interestingly, this was mentioned in another document

At the time of writing in July 2021, it is intended that construction will commence in 2022 with installation of the electrical charge elements in time for the new electric buses anticipated in 2023.

Obviously that didn't transpire in the end, but interesting to see them preparing for it none the less!