BusConnects Dublin - Bus Network Changes Discussion

bk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122796565#Comment_122796565

Also it's quite the leap to go from someone pointing out how unreliable recent purchases have been (with no end in sight) to pretending to think that person might be suggesting we stop buying new buses altogether. Disingenuous almost.

What is the solution so?

I'm honestly not being argumentative, I really don't see another option here.

Also, are there really serious issues with the EW? Generally I've heard most drivers really like them and while there has been the odd issue, the issues sound relatively minor and more like teething issues that should be fixable, rather then serious issues. Of course I'm not a driver, so I'm fully open to being corrected.

As an aside, everyone seems to LOVE the EA class. Single decker though.

Fizzy Duck

One of the main issues with the EW's are the heating 8n the cab and saloon. Of course wrights also built the streetlites (121xx) which had the same issues and were never resolved.

john boye

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122797702#Comment_122797702

You seemed to suggest the older members of the fleet are unreliable, I pointed out that the SGs p!ss weak engines are still conking out at a rate that far exceeds anything in recent memory. I wasn't talking about "new" buses, just younger buses. And it's just been accepted as part and parcel now. Wright have thrown their hat at it, which they have a habit of doing eventually (see above). You then did your usual thing of dragging the arse out of that and turn it into me suggesting we stop buying new buses.

I'm not talking about the EW and I'm not sure how you arrived at that assumption. If there are issues with the EW then it's a bit more understandable than the SG problems as it's completely new technology and they will hopefully be sorted in time.

bk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122798088#Comment_122798088

Okay, if the EW's are working well and don't have "major" issues (of course accepting what Fizzy says about heating) then that is very good news, as we have hundreds more of those buses coming.

They seem to be a very nice bus from a passenger perspective, they are obviously great for the environment and peoples health and drivers seem to like the performance of the electric motor. If they can resolve the heating issues and mirrors, then it sounds like they might be a great bus.

Before these arrived I think a lot of people would have been dubious about battery buses, if they would have enough range, etc. But fortunately that doesn't seem to be a major issue which sounds like great news. So they just need to work out the kinks with heating, etc.

The SG's having piss poor engines, yes that isn't surprising at all, they are Euro 6 engines, which are focused on reducing emissions as much as possible which unfortunately led to poor performance. The complexity of this sort of emission reducing tech also tends to lead to more complexity and less reliability. I've long felt that we have gone as far as we can with Diesel engines and Euro 6 was probably already a step too far. You need at very least Hybrid engines and the SG's really should have been a hybrid, it was already mature tech by then.

The good thing about BEV's is that it really fixes this issue. You get the best of both worlds, powerful motors, while having zero emissions.

bk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122796490#Comment_122796490

Apparently the next batch of 50 or so EW's are coming soon, so that should see out the AX's and thus all non Euro 4 buses.

The NTA have ordered a total of 421 EW's so far (for both DB/BE). So the next batch beyond that of 210 EW's will likely see out all the VG, EV and VT, unless some end up hanging around for a while longer to cover BusConnects expansion.

Also, while on the topic of the old busses, is there a chance they will replace the VTs with another 3-axle bus? Or will they likely just replace them with the EWs to keep things standardised?

Don't know. There are far less VT's on the road then in the past. A possible replacement would be the ADL Envrio500EV, a BEV tri-axle. I don't think Wrights has any tri-axles. So options are limited.

PlatformNine

https://busconnects.ie/phase-6a-e-spine-launching-8-12-24/

Phase 6A is on the way!

trellheim

The incorrect/misleading information on the busconnects site is brutal.

For example the map linked in the previous post does not include the 11 route revision, nor its frequency, nor the 11b that may or may not be coming. And before someone says its not a busconnects route, its being done purely because of busconnects and not otherwise.

cantthinkofausername1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122798987#Comment_122798987

The S Orbitals phase map didn't include the 44d, the G Spine Phase map didn't include the revised 40 route

trellheim

Agreed ? Doesn't stop it being incorrect though ?

For me - a 46a customer on the NCR - where do I find a timetable and information about the bus I am supposed to get into town instead of the 46a ? Is it on that flyer linked above ? No its nowhere to be found. Neither is the fact that its only supposedly for a few months till its killed for the O.

LXFlyer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122798987#Comment_122798987

They’ve never included any re-routed existing services on the maps or brochures in any of the previous phases.

The changes to the 4, 11 and 13 are temporary alterations to existing routes - I imagine Dublin Bus will offer clearer info in due course as they are their services rather than BusConnects routes.

Timetables will be released closer to the time as they were in the all the other phases - they are just giving advance warning of the changes at the moment.

You are just going to have to be patient.

PlatformNine

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122798394#Comment_122798394

I could maybe see a few of the EVs lasting a bit longer, partially they seem to be in better condition than the AXs and VGs, but mainly I could see them being placed on some of the airport routes as I believe a number of them are fitted with luggage racks for operating as a 16. I have seen some SGs with them as well, but I am not sure how many have them fitted.

I am not really sure if they are needed, as I would think the capacity they add per bus would be matched if not increased by the added frequency of new and replacement routes. But I also know the 15 or so VTs primarily(only?) operate the 39/39A so that is potentially a good bit of lost capacity on that corridor. I doubt they want to keep them around long enough to make it a good investment, but I feel like they could be good for airport busses if they wanted to create a more airport dedicated variant of the A2. That said I doubt the VTs will still be in service when the A-spine is introduced.

p_haugh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122799904#Comment_122799904

The last ~20 SGs that were ordered came with luggage racks installed.

mikeybhoy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122800153#Comment_122800153

Apparently DB wanted luggage racks on some of the PAs but the NTA said no

magicbastarder

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122799358#Comment_122799358

there's a 'save our 11' campaign ramping up - we've seen small posters on some bus stops (at the north end of the route), and the SDs/rory ahearne (who is replacing roisin shortall as the SD candidate in the constituency) have dropped a leaflet in our letterbox supporting retaining it.

mikeybhoy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122799358#Comment_122799358

I think they would've been better off sending the 4 to the Phoenix Park and the 11 to Hueston Station. 4 has higher frequency for the NCR than the 11 and there's plenty of buses going down to Hueston anyway with the C spine.

thomasj

The Sunday frequencies for the E1 and E2 looks off. The busconnects frequency table shows it for 15 minutes, the latest frequency table shows 10 minutes.

loyatemu

L1/2/3 has the same frequency 7 days a week, which surprised me. Maybe it's an error?

BusGuy

Another "Save the __ bus route" campaign. Although, this is for the 11.

https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/north-dublin-communitys-fears-disconnect-30295816?int_source=nba

For the first time, I agree because, as a student in the Kilmacud-Stillorgan region, I need this bus home. I can change for the S4 at Bird Avenue, and I think that is the best route to not only change buses but also get some old buses, and yeah.

BusGuy

Also, I wonder what is going to happen in Phase 6B.. or is Phase 6B the E-spine?

thomasj

You know things are bad when you see learner drivers (and you can tell they're learner drivers) overtaking buses

dublinman1990

The Minister of State for Transport, James Lawless, has said the first phase of the new speed cameras to be used for BusConnects will be rolled out in 2025. A strategy document from TII on the new cameras will be published at the end of the year.

https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41509154.html

Daith

Some of the people wanting to "save the 11" are really just making up nonsense

Parnell St is too dangerous for them

magicbastarder

that was not suggested on the SD's leaflet about it - one concern raised that since the 19 is starting at the airport, it could be full by the time it gets to the area now served by the 11 (and that's one benefit of the 11 for us, you're guaranteed a seat heading inbound!); and that changing buses at parnell square will not be easy for the mobility impaired.

scrabtom

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122801210#Comment_122801210

100 cameras in 2025 is much more than I would have expected in the first year.

LXFlyer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122801551#Comment_122801551

There are going to be additional departures starting at Wadelai Estate right though during the morning peak and additional departures through the evening peak from Parnell Square going only as far as Wadelai Estate.

I think that they should alleviate the issue of getting on the bus.

VG31

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122801551#Comment_122801551

I would be very surprised if the 19 will be full by Wadelai. It looks like it will use a different stop at the airport (it has to really, the 16/41 stop is at capacity). That means that people will have to go out of their way to get the 19, so it's very unlikely to have tourists or people going into town using it. It will presumably be even slower than the 16 anyway.

If it was only every hour like it was originally, I could see it being a problem but not at every 20 minutes. I would be amazed if it was anywhere near as busy as the 16 or 41.

jd

I think the 19 coming from the airport will be mainly used by people/aiport workers going to Ballymun or Glasnevin North (Finglas East), I can't see too many others using it (given the location of the stop). Peak Services to/from Wadelai should address the concerns about capacity. Very handy to get to the sport pitches on the Old Airport Road too.

bk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122799904#Comment_122799904

Yes, I wouldn't be surprised if some EV and maybe some VT, given their unique ability hang around a little longer. It use to be relatively easy to predict when older buses would leave the fleet, but with the expansions coming from BusConnects and the need to install chargers for the EWs, means they have been sticking around longer then usual and even been pulled out of storage and put back into operation!

cantthinkofausername1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122801777#Comment_122801777

What fleet class of buses (such as SG, PA, EW etc) will the 19 most likely be allocated to

LXFlyer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122800712#Comment_122800712

Well I can understand why they’ve done this the way they have.

The 4 will be replaced by the B4 in due course which will use the Quays.

The 11 will be replaced by the 86 which will terminate at Mountjoy Square.

They’re trying to keep the changes to a minimum with an eye to future phases.