The Dublin Coach Experience

The_Wanderer

The_Wanderer wrote: »

Myself and a friend were forced to use both operators last October when we got stranded overnight in Leipzig after hurricane force winds seriously disrupted DB rail services in northern Germany.

Flixbus to Berlin from Leipzig at 0530 in the morning and found our train to Poznan was also cancelled so we used Polskibus from Berlin to Poznan.

Both buses pretty much full, but late due to tight schedules and traffic congestion.

Have to say I was impressed with FlixBus. Had a 5 hour cross-border journey and while there was a delay which was frustrating there were a couple of automated texts to let me know so I could have pints at the bus station and relax. :P Buses were clean, comfortable, charging points and all that jazz and all for €9 booked the day before.

bk

Stephen15 wrote: »

In fact most low cost operators have the newest vehicles in order to save money as newer vehicles can be cheaper if bought in bulk, they require less maintenance also saving on cost and are generally more fuel efficient.

Very much the same as the Ryanair model. Ryanair have the youngest airline fleet in the world. Buy in large bulk, so get a discount from the manufacture, young age so has low maintenance costs, plus most major maintenance falls under the manufactures warranty anyway due to the young age and of course the latest fuel efficiency technology.

It is counter intuitive how the cheapest airlines can have the newest fleets.

However doing the above requires deep pockets for the initial capital. I suspect DC simply doesn't have access to that kind of money. Also it feels like they are just trying to grab as much market in the short term, at the expense of long term profitability. That would perhaps make sense if the business plan is to sell DC in the short term. The more market share you have, the higher you can sell it for.

Though I'd hope any buyer would take into account the investment they would need to fix the deficiencies in the fleet and bring it up to a stable standard. But then some companies specialise in the sort of thing.

AlekSmart

bk wrote: »

..............

............................It is counter intuitive how the cheapest airlines can have the newest fleets.

However doing the above requires deep pockets for the initial capital. I suspect DC simply doesn't have access to that kind of money. Also it feels like they are just trying to grab as much market in the short term, at the expense of long term profitability. That would perhaps make sense if the business plan is to sell DC in the short term. The more market share you have, the higher you can sell it for.

Though I'd hope any buyer would take into account the investment they would need to fix the deficiencies in the fleet and bring it up to a stable standard. But then some companies specialise in the sort of thing.

The arrival of the Go-Ahead group onto the Republic's playing field might provide an interested party,specifically for the Cityscape operation.

Go-Ahead already have a substantial level of experience,either directly or via link-ups,in operating short-duration City Tours....

https://www.oxfordbus.co.uk/open-top-tours/

http://www.buses.co.uk/page.shtml?pageid=1344

https://www.chambersbus.co.uk/coaches/

https://www.goaheadlondon.com/bus_hire

If,as it appears the Go-Ahead group is gearing up for further expansion into the Republic,then ALL of the Dublin City Tour operators would be a valuable asset for any interested,and well resourced newcomer.

However,given the past experience of DC's senior management with developing & selling-on as a concept,it would hardly be surprising should such a situation occur ?

bk

AlekSmart wrote: »

The arrival of the Go-Ahead group onto the Republic's playing field might provide an interested party,specifically for the Cityscape operation.

Yes, I was thinking exactly that. GA have clearly shown that they are interested in more then just City bus services with them also winning some BE Kildare routes.

Actually the more I think of it, the more it seems like almost a perfect fit. DC operates a lot of services around Red Cow, which is very close to GA's new depot. GA's ex-BE Kildare routes will overlap a lot with DC's M7 services. The tours, Belfast route and M9 services would be an added bonus.

GA's depot there could end up having City buses, tour buses and medium and long distance coaches for all those routes. It would give them real scale from which to grow.

Let me say, that I've zero knowledge of this, just pure speculation, but it does make a massive amount of sense.

AlekSmart wrote: »

However,given the past experience of DC's senior management with developing & selling-on as a concept,it would hardly be surprising should such a situation occur ?

Yes, I wouldn't be surprised at all. It would easily explain why they seem to be trying to expand so quickly, while not really having the resources (fleet or money to buy new coaches) to really do so. It is poor from a customers perspective, but can be a business gamble that can pay off big (or go terribly wrong).

Chivito550

I’ll probably need to get a bus to Waterford with Dublin Coach on Saturday. Where on earth is the bus stop exactly on Burgh Quay? Can’t find any info on their website.

Can you pay on the bus?

punisher5112

Chivito550 wrote: »

I’ll probably need to get a bus to Waterford with Dublin Coach on Saturday. Where on earth is the bus stop exactly on Burgh Quay? Can’t find any info on their website.

Can you pay on the bus?

Directly beside the new Luas line/bridge.
Book online I believe works out cheaper and you can pay on board but have small amounts as in €50 or definitely less.

patrickc

I was behind a 161 tourismo today on another bus, the paint on the tourismo looks to be peeling or fading I'm not sure which but the back, top of it and along the sides are all going brown.

just a bad paint job or what would cause this after only 2 years?

colm_mcm

Could they have been wrapped?

patrickc

colm_mcm wrote: »

Could they have been wrapped?

I'be no idea how would you tell that?

colm_mcm

You’d normally only know once they’ve been scuffed or it starts peeling. Don’t know how commonplace wrapping is on coaches but I’d imagine if the bus is leased (dunno if they are) or if a rebrand is imminent (again, don’t know) it would be more palatable than painting them bright green?

punisher5112

They're painted unfortunately it's a terrible colour.

colm_mcm

It is very distinctive to be fair.

ayux4rj6zql2ph

This post has been deleted.

punisher5112

colm_mcm wrote: »

It is very distinctive to be fair.

A shiny green would be much nicer.

It's puke or snot green..... Yuk

ayux4rj6zql2ph

This post has been deleted.

punisher5112

Prisoner 6753 wrote: »

Metallic Bottle green/British racing green?

Any green but that one;-)

tabbey

punisher5112 wrote: »

It's puke or snot green..... Yuk

It is apple green, personally I like it, but each to his/her own.

Snot green is the colour of the sea, at least according to James Joyce, who referred to the snot green sea.

s14driftking

Broke down on chaplizorod bypass yesterday entering onto the m50 caused huge tail backs into the city

devnull

Got delayed coming into airport yesterday and had to be near the Red Cow in a hurry so took Dublin Coach.

Was one of the Vanhools. Smell of petrol and whilst not really tired not in great nick. Flew down the m50 passing a lot of cars. Certainly going fast. Seemed to change lanes a lot and got horned few times by other drivers. Refused to help with luggage. Told passengers to put it in back luggage pen themselves.

ayux4rj6zql2ph

This post has been deleted.

devnull

I have no idea but I only smelt the petrol when we were moving. I got the impression the driver didn't want to get out of his cab since he didn't even check the locker was closed.

Remember on the double deck coaches the pen is not under the coach but a door on the coach. Isn't a driver supposed to operate such compartment not leave passengers to do it themselves?

I always am pleasant to staff if they are nice to me. Always thank the driver etc. Appreciate good manners and customer service.

ayux4rj6zql2ph

This post has been deleted.

devnull

Sorry I meant diesel. I tend to use the word petrol to cover fuel in general.

Yeah I saw passenger be asked to put luggage into the compartment and heard her shut the door at the back. From the moment the bus pulled up and left driver didn't leave the cab. Was running late so perhaps played a part.

I generally am nice to staff unless they are rude or not nice to me in which case I am indifferent. I generally am not one to argue unless it's really ridiculous, and that is more often the case on Irish Rail rather than buses.

punisher5112

If there is a diesel smell there could be a leak or a panel not sealed right.

You will get this on other buses also especially after a service or when some work was carried out to the fuel tank area.

Stephen15

devnull wrote: »

Sorry I meant diesel. I tend to use the word petrol to cover fuel in general.

Yeah I saw passenger be asked to put luggage into the compartment and heard her shut the door at the back. From the moment the bus pulled up and left driver didn't leave the cab. Was running late so perhaps played a part.

I generally am nice to staff unless they are rude or not nice to me in which case I am indifferent. I generally am not one to argue unless it's really ridiculous, and that is more often the case on Irish Rail rather than buses.

I find older coaches to quite often smell like diesel.

road_high

Stephen15 wrote: »

I find older coaches to quite often smell like diesel.

Or worse!

devnull

Just a heads up to say that there is a fairly decent fare hike on the way for the M7 service if you're buying on bus:
http://www.dublincoach.ie/news.php#141

ayux4rj6zql2ph

This post has been deleted.

soundman45

Was chatting to a guy that worked for them and it seems they pay the drivers a price per trip completed so no extra for traffic delays and breakdowns. I'd say lads are queuing at the gates hoping to get a job with them.

ayux4rj6zql2ph

This post has been deleted.