Newry Notice RE Double Deckers

XPS_Zero

I noticed a sign in Newry today regarding BE stopping using double deckers on the X1 route, it was basically a "f---k off and stop blaming us it's not our fault" noticed, and on both the way down and back the numbers were so tight on the way up some people were nearly left behind and on the way back a few WERE left behind.
I normally would not use the bus I take the train as I can't stand how uncomfortable busses are (not to mention wifi on the X1/2 route be it Goldline or BE never ever ever EVER works) but I got to Connoly for 11:45 thinking Id be getting the 12 train forgetting sunday hours don't apply to the Enterprise on bank holiday because NI isn't having one so I was faced with the choice to either wait an hour and twenty just to get going or get on a cramped bus where I'd be there by the time the Enterprise left Dublin.

It was jammed and horribly uncomfortable.

Have they stopped using double deckers on this route?

I also noticed a few times now Goldline only seems to occasionally have a double decker on the X3 Derry route sometimes only a single decker which strikes me as bizarre for such a long route where there always seems to be a decent que.

devnull

I've noticed that the X1 on the Bus Eireann end seems to be operating with mostly hired in coaches the last week or two, it was posted somewhere else that it's because of the fact that drivers from these routes have been covering for routes on the 109 and NX but I don't know if that is true.

By the way, the Dublin Coach and Aircoach vehicles on the route are very comfortable they are both operating tri-axle coaches with two rows removed from the standard configuration to give more space.

XPS_Zero

Are they running out of coaches to cover demand? Didn'd BE just spend a fortune on new coaches recently?

I have seen many on here describe the new BE coaches as very comfortable, this is I think just my personal issue that I find them very confined and always prefer the train, esp today when bags were EVERYWHERE in the back row my elbows were banging off the guy next to me and the guy in front of me had his seat so far back i could not open my laptop all the way

devnull

XPS_Zero wrote: »

Are they running out of coaches to cover demand? Didn'd BE just spend a fortune on new coaches recently?

It's not about coaches it's about drivers because of the current issues with the PSO routes I described and high levels of absence of the staff means staff from commercial routes such as the X1 are said to be being drafted in to cover for said drivers who are out sick.

This is then being back-filled by hiring in staff and vehicles for the commercial routes that normally have buses but do not have drivers because these services will not carry penalties if they are not run in line with the requirements of the PSO contract since they are commercial routes.

I have seen many on here describe the new BE coaches as very comfortable, this is I think just my personal issue that I find them very confined and always prefer the train, esp today when bags were EVERYWHERE in the back row my elbows were banging off the guy next to me and the guy in front of me had his seat so far back i could not open my laptop all the way

The Bus Eireann latest coaches are better than previous ones and they have improved in relation to this, but their standard tri-axle Expressway coach would still have two more rows more seating than similar length coach operated by Dublin Coach and Aircoach on the Belfast route for instance which would translate to less space.