Citylink Complete Acquisition of GoBus

bk

Yes, I think the CCPC is wrong about this. However I wonder if the reality of the Limerick route having only one operator set a precedence for them. I do think the NTA will need to do something to encourage competition. It would suck if every route ends up with just one direct operator. That feels like it goes against what you see in mainland Europe with most routes having multiple operators.

The comments from Citylink would suggest that they plan to continue to grow and become Ireland's largest coach operator. I wonder what their next move will be, will they look to continue to buy other companies? Perhaps Dublin Coach? They would have a pretty complete network if they bought DC.

Or perhaps start up a Belfast route, which wouldn't require a route license and which Dublin Coach still hasn't restarted their service, potentially leaving room on the route.

Mrs OBumble

If Aircoach applied for a non-stop licence now, surely they'd get it?

devnull

A week after the takeover went through and still no mention of it from GoBus, their website still claims

Established in Galway in 2009, GoBus is locally owned and operated by Jim Burke and his family.

It seems that thus far as well, despite CityLink stating GoBus services would be bookable from 18th via their website, this has not happened.

bk

Perhaps someone has lost the password to both websites!

Mrs OBumble

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119369214#Comment_119369214

CityLink is very much up to date.

GoBus was updated with their new Cork City stop a few weeks ago.

I've been noticing a lack of small service tweaks from GoBus for months now: suspect management has been wound down with the merger coming.

devnull

Gobus Galway services from Monday are moving to the CityLink stop in Zone 13 at Dublin Airport from their own stop at Zone 10, which will no longer be used. The services will continue o be operated under the GoBus name.

I assume that they will either then rent zone 10 out to someone else or find some way of no longer having to pay the fees to Dublin Airport to lease it?

bk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119369411#Comment_119369411

To be honest I was just joking!

Though I’d point out that there is often different password/permissions/roles/process for posting a news item which would be part of the CMS (content management system) then updating the booking system. Usually they are two different systems, I can’t speak for Citylink, but for many companies it wouldn’t be unusual for office admin staff to have access to the CMS, while only management and IT staff have access to updating the booking system.

So throwing up some news items is often quick and easy, but updating booking systems can take longer and be much more involved. And of course there is the need to tie the to two booking systems together, merge them or replace the Gobus one. That would be a pretty major IT project.

Im sure it will eventually happen, I just wouldn’t be surprised if management underestimated what was involved and how long it would take.

bk

I don’t know if this is normal or not, but looking at the Gobus booking system, it currently only has entries for up until the end of September. Perhaps an indication of when the booking systems will move over.

devnull

CityLink website is now showing GoBus services on the booking engine.

It's going to be very hard for anyone to be able to compete with them and even if another operator does end up taking a non stop license, it's going to be pretty hard to make any money when you look at how comprehensive schedule CityLink have now.

Just a taste of what I am talking about

• 11:15 Galway to Dublin Express (CityLink)
• 11:30 Galway to Dublin Airport Express (Eireagle)
• 11:45 Galway to Dublin Express (GoBus)
• 12:00 Galway to Dublin Commuter (CityLink)
• 12:15 Galway to Dublin Express (CityLink)
• 12:30 Galway to Dublin Airport Express (Eireagle)
• 12:45 Galway to Dublin Express (GoBus)

We'll have to see how things on this corridor develop, but it's very much a market which is stacked in the favour of CityLink right now.

serfboard

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119390767#Comment_119390767

It’s ridiculous. Between them and Aircoach it’s technically a duopoly, but it’s effectively a monopoly. Can’t believe that the CCPC okayed it.

Vic_08

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119391314#Comment_119391314

The current licensing arrangements mean at best we get duopolys with little real competition once routes stabilise. On no "commercial" corridor have we ever had the sort of cheap fares commonly seen in countries with deregulated services.

Never mind, in Scotland Citylink's monopoly on long distance coach doesn't result in expensive fares...

...Except where the rail alternative is poor.

Mrs OBumble

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119381303#Comment_119381303

You may have been joking.

But I've seen exactly the "no one has the password" scenario (or similar, eg administrator rights to the Facebook page) in a couple of takeovers, including one public transport one.

It happens.

devnull

More services being added by both brands.

https://twitter.com/Gobus_ie/status/1553090230114197505

https://www.instagram.com/p/CgopkhOsWMi/

Apparently there might be more to come as well. The more they add, the less chance we are going to have of any real competition on this route.

Mrs OBumble

CityLink have been drip feeding new services into the timetable, 2 or 3 at time, for the last few months.

I travelled up and back with them on Monday. Pleasantly surprised that the web-fare is still €13 each way. Buses were totally full though, and the non-air-con coming back wad horrid.

Suspect supply and demand being very tightly managed.

devnull

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119433270#Comment_119433270

Yes, I noticed that and I was curious about if there was a conscious decision to do that before the takeover went through, since lets face it, the combination of these two companies has been in the fire for at least 18 months.

It was referred to CCPC all the way back in March 2021. I am honestly surprised it took so long to complete, which is why the rumours came out about it being off.

Vic_08

Obviously Citylink believe they can run both brands, keep both licences and block anyone else from competing.

I guess their opinion of the NTA's interest or ability to put passengers interests ahead of operator's profits match mine.

devnull

GoBus have now added another two services

https://twitter.com/Gobus_ie/status/1558088653716455427

devnull

GoBus have announced that they will be revising fares on their Dublin to Galway Service

https://gobus.ie/route-720-new-fare-structure/

The majority of changes effect on bus fares.

Dublin City to Galway On Bus Fare Changes

• Adult and child single fares increase by €1
• Adult and child return fares increase by €2
• Family single increases by €2
• Family return increases by €6
• No changes to student fares

Dublin Airport to Galway On Bus Fare Changes

• Adult single increases by €1
• Adult return increases by €2
• Child return drops by €1
• Family single increases by €5
• Family return drops by €2.
• No changes to student fares

mikeybhoy

I see GoBus have gotten some brand new Volvo 9700 that they're using on their Dublin to Cork route. These buses are in a new livery with both GoBus and CityLink branding. Have to say the coaches look lovely and and so does the livery. https://twitter.com/GoBusCork/status/1562452201540165632?t=1YzcDlf_r1JW6swsY5XvbA&s=19

devnull

Interesting that they've gone down that path on the Dublin to Cork route where CityLink have never had a presence.

It would make more sense from a customer perspective to have something like that on the Dublin to Galway Express route, especially when they're using the same stops at Dublin Airport, accepting each others tickets and the CityLink timetable includes GoBus services.

But I suspect there may well be other reasons why they are not doing it on the Galway route.

Quackster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119516688#Comment_119516688

I imagine it's a transitional branding and the GoBus part will eventually be removed.

They may see a benefit of maintaining two separate brands on Dublin-Galway, at least in the short term, to discourage competitors from snapping up the licence that surely is now available.

Geuze

Can I double-check that in terms of Galway city to Dublin airport by public transport, options now are as follows:

(1) train + bus to airport

(2) Citylink/GoBus, one company, two brands, routes 720X,760, 761

Some go direct to airport

Some go via Dublin city centre

(3) Aircoach via Athlone, route 706 and 706 X

BE 20 route is gone.

DaBluBoi

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119739714#Comment_119739714

Don't forget about the 763 as well!

Mrs OBumble

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119739821#Comment_119739821

Or travelling via Limerick (routes 51, 343 and 712x), which www.a-b.ie just suggested to me! 😉 Am surprised the website didn't die laughing at the 7 journey time.

devnull

On Bus Price rises have taken effect on CityLink over the weekend which sees them rise in line with GoBus fares which had a price increase in August.

Galway - Dublin City:

Single: €18 (was €16)

Return: €29 (was €27)

Galway - Dublin Airport:

Single: €22 (was €21)

Return: €34 (was €32)

flazio

That's just as much to do with the diesel costs as it is the lack of competition.

devnull

I see that most recent timetable on the Galway route now sees Citylink operating up to five services an hour between Dublin and Galway if you include all the various routes which they operate between them and Gobus.

GoBus is also now being based out of the Citylink premises in Galway rather than their own and there has also been some stop moves that sees GoBus services moving to CityLink stops at Dublin Airport, both of these will obviously save money. However despite this and accepting each others tickets, they continue to operate Gobus and Citylink services with their own licenses. This suggests that there is no further licenses available for any would be competitors to inject some proper competition.

We've also seen a change in vehicle choice by CityLink, who now no longer appear to be purchasing from the more premium Vanhool TDX range like they have done for the last few years and are now buying the cheaper EX range for their services. Contrast this to the Cork to Dublin Route when they have strong competition and have gone with new very high spec co-branded vehicles that are normally reserved for premium luxury touring vehicles.

From all intents and purposes the Aircoach service doesn't seem to be doing that well at all and unless something changes then I would assume that CityLink may soon have that corridor to itself unless something changes to add some real, strong, proper competition on that corridor.

bk

"Contrast this to the Cork to Dublin Route when they have strong competition and have gone with new very high spec co-branded vehicles that are normally reserved for premium luxury touring vehicles."

Are they? When I took them to Cork at Christmas, they seemed fine, but not all different from the older GoBus Volvo's, at least from the passengers perspective. Nice and fresh of course, but to be honest I found the Vanhools I took in the past better then them, though I haven't been on the new EX you mention.

Are the new GoBus Volvo 9900's?

I do love the livery of the GoBus, looks fantastic and one of the best around. Drivers were fantastic too, very professional and friendly, even gave my daughter a lollipop! They have a life time fan in her now :)

Nice that there is a USB plug at every seat now, though small criticism, pity it isn't 10cm higher on the back of the chair, so it would be above the closed tray table, rather then hidden behind the tray table. It means you have to have the tray table open to use it and I'd say some people have missed that it is even there.

A very pleasant service to use overall.

Will Aircoach be replacing the Plaxtons? I haven't been on them in a while, but I feel they might need to go upmarket a bit to compete with GoBus to Cork anyway.

I totally agree with what you are saying about competition. Lack of options and competition is never good for customers. Unforutantely it will likely have to come down to government/NTA/competition authority to create policy/legal framework if they can to allow for such competition. Citylink aren't just going to give up their license and leave an opening for a competitor.

belfast stephen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120260859#Comment_120260859

the EX range replaced the TX range in the Vanhool range i suspect the EX were the first used on CIE tours work so now they move them on the Citylink work after so many years on tours think its 3 years also them 9900 on the cork route are not owned by go bus but by Barrys coaches also Go bus have a couple of 9900's in there fleet

devnull

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120273207#Comment_120273207

No - that's not correct.

The recently launched T range has replaced the TX Range, the EX range has been around since 2015 and unlike the rest of the Vanhool family, the EX are built in Macedonia to save on costs and the range is primarily aimed at the lower to mid-range segment of the coach market.

The Belgian built TDX continues to be top of the Vanhool coach range (probably will see it get reworked at some point soon I'd imagine) followed by the new T Series which is also built in Belgium, (replacing the TX) with the Macedonian built EX being beneath that.

See article from 2015 here about the launch of the EX series:

https://www.route-one.net/vehicles/van_hool_launches_lowcost_alternative/

And article here about the launch of the T series replacing the TX series

https://www.route-one.net/news/van-hool-introduces-new-van-hool-t-coach-range/

devnull

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119443359#Comment_119443359

GoBus have now announced a further 4 services to launch in April.

• 05:00 and 06:00 from Galway.
• 07:45 and 09:45 from Dublin Airport

GoBus and Citylink still continue to hold their own licenses as different operators despite the fact they now operate out of the same headquarters and accept each others tickets. Still no sign of any competitor on the Dublin to Galway non stop, probably because of this.

GoBus/CityLink are now operating up to 5 buses an hour between Galway and Dublin between all of their routes. It would not surprise me at all if they had the whole corridor to themselves in the future. Their position grows stronger and stronger all the time to the point that even if another operator did get a license on non stop now, it would be very hard to make a business case.

Jackben75

out of interest, do these buses let you on half passed? contemplating doing a Galway to Dublin midnight run due to no accommodation.

Avid

Changes coming.

DUBLINBUSGUY

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121321499#Comment_121321499

Very vague.

So gobus website is now dead and diverts to citylink.

Am I correct in saying this charade of operating two seperate brands is so they get to keep the two non stop licences? If so does this latest move of merging websites expose this as a lie?

crazy that the competition authority approved this.

• Galway to Dublin airport return is €32 (this is the usual one via Dublin City not the dear one direct nor the multi stop one that takes 4hrs).
• 
  
• Cork to Dublin airport return is €29 via aircoach

• The above despite Dublin to cork being 50ks longer.

and before anyone mentions the aircoach 706 as real competition, it isn’t as it’s extra stops in maynooth, athlone and Balinasloe means a much longer journey

bk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121423586#Comment_121423586

I don't think the competition authority required them to keep separate brands or anything like that. It was take over and they authorized it. I assume Citylink only kept the GoBus website and brand around for a while to help transition it to Citylink, they used a new livery that included both companies for a while to do this. Makes sense GoBus did the same when they moved from the GoBE brand in Cork.

I would assume that the Competition Authority believe cars and the train are competition enough for the route. And unfortunately there is precedent for that with Dublin Coach on the Limerick route being the only operator (yes I know Eir Eagle to the airport).

Not that I'd agree, I prefer to see two real operators competing on all the mains routes, like there is to Cork and Belfast.

flazio

Looks like Citylink are getting the monopoly on the route.

https://www.reddit.com/r/galway/s/jyWEWLb8uY

devnull

It was always going to work out this way, as I have mentioned earlier in this thread and in other threads.

The GoBus/EirEagle/CityLink brands between them are operating up to four services an hour in some form between Dublin and Galway when you include all the various patterns of services they run between the two cities. Before and just after the merger both CityLink and GoBus were dropping in the odd service in here and there to cover any gaps. Anybody with any clue about the commercial realities of the market would know that the sheer number of services those companies were running between them would make it almost impossible for a new entrant to make the route successful as has proven to be the case.

I know that there were a number of people involved in CityLink/GoBus who were happy as pigs in a certain something that Aircoach were willing to start operating on that route, because there is no way they would have been able to have merged their operations without having to make some serious concessions otherwise. It couldn't have worked out better for ComfortDelGro in terms of this corridor since the takeover went through, they removed a big competitor and were left with a weak one that never stood a chance. The competition authority themselves said without the Aircoach route, they'd have not allowed the merger as was.

What is totally clear now though is that the relevant competition authorities and the NTA must take action on the Galway corridor. There is no way now that a new operator is going to go into that corridor unless CityLink are made to relinquish one of their licenses or the NTA are willing to sanction non stop services on the Galway to Dublin route. It's very disappointing Aircoach didn't kick up a fuss, they should have.

Geuze

I wasn't even aware that Aircoach ran from DUB airport to Galway city.

Red Silurian

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121881361#Comment_121881361

Aircoach got the licence in place of the former 20/X20 route operated by BE.

A good compromise here would be if we had a publicly owned bus company willing to take over the running of that route...

flazio

I'd say the best your going to get is a local link from the towns they used to serve to the nearest train station (Loughrea to Athenry for example) for onward journey.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121884406#Comment_121884406

You still have citylink service 763 serving all the old towns you mentioned.

aircoaches problem was it was neither a non stop route nor a full stop route. Competed with everything from train in athlone and maynooth to the non stop services from citylink. Nobody in their right mind going from Galway to Dublin would take it as it had extra stops so took longer. A real dumb move to launch it as if they didn’t they could have purchased gobus as citylink probably wouldn’t have gotten the go ahead to buy gobus without aircoach.

flazio

Citylink take oap travel cards don't they?

zell12

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121884443#Comment_121884443

Yes, they take the free travel pass.

devnull

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121884207#Comment_121884207

The publicly owned bus company gave up the route in 2021 because they could not get it to work commercially against what was then two competitors. Since then said competitors have merged and drip fed more services into the timetable so it's going to be even more unviable now than before.

It is delightful to see the usual left wing figures on social media trying to stir up a storm on this though by saying that this is all because the license was forcibly taken from a publicly owned bus company to be handed to a private one by the NTA.

We are where we are today because of Aircoach's awful commercial acumen to launch the route in the first place and the CCPC's obviously naivety about what was going to happen if they allowed the takeover of GoBus.ie by CityLink.

Considering how CityLink got their Dublin to Galway Non Stop license in the first place, they've had more than a helping hand or two over the years to get into the dominant position that they are in at the moment.

devnull

Note that the Aircoach 706/706x service as posted in the other thread, is not running today. Aircoach have confirmed on social media they made a decision not to publicly announce this.

Please if you are waiting for this service do not wait. Please seek alternative transport. This is now second time that Aircoach have cancelled services on this corridor for a full day and not published the fact. You cannot rely on this service. Please seek other options if possible.

Glaceon

Confirmed on Facebook that the Gobus brand is gone from next month.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php/?id=100064558279545&story_fbid=814857674009501

serfboard

The CCPC have blocked the DAA from buying the QuickPark Car Park, citing competition reasons. Funny how no such considerations seemed to be made when allowing CityLink to take over GoBus. To show how different the approaches are, I've taken their statements on the DAA situation and applied them to the CityLink GoBus takeover, to see how they seem. Words that are removed are stroked out, and inserted words are italiced. And in response to anyone saying that when the decision was made, AirCoach was still in operation, while that may be true, it was not a competitor on the non-stop route. And it is not any kind of competitor now.

Competition among businesses is vital to drive value, consumer choice and innovation.

... this deal would eliminate daa’s Citylink's only significant competitor for public car parking (non-stop) buses from Galway serving Dublin Airport and result in daa Citylink essentially having a near monopoly.

This would be likely to lead to higher prices for consumers because daa Citylink would not have to compete to win car parking bus customers.

Without this competition, daa Citylink would be able to increase prices or reduce service quality for its car parks buses with limited consequences.

If daa Citylink purchased the car park GoBus, this competition would be lost and daa Citylink would not face the same pressure to attract potential customers by improving its prices or service quality.

bk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121936336#Comment_121936336

I'll be very disappointed to see the current GoBus/Citylink livery on the Cork route go, it is by far the nicest livery on any coach service in Ireland IMO. Modern, classy and striking, it really stands out:

By comparison I really dislike the Citylink livery. Yellow is a terrible colour choice, it invokes Yellow pack and cheapness. Eireagle is a bit boring, but more professional looking. I'd love to see them take on the current GoBus livery (sans the name obviously) across the Citylink fleet.

As an aside, they also had a lovely green livery for Connacht Rugby. Looks like it might have been the same designer as the GoBus one. Please get that person to do a new Citylink one:

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121938204#Comment_121938204

Unfortunately at the time the CCPC made their decision, there was competition on the route in the form of Aircoach. Which was foolish on Aircoach giving them that cover.

Though I think the CCPC should have looked at it more granularly. They seemed to have looked at the competition across the entire route and not at a lower level like the lack of competition between direct, non stop services, which there wouldn't be with Citylink taking over GoBus.

It showed a lack of understanding of the business by the CCPC.

bk

Hmm, an indication of a new Citylink livery? From twitter two weeks ago:

https://twitter.com/citylinkireland/status/1765679077283758454

I'm not a fan. I suppose it greatly reduces the yellow, which is positive, but a bit boring. Ironically it looks like the old GoBus livery! Maybe I'm reading too much into it.