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Route 139 Naas to Blanchardstown Launches 12th Mar

  • 05-03-2018 8:12pm
    #1
    devnull
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 11,584 Mod ✭✭✭✭


    Transport for Ireland will launch the new 139 bus service connecting Naas and Blanchardstown on Monday March 12th.

    Operated by JJ Kavanagh, the new orbital route will service the northern half of Kildare with 9 services daily bringing Naas, Sallins, Clane, Rathcoffey, Maynooth, Leixlip and Blanchardstown a whole lot closer.

    So if you’re hitting the road for Blanchardstown, Naas or anywhere in between for work or leisure then hop on the new 139 coming your way from Monday March 12th

    Full Timetable and fares Leaflet

    https://www.nationaltransport.ie/news/new-139-bus-service-linking-naas-blanchardstown-begins-operation-12th-march/
    A brand-new bus route, the 139 will begin operation Monday 12 March, running between Naas and Blanchardstown and connecting Blanchardstown IT, Ongar, Leixlip, Maynooth, Rathcoffey, Clane, Sallins and Naas, including Naas Hospital.

    There will be nine services each way, seven days a week, with first departures at 07.15 and last departures at 22.35.

    The 139 is a National Transport Authority (NTA) initiative and will be run for NTA as a Public Service Obligation (PSO) by JJ Kavanagh & Sons under the ‘Transport For Ireland’ brand.

    ‘Transport For Ireland’ or TFI is the single public transport brand which the NTA has developed to promote and integrate public transport in Ireland.

    As a PSO route, fares for the service are set by NTA, and are fully consistent with fares on similar journeys elsewhere on the bus network in the Greater Dublin Area. Schedules and timetables are also set by NTA.

    NTA Chief Executive Officer Anne Graham said: “When analysing public transport in the north Kildare/ west Dublin area, we came to the conclusion that there was a demand for a bus service that would link significant population and activity centres such as Naas, Maynooth and Blanchardstown.

    Thanks to the 139, moving along this corridor between these centres will now be easier than ever. The 139 offers a convenient way for students in Blanchardstown IT and NUI Maynooth to get to campus, for example.

    It also offers a public transport alternative for shoppers in places like Leixlip who want to go to Blanchardstown Shopping Centre, where it interconnects with over a dozen Dublin Bus services.

    Leixlip is also a significant hub of economic activity, and the 139 will serve the Intel facility and other major employers in the area.

    We also believe that the 139 will prove to be of great benefit to people all along the route whether they want to take a short journey or a long one, and with Leap fares starting at €2.10, it is a great value offering.”


«1345

Comments

  • #2
    Zebra3
    Registered Users Posts: 13,848 ✭✭✭✭Zebra3


    Good stuff. They should highlight the connections with the train lines too.


  • #3
    L1011
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 67,577 Mod ✭✭✭✭L1011


    Extended to IT Blanch from the original proposal - extremely odd exclusion to begin with. Will likely take a lot of students from Maynooth/Leixlip off the train at least in bad weather as the walk is not fun.


  • #4
    munchkin_utd
    Registered Users Posts: 7,822 ✭✭✭munchkin_utd


    L1011 wrote: »
    Extended to IT Blanch from the original proposal - extremely odd exclusion to begin with. Will likely take a lot of students from Maynooth/Leixlip off the train at least in bad weather as the walk is not fun.
    when do lectures start in the morning ? If its 9 then a planned arrival at 8.55 is a little tight !


  • #5
    thomasj
    Registered Users Posts: 4,785 ✭✭✭thomasj


    L1011 wrote:
    Extended to IT Blanch from the original proposal - extremely odd exclusion to begin with. Will likely take a lot of students from Maynooth/Leixlip off the train at least in bad weather as the walk is not fun.

    Finally a decent connection between the Maynooth and Kildare lines also. Upto now best way without going via the city would be walking up the hazelhatch road .


  • #6
    Lord Glentoran
    Closed Accounts Posts: 876 ✭✭✭Lord Glentoran


    thomasj wrote: »
    Finally a decent connection between the Maynooth and Kildare lines also. Upto now best way without going via the city would be walking up the hazelhatch road .

    There is a bus connection from the Hatch to Celbridge and back for several peak trains, but in fairness there is no publicity for it outside the Irish Rail timetable.

    Any reason why the NTA doesn’t have it on its planner?


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  • #7
    Harcourt Street
    Closed Accounts Posts: 38 ✭Harcourt Street


    Lord Glentoran wrote: »
    There is a bus connection from the Hatch to Celbridge and back for several peak trains, but in fairness there is no publicity for it outside the Irish Rail timetable.

    Any reason why the NTA doesn’t have it on its planner?

    Probably doesn’t fit with their agenda.


  • #8
    rebel456
    Registered Users Posts: 282 ✭✭rebel456


    I was ready to sing the praises of this new service until I saw the timetable. 8.47am the earliest arrival into Blanchardstown Shopping Centre? That is cutting it mightly fine for those who work within walking distance and need to be in the job for 9.00am. The service could do with an arrival time into Blanchardstown for 8.20am to 8.30am, allowing for both walking time to jobs and inevitable morning rush hour delays.

    The first service and an evening service could be extending to Ballycoolin, looping into the industrial estate, giving those who work there the ability to get to work without having to transfer at Blanchardstown Centre to the infrequent 220 or 17A.


  • #9
    devnull
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 11,584 Mod ✭✭✭✭devnull


    Harcourt Street wrote: »
    Probably doesn’t fit with their agenda.

    Does the service show up here:
    https://www.nationaltransport.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/190118CurrentLicences.pdf

    If not it's probably a private hire rather than a licensed service.


  • #10
    L1011
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 67,577 Mod ✭✭✭✭L1011


    It's an Irish Rail funded service and I suspect is considered private hire


  • #11
    Lord Glentoran
    Closed Accounts Posts: 876 ✭✭✭Lord Glentoran


    devnull wrote: »
    Does the service show up here:
    https://www.nationaltransport.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/190118CurrentLicences.pdf

    If not it's probably a private hire rather than a licensed service.

    No, but services 951, 952 and 957 dont show up on the planner either.


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  • #12
    Lord Glentoran
    Closed Accounts Posts: 876 ✭✭✭Lord Glentoran


    L1011 wrote: »
    It's an Irish Rail funded service and I suspect is considered private hire

    Are the Hatch buses able to be taken off by the NTA the way the private hire 53B Dublin Buses from Busaras to Dublin Ferryport were done for as well?


  • #13
    n97 mini
    Registered Users Posts: 8,295 ✭✭✭n97 mini


    What bus stops will this be using? I haven't noticed any new stops around the place.


  • #14
    devnull
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 11,584 Mod ✭✭✭✭devnull


    Expected to be using 3x brand new MCV eVoRa single decks like this:
    https://cbwmagazine.com/mcv-launches-new-volvo-b8rle-single-decker/


  • #15
    tnegun
    Registered Users Posts: 1,724 ✭✭✭tnegun


    Hard to tell from the map but it looks like it will be using Parson street through Maynooth. Is that right? That will add significant delays during the morning and evening peaks.


  • #16
    Stephen15
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,907 ✭✭✭Stephen15


    devnull wrote: »
    Expected to be using 3x brand new MCV eVoRa single decks like this:
    https://cbwmagazine.com/mcv-launches-new-volvo-b8rle-single-decker/

    NTA owned or JJK owned I wonder?


  • #17
    Lord Glentoran
    Closed Accounts Posts: 876 ✭✭✭Lord Glentoran


    Stephen15 wrote: »
    NTA owned or JJK owned I wonder?

    So are Wrightbus off the pitch in the Republic these days?


  • #18
    thomasj
    Registered Users Posts: 4,785 ✭✭✭thomasj


    devnull wrote:
    Expected to be using 3x brand new MCV eVoRa single decks like this:

    Will they have the new tfi livery ?


  • #19
    AlekSmart
    Registered Users Posts: 14,005 ✭✭✭✭AlekSmart


    Stephen15 wrote: »
    NTA owned or JJK owned I wonder?

    Kavanagh owned vehicles,albeit an unusual choice of bodywork,perhaps influenced by the availability of the Volvo B8 underframe ?

    There is little untoward about the vehicles being owned by the tender winner,as the process allows for this,Go-Ahead,for example could have submitted a tender based upon them supplying buses to the NTA spec,but instead chose to base their tender upon the vehicles being supplied by the tendering agency.

    It is beneficial for a regulatory organization to have as broad a set of potential suppliers as possible,as it keeps the major supplier on their toes,and the new arrival in hungry mode for the future.

    It does continue a trend which perhaps indicates that,Wrightbus has finally peaked,in it's dominance of Irish Public Transport Sector orders...which might not be a bad thing either ?


    Men, it has been well said, think in herds; it will be seen that they go mad in herds, while they only recover their senses slowly, and one by one.

    Charles Mackay (1812-1889)



  • #20
    devnull
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 11,584 Mod ✭✭✭✭devnull


    DYFRBnYX4AAQUMU.jpg:large


  • #21
    n97 mini
    Registered Users Posts: 8,295 ✭✭✭n97 mini


    Has anyone seen these services in the RTPI today? I've looked a few times but haven't seen any showing.


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  • #22
    AlekSmart
    Registered Users Posts: 14,005 ✭✭✭✭AlekSmart


    Devnull's photo is quite interesting.
    At this stage,there is little excuse for a return to the Paper Slip In The Windscreen.
    Given that correct and appropriate Destination Display is a major factor in NTA Bus Service Contracts,one must assume that some demerits will be applied to the JJK organization for the lack of them as shown here.


    Men, it has been well said, think in herds; it will be seen that they go mad in herds, while they only recover their senses slowly, and one by one.

    Charles Mackay (1812-1889)



  • #23
    dashcamdanny
    Registered Users Posts: 1,920 ✭✭✭dashcamdanny


    Just looking at the details of this. Looks like people from Clane to Naas cant use the service for short hops. Pick up and drop off only.

    Bit odd ..


  • #24
    tnegun
    Registered Users Posts: 1,724 ✭✭✭tnegun


    Aren't they already served by an hourly service operated by Kavanaghs?


  • #25
    tnegun
    Registered Users Posts: 1,724 ✭✭✭tnegun


    AlekSmart wrote: »
    Devnull's photo is quite interesting.
    At this stage,there is little excuse for a return to the Paper Slip In The Windscreen.
    Given that correct and appropriate Destination Display is a major factor in NTA Bus Service Contracts,one must assume that some demerits will be applied to the JJK organization for the lack of them as shown here.

    Passed one today but it was almost gone before I copped what it was the front display had the route number and the Operator name JJ Kavanagh but that may have been scrolling to show the destination.


  • #26
    Polar101
    Registered Users Posts: 3,750 ✭✭✭Polar101


    I think this needs a bit more work.. did a short trip from Corduff to Ongar, but the fare was €6.50 (Leap) as the driver's ticket machine only had options for Sallins, Clane and Naas which were all €6.50. In the timetable PDF it's supposed to be €1.50.

    Very nice brand new bus though, and was about an hour faster than Dublin bus.. ;)


  • #27
    dashcamdanny
    Registered Users Posts: 1,920 ✭✭✭dashcamdanny


    tnegun wrote: »
    Aren't they already served by an hourly service operated by Kavanaghs?

    I think the local service there is run by a the same company, unreliable and finishes at the evening. Also no service on weekends. According to disgruntled locals on Facebook.

    Typical NTA TBH


  • #28
    devnull
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 11,584 Mod ✭✭✭✭devnull


    dashcamdanny wrote: »
    I think the local service there is run by a the same company, unreliable and finishes at the evening.

    Typical NTA TBH

    Under European Union law the state is not allowed to publicly fund a service that is competing directly with a commercial service as this would be certainly considered as illegal state aid against the commercial service.

    The tender was probably written taking this into consideration and therefore before any bids were received, the restrictions on some stops were already written in to the prospective contract to ensure that the NTA complies with EU state aid and competition laws.

    If another operator won the tender for example they'd also have to have the same restrictions since if they were able to operate all of the stops, JJ Kavanagh could easily take the NTA to the EU court saying that there is illegal state aid being supplied to a taxpayer funded operator who they are competing with on an established service.


  • #29
    n97 mini
    Registered Users Posts: 8,295 ✭✭✭n97 mini


    The buses serving this route are not equipped for RTPI, according to TFI. Greatly reduces the usability if you're not boarding near a terminus imho.


  • #30
    devnull
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 11,584 Mod ✭✭✭✭devnull


    n97 mini wrote: »
    The buses serving this route are not equipped for RTPI, according to TFI. Greatly reduces the usability if you're not boarding near a terminus imho.

    Really the NTA should have required it as part of the contract.

    The biggest disappointment with this service is that it does not appear that well integrated into the transport network. It's not even listed on the JJK site and from what I have seen it just has a regular JJ Kavanagh livery on it.

    With Go-Ahead getting vehicles in one livery and Dublin Bus staying with their existing livery as well, there are signs that all may not be well with the NTA's plans to integrate services together since everything still feels fragmented.

    I really expected to see some better integration or signs of it by now.


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  • #31
    Stephen15
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,907 ✭✭✭Stephen15


    devnull wrote: »
    With Go-Ahead getting vehicles in one livery and Dublin Bus staying with their existing livery as well, there are signs that all may not be well with the NTA's plans to integrate services together since everything still feels fragmented.

    I really expected to see some better integration or signs of it by now.

    When was that confirmed, hopefully it's not the case. I thought the NTA were working on prototype liveries with some buses in a new livery up in Wright's in Ballymena.


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