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Go-Ahead Dublin City Routes - Updates and Discussion

Stephen15

So since the last thread on this got closed and dosen't appear to be reopening any time soon. Heres a new one for you.

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punisher5112

devnull wrote: »

So in essence even if Go-Ahead hire just one revenue protection officer they are going to have double the number of RPOs per bus than Dublin Bus has now.

It was only a gimmick having drivers out checking doing an inspectors job.

There was meant to be 80 but there wasn't 80 never mind 10 in any day out checking.

This is something that needs changing and I wonder is the nta going to change this as there is a fortune lost each day.

dublinbuster

NTA contract requires 3% of buses checked, so thats what DB do, no more no less.
no point doing more and giving out loads of fines
inspector and maybe driver depending on circumstances have to go to court, cost DB too much money, and then you depend on the judge, some dismiss the fines, whats the point if this happens regularly?

Cookie_Monster

dublinbuster wrote: »

NTA contract requires 3% of buses checked,

that seems like an unusual requirement, 3% per day? Of individual buses on the road or of departures?

If just buses per day that's barely 30. Why would you need more than 1 staff member to do that, never mind 4.

Surely it should be 3% of scheduled departures?

Stephen15

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

that seems like an unusual requirement, 3% per day? Of individual buses on the road or of departures?

If just buses per day that's barely 30. Why would you need more than 1 staff member to do that, never mind 4.

Surely it should be 3% of scheduled departures?

I think inspectors are required to hunt in packs for safety reasons.

brokenarms

16 months as a driver for Dublin Bus.

I have never seen a revenue checker. Not once.

Needless to say, I usually drive into the worse areas of the city.

dublinbuster

Talking to several drivers this week, the general feeling is that something big is in the pipeline.
Management & Unions doing deals behind closed doors, staff not privy to the goings on, no explanation.
Unions won't tell what's going on, lots of secrecy, interesting times.

n!ghtmancometh

brokenarms wrote: »

16 months as a driver for Dublin Bus.

I have never seen a revenue checker. Not once.

Needless to say, I usually drive into the worse areas of the city.

Encountered them twice in the past decade I'd say. Once on the 13 at about 12pm on a weekday on the Naas Road a few years ago, and more recently on the 69 at 4:30pm-ish on a weekday between Conyngham Road and Kilmainham Gaol. Two lads on the bus checking tickets and a third following the bus in a car.

Stephen15

n!ghtmancometh wrote: »

Encountered them twice in the past decade I'd say. Once on the 13 at about 12pm on a weekday on the Naas Road a few years ago, and more recently on the 69 at 4:30pm-ish on a weekday between Conyngham Road and Kilmainham Gaol. Two lads on the bus checking tickets and a third following the bus in a car.

I've only ever encountered them at stops near or serving depots or at stops where drivers changeover.

GM228

dublinbuster wrote: »

NTA contract requires 3% of buses checked, so thats what DB do, no more no less.
no point doing more and giving out loads of fines
inspector and maybe driver depending on circumstances have to go to court, cost DB too much money, and then you depend on the judge, some dismiss the fines, whats the point if this happens regularly?

Where did you get your 3% figure from because it is not part of the NTA contract. Schedule 10 of the DB NTA contract which is the appropriate section dealing with revenue protection simply states:-

The Operator shall deploy Revenue Protection Officers on the Network for the purpose of inspecting tickets and issuing Standard Fares to passengers who do not have a valid ticket. Revenue Protection Officers must wear a uniform and carry an ID badge while on duty, except when conducting plain clothes inspections, in which case an ID badge must still be carried.

There is nothing more on the matter providing for a "no more no less", or indeed any figure in any other part of their contract either.

GM228

dublinbuster wrote: »

Talking to several drivers this week, the general feeling is that something big is in the pipeline.
Management & Unions doing deals behind closed doors, staff not privy to the goings on, no explanation.
Unions won't tell what's going on, lots of secrecy, interesting times.

Welcome to the modern world of unionised workers where the real deals are done

:pac:

Joking aside there have been occasions where what I have stated above is all too true.

Stephen15

I think the NTA should set up their own revenue protection unit rather than rely on DB, GADand Transdev to have their own. Similar to TFL. NTA inspectors would check tickets on DB and GAD buses and the Luas. Current Luas inspectors could be deployed on both Luas and buses in Dublin aswell new recruits who would also be deployed on both modes.

GM228

Stephen15 wrote: »

I think the NTA should set up their own revenue protection unit rather than rely on DB, GADand Transdev to have their own. Similar to TFL. NTA inspectors would check tickets on DB and GAD buses and the Luas. Current Luas inspectors could be deployed on both Luas and buses in Dublin aswell new recruits who would also be deployed on both modes.

The problem with introducing the TFL type of revenue protection system here is that there would need to be legislative changes first. Revenue protection agents of DB for example would have powers and duties afforded to them by Bye-Laws, SIs and Acts of the Oireachtas which are different set to those in relation to the LUAS for example.

A NTA inspector would have no legal powers or duties to issue fines etc on any transport mode without appropriate legislation to back them up.

dublinbuster

GM228 wrote: »

Where did you get your 3% figure from because it is not part of the NTA contract. Schedule 10 of the DB NTA contract which is the appropriate section dealing with revenue protection simply states:-

drivers accompanying inspectors on ticket checking was canceled.
drivers asked why this happened.
unions posted notice in depot , 3% of buses to be checked under NTA contract, and DB could do this with out drivers assisting inspectors.
so that was the end of that

dublinbuster

GM228 wrote: »

Welcome to the modern world of unionised workers where the real deals are done :pac:

Joking aside there have been occasions where what I have stated above is all too true.

we drivers are not idiots, we acknowledge backroom deals are done.
the problem arises when said deal dont benefit drivers, what is going on?
we pay the unions dues, so unions work for us, and union takes side of management, and wont tell drivers why.
as i stated, general consensus among drivers is that something big is coming, unions and management cutting deals that appear detrimental to driver.
i have heard several rumours, i will post details if more info is coming.

dublinbuster

Stephen15 wrote: »

I think the NTA should set up their own revenue protection unit rather than rely on DB, GADand Transdev to have their own. Similar to TFL. NTA inspectors would check tickets on DB and GAD buses and the Luas. Current Luas inspectors could be deployed on both Luas and buses in Dublin aswell new recruits who would also be deployed on both modes.

at the moment DB staff get a yearly travel ticket. Travel on any DB bus with said ticket.
rumour is next year it will be valid on db/dart/luas.
sounds like unified dublin transport company?
makes sense to have one dedicated set of ticket inspectors

dublinbuster

brokenarms wrote: »

16 months as a driver for Dublin Bus.

I have never seen a revenue checker. Not once.

Needless to say, I usually drive into the worse areas of the city.

they rarely go outside of the canals
dont work at night

dublinbuster

GM228 wrote: »

The problem with introducing the TFL type of revenue protection system here is that there would need to be legislative changes first. Revenue protection agents of DB for example would have powers and duties afforded to them by Bye-Laws, SIs and Acts of the Oireachtas which are different set to those in relation to the LUAS for example.

A NTA inspector would have no legal powers or duties to issue fines etc on any transport mode without appropriate legislation to back them up.

could be done with a 5 minute debate in Dáil Éireann followed with the signing of a piece of paper.
it aint the equivalent of putting a man on the moon, its a non issue

GM228

dublinbuster wrote: »

could be done with a 5 minute debate in Dáil Éireann followed with the signing of a piece of paper.
it aint the equivalent of putting a man on the moon, its a non issue

If only changing/introducing legislation was that simple.

There is a five step process required (before a bill even reaches the president) to be followed before it can happen, often bills (other than emergency legislation) take years to become law.

Stephen15

GM228 wrote: »

The problem with introducing the TFL type of revenue protection system here is that there would need to be legislative changes first. Revenue protection agents of DB for example would have powers and duties afforded to them by Bye-Laws, SIs and Acts of the Oireachtas which are different set to those in relation to the LUAS for example.

A NTA inspector would have no legal powers or duties to issue fines etc on any transport mode without appropriate legislation to back them up.

Ok but what annoys me that the routes were put out to tender without taking such issues into consideration.

GM228

Stephen15 wrote: »

Ok but what annoys me that the routes were put out to tender without taking such issues into consideration.

Perhaps they were?

The GA contract is not available for the public to view so we don't know what provisions are in it in relation to revenue protection, we also don't know if for the example the NTA asked for such legislation to be introduced or not.

goingnowhere

dublinbuster wrote: »

could be done with a 5 minute debate in Dáil Éireann followed with the signing of a piece of paper.
it aint the equivalent of putting a man on the moon, its a non issue

Not even 5 minutes, bye laws are a ministerial function

GM228

goingnowhere wrote: »

Not even 5 minutes, bye laws are a ministerial function

Not always, bye-laws are a subordinate body function (CIE and TII), CIE bye laws are confirmed by a minister, LUAS are not.

The powers for revenue protection staff are afforded via Acts of the Oireachtas (namely the Transport Act 1950, the Railway Safety Act 2005 and the Transport (Railway Infrastructure) Act 2001), not secondary legislation. To try and afford such a power via secondary legislation would be acting ultra vires.

dfx-

brokenarms wrote: »

16 months as a driver for Dublin Bus.

I have never seen a revenue checker. Not once.

Needless to say, I usually drive into the worse areas of the city.

I have been on a 77A in Dolphins Barn with the old passes being checked by phone. This was a non-low floor bus to give an idea of how recent the anecdote is...

There are a few nowadays, but they all swarm around the 16 route between O'Connell Street and the Omni Centre. That small section of one route is well checked...

punisher5112

dfx- wrote: »

I have been on a 77A in Dolphins Barn with the old passes being checked by phone. This was a non-low floor bus to give an idea of how recent the anecdote is...

There are a few nowadays, but they all swarm around the 16 route between O'Connell Street and the Omni Centre. That small section of one route is well checked...

Reason for that is cash is handled along with 747 and 745.

This is more so to catch drivers then actual passenger checks.

[Deleted User]

Have my interview with go ahead in June for bus driver, has anyone been in with them yet for this, is it a tough interview etc?

punisher5112

soundman45 wrote: »

Have my interview with go ahead in June for bus driver, has anyone been in with them yet for this, is it a tough interview etc?

Aircoach, be and db are hiring much better terms.

AlekSmart

soundman45 wrote: »

Have my interview with go ahead in June for bus driver, has anyone been in with them yet for this, is it a tough interview etc?

Good for you.
I would not bother with seeking advice from this parish,as you'll be inundated with a flow of negativity,from a myriad of sources.
Pay little heed to it,but instead take control of your own decisions,and make them yourself.
It would appear that you will be in the initial intake,and as a result,be well placed in the new setup.

For what it's worth,my 2c worth would be along these lines....

Research the company,not forensically,but enough to be able to let an interviewer know you dug a little into the Company's history.

My sense is that the business of Driving the vehicle,may count for less than the ability to get on with people across the (very) broad spectrum you will meet every minute of your working day.

If you have a sensation that people are out to get you,or that everybody is trying to scam the system etc,then i'd be Hmmmm'ing as I filled the form.

If you are in any way cowed by,or reluctant to engage with these people,then take a moment to reassess whether you REALLY want to go ahead (!) with this ?

Once thats put to bed...

READ THE JOB SPEC....;)

Take note of the terms used,individual wording and broader descriptions and write down any questions or clarifications YOU might wish to have addressed by the Interview panel

https://www.go-aheaddublin.ie/bus-driver/bus-driver-job-decription/

Right from the Get go,we have an indication of where to start in formulating your approach....the Purpose of the Job......;)

To build trust with our customers by providing a reliable, safe and friendly service.

Some other interesting and specific points which could be used during an interview,and which are hot topics from a Driver Safety perspective....

Reporting any medical conditions or substance misuse and/or dependence, which might affect the ability to drive safely immediately to the company once employee is aware

Immediately notifying your supervisor of any changes which may affect the validity of your driving licence and work in conjunction with the Company to ensure relevant driving legislation is being followed at all times

Finally,get comfortable with being able to chat about these issues....

[Competencies, desirable traits or attributes:

Excellent communication skills
Customer care experience
Flexible approach to duties

Don't be afraid to write a few pointers down before you go to the Interview,and just refer to these in support of your questions or point making.

My guess is this crowd will be looking for Confidence,and the ability to display this without overcooking it.

Best of luck with the Interview,I hope you will return and let the great & good of the thread,know how it went ?

dublinman1990

Significant progress has been done now for Go-Ahead Dublin's order at Wrights in Ballymena.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/81709772@N07/28382690488/ (Photograph taken by Donrobni on Flickr)

StreetLight

I thought Dublin Bus were getting the new ones and that their hand-me-downs were for Go-Ahead?

Stephen15

StreetLight wrote: »

I thought Dublin Bus were getting the new ones and that their hand-me-downs were for Go-Ahead?

Some current DB GT/SGs will be moving to GA. Others will be brand new. All DB buses will be replaced with new ones by the NTA