Go-Ahead Dublin City Routes - Updates and Discussion

Stephen15 · 22-04-2019 11:01PM

What's the situation like in other locations I see why they would provide a crew room in DL as 5 routes break there. Do they provide facilities for drivers anywhere else like Blackrock for 17 and 114 drivers, the Airport for 102 and 33a drivers or Blanch for the local routes there and are there some routes that go back to Ballymount to break. Has nobody contacted SIPTU about the issue of drivers breaks?

Afaik all DB routes either break in the garage or the city centre apart from a few exceptions like Bray for 84 and some 145 drivers and Skerries for 33 drivers. It wouldn't surprise me if DB is looking do away with the outstation in Bray as I believe all 155s are based in Donnybrook which surprises me assuming it's true. So perhaps GAI could buy it off them if they are looking to sell it and base the 45a, 184 and 185 there.

punisher5112 · 23-04-2019 12:41AM

Stephen15 wrote: »

What's the situation like in other locations I see why they would provide a crew room in DL as 5 routes break there. Do they provide facilities for drivers anywhere like Blackrock for 17 and 114 drivers, the Airport for 102 and 33a drivers or Blanch for the local routes there and are there some routes that go back to Ballymount to break. Has nobody contacted SIPTU about the issue of drivers breaks?

Afaik all DB routes either break in the garage or the city centre apart from a few exceptions like Bray for 84 and some 145 drivers and Skerries for 33 drivers. It wouldn't surprise me if DB is looking do away with the outstation in Bray as I believe all 155s are based in Donnybrook which surprises me assuming it's true. So perhaps GAI could buy it off them if they are looking to sell it and base the 45a, 184 and 185 there.

Irish rail owns it I believe or so was told

dfx- · 24-04-2019 04:24AM

Joeytheparrot wrote: »

Is it true Go Ahead have lost nearly 50 drivers in the last few months?

It's a bit like being Brexit Secretary in the UK, we're all eventually going to get a go, every man woman and child in Dublin.

LuckyLloyd · 26-04-2019 10:44AM

I'd imagine Go Ahead assumed they could just treat staff here like they treat them in the UK with minimal issues.

Yer Da sells Avon · 26-04-2019 07:35PM

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

I'd imagine Go Ahead assumed they could just treat staff here like they treat them in the UK with minimal issues.

They don't treat their staff here badly. I know a lot of people who quit in the last few months, and none of them had any real issue with the job itself.

.G. · 26-04-2019 07:43PM

What way are the shift patterns and do you have much notice of what your due to work etc? When I was at DB it was week of earlys, week of lates, half week of lates and half week of earlys leading to a weekend off. As a junior driver though your "early" week would often have a couple of bogey dutys with a long break in the middle so not a full week of proper earlys. We had every 3rd and 5th weekend off. Only a days notice what duty you were on too.

That was along time ago so not sure about how it is at DB these days.

punisher5112 · 26-04-2019 09:49PM

.G. wrote: »

What way are the shift patterns and do you have much notice of what your due to work etc? When I was at DB it was week of earlys, week of lates, half week of lates and half week of earlys leading to a weekend off. As a junior driver though your "early" week would often have a couple of bogey dutys with a long break in the middle so not a full week of proper earlys. We had every 3rd and 5th weekend off. Only a days notice what duty you were on too.

That was along time ago so not sure about how it is at DB these days.

24 hour notice by text, shifts no change so is very difficult and to plan anything don't bother unless you know you're off.

Stephen15 · 27-04-2019 01:01AM

Go-Ahead have released this video on vimeo about their first year in service for those who may be interested.

https://vimeo.com/331205733

AlekSmart · 27-04-2019 05:38PM

punisher5112 wrote: »

24 hour notice by text, shifts no change so is very difficult and to plan anything don't bother unless you know you're off.

48 Hrs is the current text notice time.

One of the absolute requirements for ANY Operator,recruiting Bus Drivers for urban stage-carriage operations is to ensure that it is made abundently clear to applicants that the Job involves significant and often disruptive shift patterns.

Often,we are asked to accept that individual operators have conspired to deliberately frustrate peoples right to family-friendly lifestyles,however as with many such situations,one can also find situations where shift working allows flexibility in different areas of the same life.

Bus work will NEVER afford stable,constant predictable working arrangements,and people need to be very clear on that when considering a career path in that area.

dublinman1990 · 27-04-2019 07:20PM

Their video is stating that 150 vehicles will become available in the fleet by the end of the year.

Does that include some of the buses available for the old Bus Eireann routes or is it only for the Dublin routes in Ballymount?

Stephen15 · 27-04-2019 10:12PM

dublinman1990 wrote: »

Their video is stating that 150 vehicles will become available in the fleet by the end of the year.

Does that include some of the buses available for the old Bus Eireann routes or is it only for the Dublin routes in Ballymount?

That would include the BE ones I'd imagine. It mentions they have 119 buses in service but I thought they were originally due 125 and they were short of buses so have 6 of their original batch still not not entered service and they have also received 4 of 8 additional SGs orginally due for DB with 4 still due to enter service.

Here we go · 28-04-2019 09:46PM

Here's a sample of roster this is Bray

ax586 · 28-04-2019 09:58PM

Here we go wrote: »

Here's a sample of roster this is Bray

That's the 5 day main remember there is still a 4 day one for bray witch I wish I was on..

Annasopra · 28-04-2019 10:22PM

ATTENTION ENNISKERRY, LITTLE BRAY & PALERMO.

TIME TO BE HEARD

Since Go Ahead took over the 185 bus route we have seen a significant decline in service. This decline is most noticeable with regard to reliability and safety and has been particularly dreadful over the last few weeks. Some days we have seen 25% of our buses not showing up ,leaving passengers stranded for up to 3 hours!

Buses have also been seen damaging cars in Palermo and along the Dargle road! not to mention driving dangerously, all of which raises very serious health and safety concerns!

We at KEC have written to GO Ahead, the NTA and the Minister for Transport to express our concerns , without satisfaction! We have also contacted our local public representatives and expressed our plight on East Coast radio!

Now we are calling on all of you, along with your family and friends, to join us in a peaceful demonstration to ensure that we are heard in our demand for a dependable and safe bus service to be reinstated with immediate effect.

Where : Enniskerry Square

When: This Thursday, 2nd May

Time: 19.00

For those coming from Palermo and Little Bray the 18.30 bus arrives into the village at 18.54.

Yer Da sells Avon · 28-04-2019 10:35PM

Joeytheparrot wrote: »

For those coming from Palermo and Little Bray the 18.30 bus arrives into the village at 18.54.

Wouldn't bet on it, tbh.

Annasopra · 29-04-2019 04:03AM

Yer Da sells Avon wrote: »

Wouldn't bet on it, tbh.

Exactly. If the bus shows up. It clearly hasnt been going ahead the last month.

ax586 · 29-04-2019 08:44AM

Joeytheparrot wrote: »

Exactly. If the bus shows up. It clearly hasnt been going ahead the last month.

Hopefully I'm not driving it

Annasopra · 29-04-2019 09:00AM

ax586 wrote: »

Hopefully I'm not driving it

Ah itd be good fun really. A bunch of old ladies on their way to protest.

Here we go · 29-04-2019 01:15PM

ax586 wrote: »

That's the 5 day main remember there is still a 4 day one for bray witch I wish I was on..

Yes there is a 4 day for Bray and other 4 day or split Rotas or 175 only rota but majority of people are on some thing like that 12 weekends a year off and working 6 days before two days of or 2 single days off in 7

Thrashssacre · 29-04-2019 02:57PM

Joeytheparrot wrote: »

ATTENTION ENNISKERRY, LITTLE BRAY & PALERMO.

TIME TO BE HEARD

Since Go Ahead took over the 185 bus route we have seen a significant decline in service. This decline is most noticeable with regard to reliability and safety and has been particularly dreadful over the last few weeks. Some days we have seen 25% of our buses not showing up ,leaving passengers stranded for up to 3 hours!

Buses have also been seen damaging cars in Palermo and along the Dargle road! not to mention driving dangerously, all of which raises very serious health and safety concerns!

We at KEC have written to GO Ahead, the NTA and the Minister for Transport to express our concerns , without satisfaction! We have also contacted our local public representatives and expressed our plight on East Coast radio!

Now we are calling on all of you, along with your family and friends, to join us in a peaceful demonstration to ensure that we are heard in our demand for a dependable and safe bus service to be reinstated with immediate effect.

Where : Enniskerry Square

When: This Thursday, 2nd May

Time: 19.00

For those coming from Palermo and Little Bray the 18.30 bus arrives into the village at 18.54.

Are they really that bad? I was under the impression that service has improved under go ahead. I know my own route 76 has become a lot less crowded and I haven’t had any busses not turn up as of yet.

loyatemu · 29-04-2019 03:39PM

Thrashssacre wrote: »

Are they really that bad? I was under the impression that service has improved under go ahead. I know my own route 76 has become a lot less crowded and I haven’t had any busses not turn up as of yet.

similar complaints in Greystones about the 184, buses not turning up etc.

john boye · 29-04-2019 04:07PM

Thrashssacre wrote: »

Are they really that bad? I was under the impression that service has improved under go ahead. I know my own route 76 has become a lot less crowded and I haven’t had any busses not turn up as of yet.

Apparently the 17 has improved no end according to two regulars I know. Been meaning to give it a go someday myself.

punisher5112 · 29-04-2019 04:09PM

john boye wrote: »

Apparently the 17 has improved no end according to two regulars I know. Been meaning to give it a go someday myself.

Of course it has they increased frequency which db couldn't as nta tells them what they can or can't do.

All services were increased as soon as they took over.

CramCycle · 29-04-2019 04:15PM

punisher5112 wrote: »

Of course it has they increased frequency which db couldn't as nta tells them what they can or can't do.

All services were increased as soon as they took over.

The issues with the 17 were not frequency only, they are much the same issues being claimed off the 184 or 185. Not turning up, sometimes upto two or three in a row would not arrive. I live where the 184 and 185 pass close by, but I don't use them and cannot pass comment other than I see them. I know from my neighbours, that they claim it is the same as it always was with them.

I seen the complaints on the Bray Open Forum but somehow, it was just a photo of a rear ended car parked far too close to a corner, but noone videoed it, one person knows someone who seen it and claims the driver drove off etc.

john boye · 29-04-2019 04:17PM

punisher5112 wrote: »

Of course it has they increased frequency which db couldn't as nta tells them what they can or can't do.

All services were increased as soon as they took over.

Wasn't trying to knock DB mate. But Yes and they've clearly increased running time too which has helped.

TheChrisD · 29-04-2019 04:18PM

Joeytheparrot wrote: »

ATTENTION ENNISKERRY, LITTLE BRAY & PALERMO.

TIME TO BE HEARD

Anyone else get the feeling this demonstration and complaining might just result in the random Palermo shuttle busses being removed to provide a better service to Enniskerry instead? That and/or Dargle will just get double yellows along it's entire length.

Thrashssacre · 29-04-2019 04:20PM

CramCycle wrote: »

The issues with the 17 were not frequency only, they are much the same issues being claimed off the 184 or 185. Not turning up, sometimes upto two or three in a row would not arrive. I live where the 184 and 185 pass close by, but I don't use them and cannot pass comment other than I see them. I know from my neighbours, that they claim it is the same as it always was with them.

I seen the complaints on the Bray Open Forum but somehow, it was just a photo of a rear ended car parked far too close to a corner, but noone videoed it, one person knows someone who seen it and claims the driver drove off etc.

Sounds very he said she said, I thought it odd that the protest managers cars being damaged etc as I feel like if that was happening on an large scale that it would have been picked up by a local paper fairly sharpish and been posted about on here.

CramCycle · 29-04-2019 04:31PM

Thrashssacre wrote: »

Sounds very he said she said, I thought it odd that the protest managers cars being damaged etc as I feel like if that was happening on an large scale that it would have been picked up by a local paper fairly sharpish and been posted about on here.

And in no way casting aspersions, but when you seen the pictures, the first thing I thought is if people are parking like that on the route, no wonder the bus is getting delayed.

Stephen15 · 29-04-2019 04:48PM

TheChrisD wrote: »

Anyone else get the feeling this demonstration and complaining might just result in the random Palermo shuttle busses being removed to provide a better service to Enniskerry instead? That and/or Dargle will just get double yellows along it's entire length.

It would be logical alright but on the flip side you'd probably have local residents in Palermo complaining about about cuts to their "community" bus service which not many are using anyway especially not it's being run by a private operator.

Stephen15 · 29-04-2019 05:06PM

punisher5112 wrote: »

Of course it has they increased frequency which db couldn't as nta tells them what they can or can't do.

All services were increased as soon as they took over.

The 75 didn't an increase and nor did the 59 arguably the 111 and 114 didn't get any increases either but they did get a Sunday service which they didn't have with DB in the past.

Also plenty of DB routes got increases too with the resources that were freed from services moving to GAI and they got a couple of new routes like the 40e and 155. I've used GAI buses a number times and haven't had any problems other than a few slight ones with RTPI the GAI bus I use (63) seems to be a bit more reliable now only had one ocassion since the switchover where it failed to show up this was a semi-regular with DB.

Go-Ahead Dublin City Routes - Updates and Discussion

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