Late night buses

Mervyn Skidmore · 29-08-2019 12:10am #1

I'm sure it's been discussed before but does anyone know if there are any plans in place for late night city buses for Galway? Particularly on weekends?

sgthighway · 29-08-2019 8:32am

What route you interested in?
How late?

Mervyn Skidmore · 29-08-2019 8:55am

No

The main routes in the city, 409, 401. Up until 2.30am probably, maybe running every 30 mins. Has it been tried before?

zell12 · 29-08-2019 9:35am

Mervyn Skidmore wrote: »

The main routes in the city, 409, 401. Up until 2.30am probably, maybe running every 30 mins. Has it been tried before?

There's been one before. Was not viable

€7 fare and the service will run on Dec 14th, 15th, 21st, 22nd, 26th, 27th, 28th, 30th and 31st.
Buses will depart Eyre Square at 1.30am, 2.30am and 3.30am for Oranmore – via the Doughiska Road – and on to Claregalway.
https://connachttribune.ie/late-night-bus-service-for-galway-city/

ben.schlomo · 29-08-2019 10:13am

Nobody should have to put up with drunk people on public transport, staff nor other passengers so it's a no go from me.

Mervyn Skidmore · 29-08-2019 10:15am

No

ben.schlomo wrote: »

Nobody should have to put up with drunk people on public transport, staff nor other passengers so it's a no go from me.

They have late night buses in lots of cities around the world, it's nothing new.

ben.schlomo · 29-08-2019 10:22am

Mervyn Skidmore wrote: »

ben.schlomo wrote: »

Nobody should have to put up with drunk people on public transport, staff nor other passengers so it's a no go from me.

They have late night buses in lots of cities around the world, it's nothing new.

Don't doubt that but in my experience of late nights in Galway and of drunk people on buses during daytime hours I do not think it's a goer.

biko · 29-08-2019 11:35am

Cork did this for Chrimstmas at 1, 2 and 3am
Now they even have a 24hour service Ballincollig to Carrigaline

Ashleigh1986 · 29-08-2019 12:44pm

Believe me driving 4 drunks home in a taxi last at night is some experience .
They would want the army on the buses if there was 50 going home late at night.
Wouldn't like to have the job of cleaning them after a late night shift .
Not to mention the chances of fights breaking out .
All in all it wouldn't be worth the risk for any bus supplier as their vecihcles would get destroyed .

29-08-2019 1:01pm

No

It’s been running successfully for years in Dublin.

A few busses late at night heading out to the county are needed when it’s 40 or 50 euro for many to get a taxi home.

Mervyn Skidmore · 29-08-2019 1:36pm

No

I'd like a bit more research than "it'll never work". I'd like to see it trialled anyway, the link above is from 2013 so maybe it's time to try again.

Mrs OBumble · 29-08-2019 1:51pm

Ashleigh1986 wrote: »

Believe me driving 4 drunks home in a taxi last at night is some experience .
They would want the army on the buses if there was 50 going home late at night.
Wouldn't like to have the job of cleaning them after a late night shift .
Not to mention the chances of fights breaking out .
All in all it wouldn't be worth the risk for any bus supplier as their vecihcles would get destroyed .

Sez the taximan who would earn less if this service was provided.

Funny how BusLink have been successfully running a night-link to Athenry (I think via Oranmore) for years, and their buses have survived.

29-08-2019 2:11pm

No

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Sez the taximan who would earn less if this service was provided.

Funny how BusLink have been successfully running a night-link to Athenry (I think via Oranmore) for years, and their buses have survived.

Was going to mention bus link. I've gotten it many times, never any trouble.

Kingp35 · 29-08-2019 2:37pm

No

Deleted User wrote: »

Was going to mention bus link. I've gotten it many times, never any trouble.

Does it go via Oranmore? This is the first time I've heard of this service.

ben.schlomo · 29-08-2019 2:42pm

Think there's a big difference in one's going out to the county and it being part of the city service. It's would be almost a necessity for county folk but a convenience for city folk thus leading to the potential for much more anti social behaviour on a city version.

Ashleigh1986 · 29-08-2019 3:05pm

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Sez the taximan who would earn less if this service was provided.

Funny how BusLink have been successfully running a night-link to Athenry (I think via Oranmore) for years, and their buses have survived.

Wrong again Mrs OBumble .... Don't do nights .
Night buses would have no effect on my revenue .
Did nights for 10 years , couldn't do it .
Listening to one drunken bore is enough without listening to 100s .
You have obviously never worked with the public drunks .
Would love to hear anyone try it for a year and than comment on what night services should be provided .

pq0n1ct4ve8zf5 · 29-08-2019 3:12pm

24 hr service running in Cork on one of the busiest routes, every 15 mins during the day, 30 minutes between 12 and 6am.

I frequently get it from the city centre to my suburban home, after I finish work so stone cold sober.

The ONLY issue I have with it is the unreliable timetable. You'd want to be very bloody delicate to be put out by the drunken carry on.

Like, night buses work fine in cities 10 times the size of Galway with a far wilder nightlife, bigger problems with drug use, knife crime etc. But oh god, we couldn't have that in Galway, they'd be rioting and burning the buses. God almighty.

Bredabe · 29-08-2019 9:20pm

No

ben.schlomo wrote: »

Don't doubt that but in my experience of late nights in Galway and of drunk people on buses during daytime hours I do not think it's a goer.

Granted some of the 'in bus' entertainment can be off putting, but I've met some of the most lovely ppl(usually sober) ppl on night busses.

Additionally some of the last minute pick up lines are hysterical!!!!

Each route running once an hour, always packed, so must have been making a profit.

Andrew00 · 29-08-2019 10:58pm

Does any see the city characters getting on the bus across from Fibber McGees. The aul lad who wears a hat that drinks the Dutch gold and shouting n roaring

The Lost Sheep · 29-08-2019 11:51pm

No

ben.schlomo wrote: »

Nobody should have to put up with drunk people on public transport, staff nor other passengers so it's a no go from me.

And what of the people who work etc and might need to get home and dont always drive??

ben.schlomo wrote: »

Don't doubt that but in my experience of late nights in Galway and of drunk people on buses during daytime hours I do not think it's a goer.

It works as others have said in this thread in much bigger cities with little trouble. Ive worked in pubs in Dublin and many of the guys who work in the pubs use them to get home after their shift

Ashleigh1986 wrote: »

Believe me driving 4 drunks home in a taxi last at night is some experience.
They would want the army on the buses if there was 50 going home late at night.
Wouldn't like to have the job of cleaning them after a late night shift.
Not to mention the chances of fights breaking out.
All in all it wouldn't be worth the risk for any bus supplier as their vecihcles would get destroyed.

Buses getting destroyed? Ah drop the hysterics. It works well in cities worldwide. Very simple and you are greatly overestimating the chances/liklihood of trouble.

Mrs OBumble · 30-08-2019 12:35am

Andrew00 wrote: »

Does any see the city characters getting on the bus across from Fibber McGees. The aul lad who wears a hat that drinks the Dutch gold and shouting n roaring

Yes.

A few of 'em live at the top of College Rd. They're not the worst.

Mrs OBumble · 30-08-2019 12:41am

Kingp35 wrote: »

Does it go via Oranmore? This is the first time I've heard of this service.

BusLink's own website is infected with malware (according to my browser).

I just checked www.a-b.ie, and it looks like it doesn't. Have a feeling that they tried it when it first started, but maybe the demand wasn't there.

Contact BusLink (via Facebook) for the definitive answer.

gordongekko · 30-08-2019 5:41am

Even 12.30 would be a big improvement. 11.30 is just too early to have the last bus home. The best part of 20 euros to get home after that is expensive.

Ashleigh1986 · 30-08-2019 6:17am

The bus operators don't WANT to put their buses on past midnight .
Head into galway sober and walk around eyre square after a busy student midweek night or on a bank holiday Saturday and ask yer selves why are there no late buses.
And as for those that say I'm over the top regarding saying their buses will get destroyed. Ask any bus operator why they don't put on late late buses.
They tried it once ... And quote " never again "
Drivers getting abused because they wouldn't drop people at their front doors .
Takeaway litter all over the buses .
Not to mention the vomit .
Try to get some of these lads to put on a seatbelt ?

30-08-2019 10:13am

No

Ashleigh1986 wrote: »

The bus operators don't WANT to put their buses on past midnight .
Head into galway sober and walk around eyre square after a busy student midweek night or on a bank holiday Saturday and ask yer selves why are there no late buses.
And as for those that say I'm over the top regarding saying their buses will get destroyed. Ask any bus operator why they don't put on late late buses.
They tried it once ... And quote " never again "
Drivers getting abused because they wouldn't drop people at their front doors .
Takeaway litter all over the buses .
Not to mention the vomit .
Try to get some of these lads to put on a seatbelt ?

And for the less dramatic folks out there..... This is already in operation for several years for Athenry. Its in operation the world over. Sure there are issues, but there are issues in the pub, on the street, at the taxi ranks etc.

Once the hysterics are down away with, this is a good idea that should be up and running, at least for Fri and Sat nights where there would be a demand.

ben.schlomo · 30-08-2019 11:16am

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

And what of the people who work etc and might need to get home and dont always drive??

It works as others have said in this thread in much bigger cities with little trouble. Ive worked in pubs in Dublin and many of the guys who work in the pubs use them to get home after their shift

Buses getting destroyed? Ah drop the hysterics. It works well in cities worldwide. Very simple and you are greatly overestimating the chances/liklihood of trouble.

If the demand is there from workers then maybe it'll be trialled. Running past 1130 makes sense but wouldn't be needed on every route, many are quiet as is, the later in the evening it gets. If I'm not mistaken there was a late bus trialled in the early 00's which didn't last very long. Some may remember it.

James Forde · 30-08-2019 11:27am

Kingp35 wrote: »

Does it go via Oranmore? This is the first time I've heard of this service.

Nope.

Athenry direct.

The Lost Sheep · 30-08-2019 11:30am

No

Ashleigh1986 wrote: »

The bus operators don't WANT to put their buses on past midnight.
Head into galway sober and walk around eyre square after a busy student midweek night or on a bank holiday Saturday and ask yer selves why are there no late buses.
And as for those that say I'm over the top regarding saying their buses will get destroyed. Ask any bus operator why they don't put on late late buses.
They tried it once ... And quote "never again"
Drivers getting abused because they wouldn't drop people at their front doors.
Takeaway litter all over the buses.
Not to mention the vomit.
Try to get some of these lads to put on a seatbelt?

What's with the hysterics.
It works successfully in many hundreds of cities around the world, plenty with far worse issues than Galway..
Of course there could be problems but Galway isnt so troublesome that it cant run these services when they work so well in so many other places.
And you are really focusing on vomit .... and it would be city buses like the double deckers which dont have seat belts anyway

ben.schlomo wrote: »

If the demand is there from workers then maybe it'll be trialled. Running past 1130 makes sense but wouldn't be needed on every route, many are quiet as is, the later in the evening it gets. If I'm not mistaken there was a late bus trialled in the early 00's which didn't last very long. Some may remember it.

It wouldnt even have to be the same exact routes as the normal day buses. Could be altered routes which is the case in Dublin

Mervyn Skidmore · 30-08-2019 11:36am

No

Some of the replies here paint Galway as some sort of lawless hellscape.

Zzippy · 30-08-2019 12:13pm

Some awful nonsense here. The Nitelink buses in Dublin have run for years, been on them many times and never saw any trouble. Most people by that stage just want to get home to bed.. The worst thing ever happened me was falling asleep and missing my stop. Buses these days have CCTV and people know if they start anything they'll be on camera.

ben.schlomo · 30-08-2019 12:16pm

Zzippy wrote: »

Some awful nonsense here. The Nitelink buses in Dublin have run for years, been on them many times and never saw any trouble. Most people by that stage just want to get home to bed.. The worst thing ever happened me was falling asleep and missing my stop. Buses these days have CCTV and people know if they start anything they'll be on camera.

That's good to hear. You'd imagine it's a lack of demand which has seen the idea never catch on here so.

An Eastside and Westside route would be the obvious ones to try, something akin to the 409 and 405(west).

Fitz* · 30-08-2019 12:18pm

No

Just because a bus is after hours, does not mean that everyone will be drunk.

Just because people have a drink, does not mean that they will be fighting and vomiting everywhere on every bus.

Although I suspect that as a taxi driver, all those people paying a couple euro for a journey home instead of 30e-40e for a taxi may play a part in that opinion.

I think it would be a great idea anyways to have later buses in, even if they trialled into until 12.30 or 1.00 am and see how it goes. I've often missed the last bus home and rued it, this would help.

Zzippy · 30-08-2019 12:45pm

ben.schlomo wrote: »

That's good to hear. You'd imagine it's a lack of demand which has seen the idea never catch on here so.

An Eastside and Westside route would be the obvious ones to try, something akin to the 409 and 405(west).

Galway is a smaller city. A taxi to where I lived in Dublin would cost €30 these days. You can get a taxi to anywhere in Galway City from the city centre for €12-15 max. There is not as much of a saving, particularly if you're sharing a taxi, so yes, I'd say demand is lower.

Ashleigh1986 · 30-08-2019 1:18pm

I suggest ye email the bus operators and ask them
" why don't ye continue the service until 5am ".
.... Please put up their response
...... I would wager it's because driving people home at the latest 11.30pm and continuing on until 5 am is chalk and cheese .

The Lost Sheep · 30-08-2019 1:26pm

No

Ashleigh1986 wrote: »

I suggest ye email the bus operators and ask them
"why don't ye continue the service until 5am".
.... Please put up their response
...... I would wager it's because driving people home at the latest 11.30pm and continuing on until 5 am is chalk and cheese.

Dont be ridiculous. It isnt continuing a service until 5am it is a different service just like in Dublin etc

Ashleigh1986 · 30-08-2019 1:38pm

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

Dont be ridiculous. It isnt continuing a service until 5am it is a different service just like in Dublin etc

So what time are ye asking for buses to be extended to o wise one ?

The Lost Sheep · 30-08-2019 1:40pm

No

Ashleigh1986 wrote: »

So what time are ye asking for buses to be extended to o wise one?

Maybe 3/4am but my point is it isnt the exact same routes as the buses during the day as it doesnt have to be.

biko · 30-08-2019 1:44pm

Can anyone actually answer the OP's question?

DuckSlice · 30-08-2019 1:55pm

No

This thread is right at the point for someone to throw in the "won't someone think of the children" comment.

Personally I would use a bus ahead of paying 11/12 euro for a taxi out to riverside, even though it doesn't bring me to my door and I might have to listen to drunks, although its probably the other people that will be sick of listening to me :P

OP - I haven't heard of any plans of late buses to be run in Galway, I'm sure all the taxi companies will do their best to keep it that way. Not a personal attack on taxi drivers, its their source of income so of course they are going to try and protect it.

30-08-2019 2:03pm

No

Ashleigh1986 wrote: »

I suggest ye email the bus operators and ask them
" why don't ye continue the service until 5am ".
.... Please put up their response
...... I would wager it's because driving people home at the latest 11.30pm and continuing on until 5 am is chalk and cheese .

As with most things transport related," the unions"

mlem123 · 30-08-2019 2:08pm

No

Some of the scaremongering here is incredible..

Nitelink works great in Dublin, I'm female and in my mid twenties and 99% of the time I take them alone and then walk from the bus stop home. I have no intention of paying about €25 for a taxi for 1 person/

I think the worst experience I've had on them was a drunk English man telling me about his career in online gambling when I just wanted to be left alone with my McDonalds but besides that people (including the drunk ones) are fine.

30-08-2019 2:12pm

No

Ashleigh1986 wrote: »

I suggest ye email the bus operators and ask them
" why don't ye continue the service until 5am ".
.... Please put up their response
...... I would wager it's because driving people home at the latest 11.30pm and continuing on until 5 am is chalk and cheese .

Why are you ignoring all the posters pointing out that not only do late busses run in Dublin and cork along with all over the world there is one running to athenry?

Taxis have it too handy, 40 to 50 euro for me to get home only just over 20km outside the city. Absolute gouging should be no meter and flat rate around 25 quid no more. You have to lie then too as a lot of drivers will refuse to bring you out the county, have to drip feed the directions to the final destination.

A bus might leave me with a walk of about 2km but feck for say even a 10er would be worth it.

ben.schlomo · 30-08-2019 2:18pm

Emerie Modern Treeless wrote: »

Ashleigh1986 wrote: »

I suggest ye email the bus operators and ask them
" why don't ye continue the service until 5am ".
.... Please put up their response
...... I would wager it's because driving people home at the latest 11.30pm and continuing on until 5 am is chalk and cheese .

Why are you ignoring all the posters pointing out that not only do late busses run in Dublin and cork along with all over the world there is one running to athenry?

Taxis have it too handy, 40 to 50 euro for me to get home only just over 20km outside the city. Absolute gouging should be no meter and flat rate around 25 quid no more. You have to lie then too as a lot of drivers will refuse to bring you out the county, have to drip feed the directions to the final destination.

A bus might leave me with a walk of about 2km but feck for say even a 10er would be worth it.

I'm obviously drunk, as I've just seen Nox say he'd use a bus.

30-08-2019 2:30pm

No

ben.schlomo wrote: »

I'm obviously drunk, as I've just seen Nox say he'd use a bus.

I’m always willing to use public transport for drink related activities :pac:

Ashleigh1986 · 30-08-2019 2:44pm

Emerie Modern Treeless wrote: »

Why are you ignoring all the posters pointing out that not only do late busses run in Dublin and cork along with all over the world there is one running to athenry?

Taxis have it too handy, 40 to 50 euro for me to get home only just over 20km outside the city. Absolute gouging should be no meter and flat rate around 25 quid no more. You have to lie then too as a lot of drivers will refuse to bring you out the county, have to drip feed the directions to the final destination.

A bus might leave me with a walk of about 2km but feck for say even a 10er would be worth it.

Just shows what you know .
The taxi fares are done by a government agency .
The national transport authority sets the fares charged.
We as TAXIDRIVERS have no say whatsoever in what the NTA set fares at .
Our meters are sealed ( regular checks done on our meters) of which we have no control over .
In fact our last increase ( over 90% of drivers didn't want the NTA to pass it on) we were told to take it .
But don't let FACTS get in of your moan about where YOU DECIDED TO LIVE and how much you have to pay to get home from galway city .

biko · 30-08-2019 3:52pm

Ashleigh1986, cool the jets a bit

I am adding a poll to keep this thread somewhat on local night buses.

In fact, a late local bus could mean some people go home a little earlier which is probably a good thing.

Andrew00 · 31-08-2019 12:44am

There should be 4 busses operating after midnight leaving eyre Square, 1 going north, towards tuam, south, east (in particular) and west. Say a 20km radius.

If they done 1 journey after midnight on Fri and sat they'd make money and it would be in demand

Taxis are getting it to handy

beardybrewer · 31-08-2019 9:40am

No

I'd just be happy to grab a bus after 6pm to get to Salthill or town. Sadly it's faster to walk an hour than bother with our feeble public transport.

Mrs OBumble · 31-08-2019 9:43am

beardybrewer wrote: »

I'd just be happy to grab a bus after 6pm to get to Salthill or town. Sadly it's faster to walk an hour than bother with our feeble public transport.

Bus to Salthill goes every 20 mins until 11pm.

sgthighway · 31-08-2019 10:13am

It would be great if the Eyre Square to Athenry bus from Bus Link went via Oranmore.

beardybrewer · 31-08-2019 10:32am

No

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Bus to Salthill goes every 20 mins until 11pm.

Which route? The 402 route has me walking 50% of it. Useless if it's wet out or for a girl on her own. The 411 takes you all the way to town just do you can come back to Salthill. Nearly faster to walk. There is no night time direct route that goes Knock to R336 for handy drop-offs at Blackrock or Seapoint. We have no public transport in my mind.

Late night buses

Would you use a late (until 2am) local bus once or more every month? 33 votes

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