Dublin Coach Experience Discussion Thread

devnull · 05-09-2020 02:50PM

Nigel Fairservice wrote: »

I got the service from Cork to Kilkenny often enough. I’ve seen plenty people buy tickets to Dublin at the Cork stop. Some of the better Dublin Coach drivers advised them to get Gobus or Aircoach instead.

I can't fathom why someone would choose a Dublin Coach service that has older vehicles, is less frequent, more expensive and takes far longer than any of the other three bus operators going between Dublin and Cork.

This is especially the case when both GoBus and Aircoach depart from pretty much the same place as Dublin Coach in Cork, which makes it hard for them not to know about the other services.

devnull · 05-09-2020 02:55PM

punisher5112 wrote: »

Running half a bus wouldn't suit them.... They're leaving them off on the train.... This could be a big opportunity for the rail to rob their customers too.... I do always wonder why people wanted private so much but yet won't run as it won't make them money, CIE continue right through.

The only private operator that has the same kind of funding that the CIE operators can benefit from has been operating similar services to them.

Unfortunately commercial operators don't have access to a funding tap, let alone one that can be have it's throughput increased like the PSO operators can benefit from.

devnull · 05-09-2020 03:01PM

WishUWereHere wrote: »

Can understand the lack of demand for the airport 726 service, but is there no demand for Dublin/Belfast? I haven't seen Aircoach on the road yet, would there not be a demand there? Unless CV restrictions?

Aircoach have been running 10 Cork services a day in each direction and 8 Belfast services a day in each direction for several weeks now with capacity of 23 seats for Cork services and 24 seats for Belfast services.

From Sunday there will be two trips in each direction added to the 705X Belfast route in order to meet demand that has led to some people being turned away meaning it will be 10 trips in each direction.

The 700 will also return from Sunday, operating broadly hourly, with some slight variations at quieter and peak times, but only running as far as UCD rather than to Leopardstown.

end of the road · 05-09-2020 03:01PM

devnull wrote: »

I can't fathom why someone would choose a Dublin Coach service that has older vehicles, is less frequent, more expensive and takes far longer than any of the other three bus operators going between Dublin and Cork.

This is especially the case when both GoBus and Aircoach depart from pretty much the same place as Dublin Coach in Cork, which makes it hard for them not to know about the other services.

could it be that the fares are cheaper, or perhapse they have just missed the other operator's departures and have decided that the extra time on the bus is worth it against the wait for the next departure by one of the others?

devnull · 05-09-2020 03:22PM

end of the road wrote: »

could it be that the fares are cheaper, or perhapse they have just missed the other operator's departures and have decided that the extra time on the bus is worth it against the wait for the next departure by one of the others?

That doesn't really make any sense though as the Dublin Coach service will still arrive in Dublin later than the next Aircoach or GoBus service in almost all cases because there is such a difference in journey time.

They're also far more expensive actually, £20 single whether walk-up or online and no discount for a return so basically it's €40 which honestly is a rip off for that price for the kind of service that they provide.

Aircoach single ranges from €14 (online) to €17 (walk-up) for a single, with returns from €23 (online) to €26 (walk-up) whilst GoBus singles range from €14 (online) to €18 (walk-up) and returns at €23 (online) to €28 (walk-up)

WishUWereHere · 05-09-2020 03:52PM

soundman45 wrote: »

Aircoach Cork and Belfast routes been running weeks now.

Thanks, hadn’t seen any so assumed they weren’t running.

Gael23 · 06-09-2020 06:02PM

devnull wrote: »

Aircoach have been running 10 Cork services a day in each direction and 8 Belfast services a day in each direction for several weeks now with capacity of 23 seats for Cork services and 24 seats for Belfast services.

From Sunday there will be two trips in each direction added to the 705X Belfast route in order to meet demand that has led to some people being turned away meaning it will be 10 trips in each direction.

The 700 will also return from Sunday, operating broadly hourly, with some slight variations at quieter and peak times, but only running as far as UCD rather than to Leopardstown.

No use to me where I live having to get to UCD

devnull · 06-09-2020 07:09PM

Gael23 wrote: »

No use to me where I live having to get to UCD

Never said it was, was replying to the other person who was talking about Belfast.

06-09-2020 08:42PM

Gael23 wrote: »

No use to me where I live having to get to UCD

They bring you from the Airport only to UCD, you cant hop on/off at various stops.

GT89 · 06-09-2020 11:43PM

Vic_08 wrote: »

The age of the fleet is immaterial, the poor maintenance is their issue, plenty of reports on this thread of their newer vehicles sat on the roadside as well as the older ones.

It is perfectly possible to keep older vehicles in presentable condition and run a reliable service with them, just not the way DC carry on.

You are correct however purely from a business perpective running older vehicles in regular service is not a good idea. A commercial operator using older vehicles would immediately strike alarm bells with me and would suggest they are cutting corners somewhere along the line.

It is possible to run older vehicles in regaular seevice in an acceptable condition 100% but it is not commercially viable. It makes sense for private operators to run ex DB vehicles for doing light duties.

punisher5112 · 07-09-2020 12:03AM

His business model is set up and sell..,

Not as fast as I think he would like this time though

p_haugh · 07-09-2020 10:17AM

soundman45 wrote: »

They bring you from the Airport only to UCD, you cant hop on/off at various stops.

I think they mean that they can't easily get to UCD to avail of the Aircoach to the airport

road_high · 07-09-2020 11:20AM

How are they getting on with the first day back? Anyone use DC yet?
* just see they are back tomorrow 8th sept!!

john boye · 07-09-2020 11:26AM

road_high wrote: »

How are they getting on with the first day back? Anyone use DC yet?
* just see they are back tomorrow 8th sept!!

Can we open a book on when the first breakdown is spotted? I'll have this month's mortgage on 'before the end of the week'!

road_high · 07-09-2020 11:38AM

john boye wrote: »

Can we open a book on when the first breakdown is spotted? I'll have this month's mortgage on 'before the end of the week'!

I'd imagine there'll be even more after 6 months of buses laid up! Will some of them even start up!?

punisher5112 · 07-09-2020 11:50AM

road_high wrote: »

I'd imagine there'll be even more after 6 months of buses laid up! Will some of them even start up!?

Well that had huge issues starting after a run so they would leave running....

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime · 07-09-2020 12:00PM

john boye wrote: »

Can we open a book on when the first breakdown is spotted? I'll have this month's mortgage on 'before the end of the week'!

27st of augest at the back of the airport/old airport road I saw one broken down myself.

GT89 · 07-09-2020 01:55PM

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime wrote: »

27st of augest at the back of the airport/old airport road I saw one broken down myself.

not even back in service and already breaking down

07-09-2020 05:40PM

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime wrote: »

27st of augest at the back of the airport/old airport road I saw one broken down myself.

Looks like a puncture, hardly a breakdown.

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime · 07-09-2020 10:54PM

soundman45 wrote: »

Looks like a puncture, hardly a breakdown.

They had 6 months give or take to fix a puncture and still didn't do it ?

Pathetic

I wouldn't even get into it saying you can get a nail in a tire anytime, those tires take some real abuse and a nail most certainly will not bring one down. It would have to be a bigger issue like the rim or a blowout meaning the thing shouldn't be on the road in the first place

08-09-2020 02:43AM

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime wrote: »

They had 6 months give or take to fix a puncture and still didn't do it ?

Pathetic

I wouldn't even get into it saying you can get a nail in a tire anytime, those tires take some real abuse and a nail most certainly will not bring one down. It would have to be a bigger issue like the rim or a blowout meaning the thing shouldn't be on the road in the first place

What utter BS. Sorry but I have driven buses most of my life, last puncture I had driving a bus was on the N7 at Naas a perfect tyre almost new got punctured at the roadworks. Yes a nail wont puncture them but they do punture like any other tyre can.

ExoPolitic · 08-09-2020 04:17AM

Well today is the day! Lets see how they get on.

JeffK88 · 08-09-2020 06:44AM

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime wrote: »

They had 6 months give or take to fix a puncture and still didn't do it ?

Pathetic

I wouldn't even get into it saying you can get a nail in a tire anytime, those tires take some real abuse and a nail most certainly will not bring one down. It would have to be a bigger issue like the rim or a blowout meaning the thing shouldn't be on the road in the first place

Jesus the hostility against them. Did a DC bus run over your pet dog or something? Give them a chance to get started. I've said it before and will continue to say it. A lot of people depend on their services for work, college and socially. They're not perfect but the towns they pass through have desperately missed this bus, I'm talking about the Portlaoise service. 24/7 services who take Sunday as an actual day and don't reduce services.

New2Dubs · 08-09-2020 07:11AM

I’ve used all services between Belfast - Dublin over the last 10 months. Dublin Coach is quicker & more comfortable, but I had a terrifying experience on one wet journey. The driver had his ipad on his knee the entire journey, his driving was diabolical - all over the road, those cross winds around Newry were particularly harrowing. I got up to speak to him & asked him to put the tablet away as he wasn’t concentrating on the road. He told me he needed to be on whatsapp to talk to other drivers. Couldn’t believe my ears.

punisher5112 · 08-09-2020 08:20AM

New2Dubs wrote: »

I’ve used all services between Belfast - Dublin over the last 10 months. Dublin Bus is quicker & more comfortable, but I had a terrifying experience on one wet journey. The driver had his ipad on his knee the entire journey, his driving was diabolical - all over the road, those cross winds around Newry were particularly harrowing. I got up to speak to him & asked him to put the tablet away as he wasn’t concentrating on the road. He told me he needed to be on whatsapp to talk to other drivers. Couldn’t believe my ears.

Dublin coach I guess

end of the road · 08-09-2020 09:06AM

JeffK88 wrote: »

Jesus the hostility against them. Did a DC bus run over your pet dog or something? Give them a chance to get started. I've said it before and will continue to say it. A lot of people depend on their services for work, college and socially. They're not perfect but the towns they pass through have desperately missed this bus, I'm talking about the Portlaoise service. 24/7 services who take Sunday as an actual day and don't reduce services.

sorry but i'm afraid the hostility and criticism is quite right and deserved.
they have been given plenty of chances.
the fact people depend on their services is no get out for them from the facts, and the necessary criticism due to those facts.

road_high · 08-09-2020 10:51AM

end of the road wrote: »

sorry but i'm afraid the hostility and criticism is quite right and deserved.
they have been given plenty of chances.
the fact people depend on their services is no get out for them from the facts, and the necessary criticism due to those facts.

I’m the first to criticise them but unfortunately we do depend on them- that’s more a failure of central government, happy to cast off any public transport obligations to the likes of DC. Leaving places like Portlaoise, Portarlington, Kilkenny etc 6 months with very limited options. I’m very happy to see DC back

road_high · 08-09-2020 10:53AM

They’re also fast and relatively cheap too

bk · 08-09-2020 11:39AM

road_high wrote: »

I’m the first to criticise them but unfortunately we do depend on them- that’s more a failure of central government, happy to cast off any public transport obligations to the likes of DC. Leaving places like Portlaoise, Portarlington, Kilkenny etc 6 months with very limited options. I’m very happy to see DC back

Well on other routes, Cork, Galway, Belfast, you have multiple operators, competing and offering an absolutely top quality service, much better then offered by BE.

I don't know how DC managed to get a monopoly on their routes and the lack of competition shows in the quality of service they offer.

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime · 08-09-2020 01:32PM

As others have said, they deserve the bad reviews

They are not a new company, the owner john I sullivan isn't new to this, he worked in bus eireann himself and set up and sold aircoach, so he knows what he's at, he just couldn't give a flying ****e.

If it were a thread about how shockingly bad bus eireann is as a provider then I'd be giving them the same bad feedback and more, because they too are a joke shop.

There are a few operators out there getting it right but very few and far between

Dublin Coach Experience Discussion Thread

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