Go-Ahead Dublin City Routes - Updates and Discussion

GT89 · 01-09-2020 12:23pm

d51984 wrote: »

Was looking at a photo of one the TFI/Go Ahead AX type bus on Darren Halls flickr. Anyone else think theres far too much yellow at the front?

IMO that little smily face bit over the headlights would look far better painted blue.

Yeah the blue needs to come up further. The front looks very bare since there's no logo of any sort at least on the SGs they have the Wright logo which breaks up the look. I think they may have rushed the paint job on these as they were only brought in as a stopgap measure. Mind you other than the front these buses don't look too bad in TFI livery.

I'd be most surprised if they were in service with GAI for any longer than a year but it wouldn't surprise me if they kept them longer to use them as driver trainers.

dublinman1990 · 03-09-2020 4:58am

The 114 has some changes in it's new T/T from GAI for Blackrock on Sundays & BH Mondays/Public Holidays.

Buses on this route now leave Blackrock 55 minutes past the hour on an hourly basis for those days.

The 1st 114 leaves the DART Station at 12:55 instead of 12:50 on an hourly basis all the way down to the last bus which leaves Blackrock at 21:55.

I must ask what was the reason for GAI to place the 114 leaving Blackrock 5 minutes later than usual for every bus on those days?

soundman45 · 03-09-2020 8:49am

dublinman1990 wrote: »

The 114 has some changes in it's new T/T from GAI for Blackrock on Sundays & BH Mondays/Public Holidays.

Buses on this route now leave Blackrock 55 minutes past the hour on an hourly basis for those days.

The 1st 114 leaves the DART Station at 12:55 instead of 12:50 on an hourly basis all the way down to the last bus which leaves Blackrock at 21:55.

I must ask what was the reason for GAI to place the 114 leaving Blackrock 5 minutes later than usual for every bus on those days?

Reduced running time from Blackrock shortened by leaving Blackrock later and arriving at Rockview terminus earlier, as buses had too much running time resulting in drivers having to stop at points along the route to "hold" their time

punisher5112 · 03-09-2020 9:48am

Make sense in the evening if it were timed with dart arrival and say 3 or 5 minutes then leave.

Maybe it is but if not it definitely should.

dublinman1990 · 14-09-2020 7:10pm

GAI had one of their ex-London driver trainers out on part of the 18 route in Sandymount today. It was seen on RTÉ News Six-One this evening on the report on the new cycle lanes being halted in Sandymount until the new year. It is navy blue on the front & red livery from the middle up to the back of the bus. It looks very well.

punisher5112 · 14-09-2020 8:36pm

dublinman1990 wrote: »

GAI had one of their ex-London driver trainers out on part of the 18 route in Sandymount today. It was seen on RTÉ News Six-One this evening on the report on the new cycle lanes being halted in Sandymount until the new year. It is navy blue on the front & red livery from the middle up to the back of the bus. It looks very well.

The Dublin mayor, cycled out of mansion House and hit the luas track and fell, she cycled into the track... It made news because she was so upset a bus driver beeped at her.... What an absolute numpty she is.

devnull · 14-09-2020 8:59pm

punisher5112 wrote: »

The Dublin mayor, cycled out of mansion House and hit the luas track and fell, she cycled into the track... It made news because she was so upset a bus driver beeped at her.... What an absolute numpty she is.

However interesting topic of discussion that might be to you and others, it's off topic for this thread. Back to the subject at hand please.

- Moderator

GT89 · 22-11-2020 2:19am

Saw this the other day. Apparently GAI have no anti social behaviour protocol and they will not pull buses out of areas if incidents occur. This is real risk to driver and passenger safety if that's true. Dublin Bus have a protocol agreed with the unions in place to deal with incidents in particular trouble spots so why not GAI?

https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/bus-drivers-admit-fear-lives-19311962

BonnieSituation · 22-11-2020 2:26am

Where is this antisocial behaviour happening on the 18? Ballyfermot Road? Bizarre.

And on the 76? Neilstown and Ballyfermot Road?

GT89 · 22-11-2020 2:27am

BonnieSituation wrote: »

Where is this antisocial behaviour happening on the 18? Ballyfermot Road? Bizarre.

And on the 76? Neilstown and Ballyfermot Road?

I think the report was just giving examples of routes the company operate.

BonnieSituation · 22-11-2020 2:31am

GT89 wrote: »

I think the report was just giving examples of routes the company operate.

You'd think they'd have stated examples of antisocial behaviour.

So as with everything on Dublin Live, it's a nonsense piece that just seeks to tar West Dublin with the antisocial brush.

I do accept that if there's no protocol in place that that us concerning, but that article is crap.

devnull · 22-11-2020 9:55am

BonnieSituation wrote: »

You'd think they'd have stated examples of antisocial behaviour.

So as with everything on Dublin Live, it's a nonsense piece that just seeks to tar West Dublin with the antisocial brush.

I do accept that if there's no protocol in place that that us concerning, but that article is crap.

Agree, it's a bit strange there are no examples of anti-social behaviour mentioned on GAI services. It's almost like they've heard of anti-social behaviour happening on some DB routes in the past and are using it in order to get a policy put in place in case it does happen in the future

Does anyone know much about the Revolutionary Workers Union? This is the first time that I have heard their name mentioned. I notice they describe themselves as a fighting union whose aim is to bring about an All Ireland Socialist Republic. Is Go-Ahead their first foray into transport?

john boye · 22-11-2020 10:06am

I've seen GAI tweeting about diversions due to antisocial carry on.

GT89 · 22-11-2020 10:31am

john boye wrote: »

I've seen GAI tweeting about diversions due to antisocial carry on.

I have seen that but it seems to be on a more spontaneous basis than DB and routes seem to be fairly random. I have seen routes mention on that would not be typically assoicated with anti social behaviour so it would more suggest thing like disruptive behaviour etc.

Where as with DB on the other hand it's the same routes and areas generally parts of West Tallaght, Ballyfermot, Clondalkin and Finglas. When DB operated the 76 it was regularly diverted away from Neilstown Road but I have never seen GAI report on the 76 being diverted away from Neilstown Road.

I highly doubt the anti social behaviour on the 76 has disappeared since GAI started operating it as in that time I have seen the 40 being diverted due to anti social behaviour from there which serves the same route as the 76.

DB have a protocol in place for particular trouble spots agreed with unions which I believe means on a first incident the route is diverted for an hour and second incident out for the rest of the night. I think this is what they want for GAI also.

Citrus_8 · 22-11-2020 8:40pm

I don't like the idea to divert routes due to antisocial behaviour. I think Gardai should be more responsive and deal with it rather than cutting the services for a few hours and putting in risk people who have to go home and walk longer distances due to diverted routes. Not a good practise and clearly it isn't working as it still doesn't prevent these things from happening again.

end of the road · 22-11-2020 8:53pm

the problem is by not cutting the services or diverting them, staff and passengers who are on board, or who would be on board, those services would be at risk and that cannot be allowed.
the gardai absolutely need to do their bit but it does come down to a question of how many more would be at risk by not diverting verses how many might be at risk by having to walk a bit longer to get home.
the policy won't stop such behaviour from happening again but it's not actually there to do that anyway, that's for the courts to try and do that, the policy is there to protect staff, passengers and assets.
extremely unfair for those caught up in it but it's down to those acting up that this has to happen.

Citrus_8 · 22-11-2020 9:10pm

end of the road wrote: »

the problem is by not cutting the services or diverting them, staff and passengers who are on board, or who would be on board, those services would be at risk and that cannot be allowed.
the gardai absolutely need to do their bit but it does come down to a question of how many more would be at risk by not diverting verses how many might be at risk by having to walk a bit longer to get home.
the policy won't stop such behaviour from happening again but it's not actually there to do that anyway, that's for the courts to try and do that, the policy is there to protect staff, passengers and assets.
extremely unfair for those caught up in it but it's down to those acting up that this has to happen.

Thanks for explaining from a different perspective.

It's a bit funny that DB is protecting their customers, staff and assets more than Gardai. Lack of funding, training and motivation is what I can see. It's pity to see that...

GT89 · 23-11-2020 1:45am

Citrus_8 wrote: »

I don't like the idea to divert routes due to antisocial behaviour. I think Gardai should be more responsive and deal with it rather than cutting the services for a few hours and putting in risk people who have to go home and walk longer distances due to diverted routes. Not a good practise and clearly it isn't working as it still doesn't prevent these things from happening again.

If the Gardai did their job in the first place there'd be far less of these issues prevention is better than cure.

23-11-2020 6:45pm

GT89 wrote: »

Saw this the other day. Apparently GAI have no anti social behaviour protocol and they will not pull buses out of areas if incidents occur. This is real risk to driver and passenger safety if that's true. Dublin Bus have a protocol agreed with the unions in place to deal with incidents in particular trouble spots so why not GAI?

https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/bus-drivers-admit-fear-lives-19311962

Another example of the superior service the private sector provides. Users of the bus route have a higher chance of getting home than with Dublin Bus who could pull out at the sign of trouble.

GT89 · 23-11-2020 6:49pm

salonfire wrote: »

Another example of the superior service the private sector provides. Users of the bus route have a higher chance of getting home than with Dublin Bus who could pull out at the sign of trouble.

So passengers and drivers safety should be put at risk because of scrotes pelting rocks at buses and they only pull out after an incident not at the first sign

.anon. · 23-11-2020 7:33pm

salonfire wrote: »

Another example of the superior service the private sector provides. Users of the bus route have a higher chance of getting home than with Dublin Bus who could pull out at the sign of trouble.

Superior until someone gets hurt or worse.

end of the road · 23-11-2020 7:38pm

salonfire wrote: »

Another example of the superior service the private sector provides. Users of the bus route have a higher chance of getting home than with Dublin Bus who could pull out at the sign of trouble.

just as well dublin bus don't pull their services at the first sight of trouble then, isn't it.
they pull them when there is actual trouble, you know, to insure their vehicles, or the vehicles they operate don't get smashed up along with passengers and staff.
so no, the fact the private operator probably haven't had an incident requiring them to pull their services, is not an example of anything bar perhapse the areas where those services run through, are less likely to experience such incidents.
but yes, private good cause private and public bad cause public nonsense from you as usual.

StreetLight · 23-11-2020 8:12pm

salonfire wrote: »

Another example of the superior service the private sector provides. Users of the bus route have a higher chance of getting home than with Dublin Bus who could pull out at the sign of trouble.

Let's say you work in an office and I smash the window beside you while you're working. Do you call the Gardaí, or a private security firm?

.anon. · 23-11-2020 8:29pm

devnull wrote: »

Does anyone know much about the Revolutionary Workers Union? This is the first time that I have heard their name mentioned. I notice they describe themselves as a fighting union whose aim is to bring about an All Ireland Socialist Republic. Is Go-Ahead their first foray into transport?

They've been around for a couple of years (or at least their Facebook page has). I thought that's all they were until they apparently turned up in Ballymount on Friday night and did this:

https://mobile.twitter.com/RevWorkersUnion/status/1330189918262489090

When the company refuses to engage with a respected union like the NBRU on issues like this, it's inevitable that more militant drivers will look elsewhere for support.

punisher5112 · 23-11-2020 8:30pm

I've had issues where windows were put in etc and we continued to serve, many times over the years.

AlekSmart · 24-11-2020 7:33pm

Is that The Red Hand of Ulster I see in that clip ?

AlekSmart · 24-11-2020 7:36pm

GT89 wrote: »

Saw this the other day. Apparently GAI have no anti social behaviour protocol and they will not pull buses out of areas if incidents occur. This is real risk to driver and passenger safety if that's true. Dublin Bus have a protocol agreed with the unions in place to deal with incidents in particular trouble spots so why not GAI?

https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/bus-drivers-admit-fear-lives-19311962

Its worth noting that the Protocol also involves the local Gardaí as an integral part of a broader approach.

BonnieSituation · 24-11-2020 9:36pm

AlekSmart wrote: »

Is that The Red Hand of Ulster I see in that clip ?

The red hand has long been appropriated by the Irish trade Union movement since it was used during the lockout.

Sure, Siptu's logo is a stylised red-hand.

https://www.siptu.ie/aboutsiptu/ourlogo/#:~:text=The%20Red%20Hand%20Badge%3A%20Commemorating,historian%2C%20Francis%20Devine%2C%20explains.

dublinman1990 · 19-01-2021 2:01pm

Real Time Ireland android app is saying that the 17 leaving Blackrock Station at 2pm has it's trip cancelled.

GT89 · 21-01-2021 2:47am

I see that a Go-Ahead Streetlite ended up in the bushes in Tallaght Square last night. Looks like the driver probably left the handbrake off.
https://twitter.com/TheEchoOnline/status/1351996460779372549?s=19

Losty Dublin · 21-01-2021 3:16am

GT89 wrote: »

I see that a Go-Ahead Streetlite ended up in the bushes in Tallaght Square last night. Looks like the driver probably left the handbrake off.
https://twitter.com/TheEchoOnline/status/1351996460779372549?s=19

No driver on board but there has been anecdotal issues with this model of bus. Watch this space, as the saying goes.

GT89 · 21-01-2021 12:29pm

Losty Dublin wrote: »

No driver on board but there has been anecdotal issues with this model of bus. Watch this space, as the saying goes.

If it's a mechanical fault rather than driver error it's a fairly serious one at that.

.anon. · 21-01-2021 12:50pm

Losty Dublin wrote: »

No driver on board but there has been anecdotal issues with this model of bus. Watch this space, as the saying goes.

There are many, many issues with those buses. On any other bus, the door brake would have prevented that from happening, even if the driver had left the handbrake off.

Citrus_8 · 21-01-2021 2:55pm

.anon. wrote: »

There are many, many issues with those buses. On any other bus, the door brake would have prevented that from happening, even if the driver had left the handbrake off.

Does a door brake work even when doors closed? I thought it only works when doors opened.

Tickityboo · 21-01-2021 3:07pm

Citrus_8 wrote: »

Does a door brake work even when doors closed? I thought it only works when doors opened.

If the doors are closed the door brake will not be engaged.

.anon. · 21-01-2021 4:26pm

Citrus_8 wrote: »

Does a door brake work even when doors closed? I thought it only works when doors opened.

When you close the door, you have to press the brake pedal to disengage the door brake.

GT89 · 21-01-2021 4:49pm

Tickityboo wrote: »

If the doors are closed the door brake will not be engaged.

Is this the reason why I've seen some drivers leave the front doors open at termini

Vic_08 · 21-01-2021 5:02pm

.anon. wrote: »

There are many, many issues with those buses. On any other bus, the door brake would have prevented that from happening, even if the driver had left the handbrake off.

Hold/door brakes on most buses/coaches operate via the service brake not parking bake and release when the engine is switched off, some will stay on if the interlock is not engaged other won't.

It's all very well blaming the numpty who forgot to apply the handbrake but there have been numerous examples of runaways across many operators due to the hold/door brake feature actively promoting non-use of the parking brake.

The better designed buses have some sort of warning, the Scanias I drove with hold brakes had a very loud buzzer and visual warning as soon as the engine was switched off with handbrake not engaged, funnily enough none of them ever ended up stuck in a hedge or wall. The VDLs on the other hand had no warnings and a number of them went on ghost trips to the nearest solid object.

Drivers end up taking the blame for these sort of incidents but the generally woeful design and implementation of buses (far worse than trucks and light years from passenger cars) is by far the main problem.

punisher5112 · 21-01-2021 5:12pm

GT89 wrote: »

Is this the reason why I've seen some drivers leave the front doors open at termini

Most likely they can't wait till the battery kill switch works as this means you can then close the doors from outside.

punisher5112 · 21-01-2021 5:13pm

Vic_08 wrote: »

Hold/door brakes on most buses/coaches operate via the service brake not parking bake and release when the engine is switched off, some will stay on if the interlock is not engaged other won't.

It's all very well blaming the numpty who forgot to apply the handbrake but there have been numerous examples of runaways across many operators due to the hold/door brake feature actively promoting non-use of the parking brake.

The better designed buses have some sort of warning, the Scanias I drove with hold brakes had a very loud buzzer and visual warning as soon as the engine was switched off with handbrake not engaged, funnily enough none of them ever ended up stuck in a hedge or wall. The VDLs on the other hand had no warnings and a number of them went on ghost trips to the nearest solid object.

Drivers end up taking the blame for these sort of incidents but the generally woeful design and implementation of buses (far worse than trucks and light years from passenger cars) is by far the main problem.

GT does, one can't use centre door on anything else unless application of handbrake.

.anon. · 21-01-2021 5:22pm

punisher5112 wrote: »

Most likely they can't wait till the battery kill switch works as this means you can then close the doors from outside.

...and they're not agile enough to hit the button in the cab and then hurl themselves out before the door shuts on them.

Vic_08 wrote:

It's all very well blaming the numpty who forgot to apply the handbrake but there have been numerous examples of runaways across many operators due to the hold/door brake feature actively promoting non-use of the parking brake.

There was an incident in Donnybrook a few months ago where a bus rolled into another. A Streetlite too, if I remember correctly. Also, a Bus Éireann VDL caused a bit of damage in Dublin Airport back in 2017.

Vic_08 · 21-01-2021 6:44pm

.anon. wrote: »

There was an incident in Donnybrook a few months ago where a bus rolled into another. A Streetlite too, if I remember correctly. Also, a Bus Éireann VDL caused a bit of damage in Dublin Airport back in 2017.

I haven't had the (dis)pleasure of Streetlites myself, I do know plenty who drive them, none seem to like them much.

Thankfully for the driver involved it was quickly confirmed that particular BE incident was mechanical failure and the handbrake had been applied, those are the VDLs I was talking about though.

Stop bus on hold brake or door open: brake stays on. Turn engine off: brake stays on. Exit bus and close door: brake releases after a few seconds. Often the driver has walked out of sight before the bus will even start to roll.

dublinman1990 · 24-01-2021 4:42am

GAI will have their Saturday Plus timetables back in place from later today until further notice.

https://www.goaheadireland.ie/timetable-change

Their North Dublin school routes will not be operating during this period.

GT89 · 26-01-2021 1:31am

How come Go-Ahead buses never have any ads on them and if they do it's only ever for something to do with the NTA. You'd think they'd want the advertising revenue it generates.

Losty Dublin · 26-01-2021 2:04am

GT89 wrote: »

How come Go-Ahead buses never have any ads on them and if they do it's only ever for something to do with the NTA. You'd think they'd want the advertising revenue it generates.

Go Ahead can’t place ads on them as they are NTA owned buses operating on NTA planned services and thus they aren’t permitted to at the moment. Strange I know as it’s an easy source of income that gives the city a bit of colour.

john boye · 26-01-2021 2:12am

I think someone here before said that it would have to be tendered as it would be different to DBs setup and they might be waiting until DB changes to the new system ( with revenue going to the NTA, presumably).

I don't understand why the NTA don't put more in-house ads on them in the meantime though.

dublinman1990 · 11-06-2021 9:18pm

Go-Ahead Ireland announced a new league partnership with the Dublin GAA.

Details here.

It's great to see Go-Ahead Ireland are making their efforts known to be involved with Irish sport however in the photograph within that link; Go-Ahead have a second-hand Enviro 200 bus in GAI corporate livery right beside the newer SG double decker. Is the Enviro 200 used for the 197 route between Swords & Ashbourne? If yes; why are they using 2nd hand buses on that particular route? And also how many Enviro 200's would they have in the fleet? I would have thought that the NTA may have said to GAI that they would have to use newer buses only for this route's official contract with them.

dublinman1990 · 15-06-2021 12:48am

Go-Ahead Ireland now have a gay pride bus in their fleet with 11589 taking the honours. The difference with this bus is that the gay pride flag is painted right all over it which includes the front of the bus as well. It also matches the gay pride livery of Dublin Bus from previous years.

https://twitter.com/RayMcGrath/status/1404470285080924169/photo/1

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E32uRc0XMAUBZ9-?format=jpg&name=large

Burt Renaults · 15-06-2021 8:04am

dublinman1990 wrote: »

Go-Ahead Ireland now have a gay pride bus in their fleet with 11589 taking the honours. The difference with this bus is that the gay pride flag is painted right all over it which includes the front of the bus as well. It also matches the gay pride livery of Dublin Bus from previous years.

https://twitter.com/RayMcGrath/status/1404470285080924169/photo/1

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E32uRc0XMAUBZ9-?format=jpg&name=large

That actually looks really well, especially without the absolute abomination of a livery sticking out from the front of it.

john boye · 15-06-2021 8:20am

Looks like it's actually painted rather than a wrap.

Go-Ahead Dublin City Routes - Updates and Discussion

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