BusConnects Dublin - Bus Network Changes Discussion

To note here that when the 11 is removed, Sandyford B.D. locals won't have any direct bus to Goatstown until the 86 launches.

Southside leg of the 11 is not going anywhere. It will just run from Infirmary road via Phibsboro.

Oh sorry, but like I meant that just in the future, but that is still a good bit away.

Ridiculous no planned increases for C3, C4 or 52. I frequently have buses driving by full on my commute home. Complete lottery each day as to whether I can get on a bus or face 30-60 mins wait trying to find one that will let passengers on.

Even one extra bus between half four and half five would make a huge differencein terms of capacity to accommodate passengers. The should also extend X27/X28 to Maynooth instead of Salesian college if they have not already done so. It means Maynooth bound passengers are restricted to C3, C4, X25/X25 putting more pressures on them. X27 buses are frequently half empty while the other buses are rammed dangerously full (passengers beyond the line, right up to front window).

Well, the route they replaced went as far as Maynooth. I think the decision was made as Celbridge residents frequently couldn't get on Celbridge bound buses, which is a legitimate complaint. But the X27/X28 scheduling is terrible, X27 leaves UCD at 16:12 and 17:11, X28 leaves UCD at 16:30 and 17:15. The two earlier buses are generally crammed. The two later buses are both half empty as they arrive in town in tandem past peak of rush hour and after a swathe of other buses, while between half four and half five there are very few buses. They should have one leaving at 16:50 or 17:00, or have one leaving from town at 17:12 instead of UCD to space them out.

I have sent them many e-mails. They said they are aware of loading issues. If they can increase for C2, they should be able to increase C3/C4 by at least one bus. They knew when planning the busconnects timetable that they were reducing the frequency of normal routes to Leixlip by one bus an hour, they knew they were reducing the number of X buses at peak time, and restricting the routes of two. They knew Leixlip/Celbridge/Maynooth were already routes that frequently had capacity issues and they reduced that capacity. They should aim to resolve this issue ASAP. There are many new housing estates being built in these areas, and capacity issues are going to get worse.

L54 is only once every half hour, and if cancelled (frequent occurrence on my commute) only once an hour and no alternative route to take me home, so basically stranded. Besides C1/C2 buses are just as difficult to get on between half four and half five sometimes.

I'm not familiar with Ballyowen. I've been on C1/C2's before from Lucan and they took an insanely long route to town, presumed the same back. Also, if the C1/C2 buses are just as bad for trying to get on as C3/C4 buses if it's busy. I frequently get buses to Spa hotel and switch so not against switching, but it can be counterintuitive if the alternative bus takes far longer than the normal bus, you can end up missing loads of buses that you may have been able to board upstream. The uncertainity is the problem with Dublin bus. Buses listed as scheduled that are actually running, buses listed as running which don't turn up. There are some buses that never show on real time but are running so you get on alternative bus only for an unscheduled bus to turn up right behind you and you've now missed it.

Wouldn't stop them putting on Euro duties from other depots to help out though

Can you not hop on the X27 that you say is half empty and then step back on to the C3 or C4 at the Spa Hotel? Straightforward move, gets you out of the city. I regularly do similar with the 1 leaving the city in the evening. It is usually quieter, then step back at Santry village onto my bus forward (16, 33, 41s). The 90 minute ticket is handy for this.

I do that. But the second X27/X28 don't turn up till nearly six o clock at my stop. The earlier two are normally packed and don;t stop. I finish work anywhere between four and half five. There are a few buses between roughly half five and six so generally likely to get on at that time or I get on the X27/X28 and switch. It's before that. I can turn up before quarter past 4, two buses for Leixlip soon, both full, won't stop. Next bus due at roughly 20 to five, doesn't turn up. By this stage you can have 40 at the bus stop. Next bus is around 5, won't stop. Next bus is 25 mins past five, manage to squeeze on. A different day I might go to the bus stop at quarter past four, bus turns up with room, I get on and am home before five. It's completely unpredicatable and if a bus on any route doesn't turn all the routes are fecked as all are just about or over capacity so there is mayhem. I get on other buses and switch if possible, but not generally possible and sometimes I can wait roughly 20 mins at Heuston and then wait another 20 mins at the Spa Hotel. Anytime I've had to be home for a certain time, I absolutely cannot guarantee it.

For reference:

It is the norm though, because of decades of underfunding and ineptitude from majority FG/FF governments towards public transport and continuous urban sprall without the requisite public transport services to serve it. For example,they have built a whole new suburb off the ring road in Clondalkin with zero additional public transport to support it. Your complaints of not being able to get on buses and buses being stuck in traffic is replicated across the entire bus/Luas/DART/Commuter train networks. I live in West Dublin and I struggle to get on a 13/68/69 at peak times morning & evening. When I do manage to get on, I'm standing and the bus is stuck in traffic most of the way to/from the city centre. Same if I cram on and get a Luas and hoof the 40 mins or so from the red cow home. The luas is chronically stuck at lights due to cars blocking junctions because there is no enforcement and lately luas trams are now getting backed up in traffic around the disaster that is James Hospital/new childrens hospital. I'm sure you've read the issues with trains into Connolly lately too.

The above is what you get when people continuously vote in inept politicians and parties. Throw in serial objectors aided and abetted by said short-sighted next election only politicians who are allowed to water down or scrap entirely any useful changes to public transport infrastructure. See the quays bus priority fiasco earlier in the summer, or the petrol station owner in Cabra objecting to much-needed busconnects infrastructure.