BusConnects Dublin - Bus Network Changes Discussion

Haha!! Truly bizarre. In defense of the guards, I've seen them doing this maybe 4 or 5 times in the last year or so. Not very often, but probably at least as much as I've seen a speed van, and definitely more than I've seen breathalyzer tests..

Audio announcements for visually impaired I'm guessing

Wasn't expecting these for the 5th-7th, will certainly be making use.

I'm fairly sure track works would be given as an excuse, but yes, they should.

I think the night trains do return out of service although I'm not sure on that one. Do the late night Darts from Connolly to Greystones return to the layover at the sidings at Bray to begin the t/t for the following day's service or does it go back as an out of service train to Fairview Depot. The only snag in this arrangement is that there will be no E-Spine buses in operation in Dun Laoghaire & Bray until after Christmas. I wonder how the rail passengers will feel about it once they are making their journey home after getting off the Dart from these stations.

So, did cancelling the latest phase of the BusConnects roll-out pay electoral dividends for the people who pushed it/agreed to it?

And, does the (near) demise of the Greens mean that BusConnects might be for the chop (if we end up with a government dependent on the Rural Independents who won’t care about spending money on buses in Dublin or any other city)?

I know that BusConnects didn’t start with the last government.

However the Greens which had continuing to fund it as one of central campaign themes got hammered. That's a pretty clear rejection from the electorate.

On the other hand, the more “anti-Green” rural independents are back in force. They may well demand, as part of propping up a new government, that the money earmarked for projects such as BusConnects be diverted to their pet projects instead.

And, let’s face it, it is taking so long to deliver BusConnects that most people would probably shrug their shoulders if it is shelved since few believe that public transport will be revolutionised when it is finally rolled out years (or even decades!) from now.

Is there a big cost involved in the rest of the BusConnects project? Sure, some infrastructure work and perhaps more (new) buses? I'm not seeing a scenario where the new government will announce "sorry, we can't continue BC because Danny Healy-Ray hates buses".

End of January at the earliest is what I've heard

might match up with the O then, but we've seen no plans at all for the O infra works. Since the next Transport Minister wont be Green ( unless something crazy happens) then funding for the BC infra may get long fingered even though it may be through planning. And yes, parties did sign up but that was the last government … and all that matters is the new Programme for Government.

And given the way this country is run not an option means it might just be a possibility for them