Christmas Day/Stephen's Day public transport

mikeybhoy · 25-12-2024 04:05PM #1

So I've read there an article that there's now more bus services in the UK running than any other time in the last five years. Just thought it would be an interesting debate as to whether people think it's reasonable to start running public transport here in Ireland on Christmas day in years to come. Also can't understand why Irish Rail don't run any trains on Stephen's but not an issue for any other PSO operator

Now I'm sure it might now go down very well with staff having to work Christmas however I'm sure there'd be some willing to if good rates of overtime are available also not all staff are even celebrate Christmas. Definitely say the demand is out there for it sure only last year I saw someone waiting at a bus stop not realising buses weren't running.

At the end of the day why should public not run Christmas day it runs on the other 364/365 days of the year including Stephen's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Easter Sunday. People still need to get around.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/dec/23/more-uk-buses-to-run-on-christmas-day-than-at-any-time-in-last-five-years

z80CPU · 25-12-2024 04:13PM

When God was a boy ( I was under 10 ) Dublin bus or CIE did operate a phantom Sunday service in Dublin.

But I'd prefer to have holyhead Pier back in action now

And there was even a Christmas day train from Dublin laoghire to Pearse in the good old days.

Burt Renaults · 25-12-2024 07:23PM

A very limited amount of buses on Christmas Day would be a good thing. Something like one per hour each way on the likes of the 46A, 39A, 145, etc. Maybe one every two hours on the less frequent routes. And there would be no shortage of drivers if the pay was right.

thomasj · 25-12-2024 07:28PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122989760#Comment_122989760

Lol the 46A and 145 are a thing of the past. Well with common sense they should've been at this stage .

whisky_galore · 25-12-2024 07:53PM

Dublin Airport doesn't operate Christmas Day either when lots of airports worldwide keep going.

I've heard murmurings about IR possibly operating services on 26th but I doubt it would be popular with staff as having the 25/26th off has been a long standing thing for many decades now.

There are a very small number in some roles who do work on the 26th.

Zebra3 · 25-12-2024 08:57PM

It’s bizarre that so many people providing essential services are meant to work on 25.12 yet not even a skeleton service of public transport operates.

Who remembers all that virtue signalling on door steps applauding healthcare workers?

Yet they can’t even use PT every day of the year.

Good to see how quickly we’ve all moved on. 🙄

Geuze · 25-12-2024 08:58PM

Would there be much demand on 26-Dec?

Mrs OBumble · 26-12-2024 12:34AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122989902#Comment_122989902

Yes. Significant numbers of retail, leisure and hospitality staff do have go to work.

DayInTheBog · 26-12-2024 01:12AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122989760#Comment_122989760

Id settle on a bus on any of the other 364 days but alas stopping on a national route in between towns is something bus eireann don't do.

KingOfCavan · 30-12-2024 05:11PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058385599/christmas-day-stephens-day-public-transport

That guardian article is a little misleading, there hasn't been some revolution in the UK - 4 towns/cities now run an extremely limited bus service on the 25th.

Less than 0.1% of bus routes (in 4 counties) and 0% of trains run on christmas day in the UK.

A skeleton service of local/regional rail services operate only in Southern England and Central Scotland on St Stephen's Day, around 1% of services. Bus operators either operate no service or a reduced Sunday service on the 26th across Britain.

Christmas Day/Stephen's Day public transport

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