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Dublin Coach Experience Discussion Thread

1…6970717375

Comments

  • #2162
    Citrus_8
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,215 ✭✭✭Citrus_8


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123564840#Comment_123564840

    Cheaper would probably be taking a taxi to Heuston and then a bus.



  • #2163
    Quackster
    Moderators, Regional South Moderators Posts: 6,062 Mod ✭✭✭✭Quackster


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123565023#Comment_123565023

    Or park at Heuston? It's €8.50 a day up to max €30 for the week.



  • #2164
    Nigel Fairservice
    Moderators, Regional Abroad Moderators Posts: 2,577 Mod ✭✭✭✭Nigel Fairservice


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123564840#Comment_123564840

    Did this once when the airport parking was full and wouldn't do it again if I can help it. Our flight arrived late in dublin airport. You couldn't get near a taxi. One Dublin coach never turned up and had to wait another 2 hours for the next one. It was out the door because the previous one never showed.



  • #2165
    Polar101
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,138 ✭✭✭Polar101


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123564840#Comment_123564840

    Or just try the bus, most likely it'll work out. If not, then take a taxi.



  • #2166
    AX612
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 113 ✭✭AX612


    J.J Kavanagh from Portlaoise and Kildare would be far more reliable although they don't go as frequent as Dublin Coach are scheduled to anyway. Dublin Express or Aircoach probably your best options from the City Centre



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  • #2167
    PropJoe10
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,464 ✭✭✭PropJoe10


    They have a double decker coach running the Dublin-Cork route at the moment and you literally can't sit in the front portion of upstairs due to the loud whining of the air conditioning. By loud, I mean so loud that even Metallica at high volumes can't block it out. Desperate. They clearly couldn't care less.



  • #2168
    Vic_08
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,118 ✭✭✭Vic_08


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123571368#Comment_123571368

    The solution to that is simple: travel with someone else, there are alternatives on all sections of that route.



  • #2169
    PropJoe10
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,464 ✭✭✭PropJoe10


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123571426#Comment_123571426

    Obviously. However, this is a Dublin Coach thread and I'm sharing a Dublin Coach experience. Nothing to do with other carriers.



  • #2170
    AX612
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 113 ✭✭AX612


    The problem with those deckers is they're built in Spain and are designed for the climate in Spain and Portugal ect. I heard at one stage they were having issues with water coming up through the floors during the rainy weather. It's either cool air or no air with them...



  • #2171
    LiamaDelta
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 953 ✭✭✭LiamaDelta


    Is it just me or does DC seem to be getting their sh1t together a bit more than usual? Seems to be less breakdowns on the side of the M/N7 these days.



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  • #2172
    mikeybhoy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,755 ✭✭✭mikeybhoy


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123577509#Comment_123577509

    Take it with a pinch of salt but I've jeard rumours elsewhere online of a potential sale



  • #2173
    LiamaDelta
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 953 ✭✭✭LiamaDelta


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123578420#Comment_123578420

    Oh that would be expected. That's what the owners of DC would be hoping for. Same as they did with Aircoach originally. Start from nothing, build the routes and market share, operate on a shoestring to show good margins, then sell it on. I'd say they were hoping it would have happened long before now.



  • #2174
    mikeybhoy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,755 ✭✭✭mikeybhoy


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123578970#Comment_123578970

    Aircoach was quite well run under O'Sullivan. It was originally a premium Airport service targeted at business travellers when he first set it up. I think even DC was okay when he first set up just got kept getting worse as the years went on.



  • #2175
    LiamaDelta
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 953 ✭✭✭LiamaDelta


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123579001#Comment_123579001

    Yeah it was really well run. Distinctive colour for branding and reliable and clean. That's what makes me think they never really intended to keep DC for this long and hence the need to bootstrap it.



  • #2176
    mikeybhoy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,755 ✭✭✭mikeybhoy


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123579015#Comment_123579015

    Quickpark was a big money spinner for them. Used it many times myself and always found it very well run and was always significantly cheaper than the DAA at the time. They also had open top buses which they sold and tours to the likes of Cliffs of Moher pre covid.

    Since all that's gone and since covid really things seem to keep getting worse and worse with them.



  • #2177
    LiamaDelta
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 953 ✭✭✭LiamaDelta


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123579083#Comment_123579083

    I didn't realise they had open tops and tours to the cliffs. I wonder did they still have a share in that, because those busses were always parked in Quickpark during the off season. On the other hand the tours that currently run, like Paddywagon and Wild Rover have a fantastic fleet of reallt modern and luxury coaches. I know it helps when you can get minimum €80 a head but still they're providing a cracking high-quality service



  • #2178
    Jamie2k9
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,917 ✭✭✭✭Jamie2k9


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123577509#Comment_123577509

    They seem to have improved and I would say the driver situation has improved as well.



  • #2179
    Jameslee23
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 160 ✭✭Jameslee23


    have they any plans to stop using rental buses or are they gonna keep using them as their older coaches are scrapped over the next few years



  • #2180
    Glaceon
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 3,232 ✭✭✭Glaceon


    Saw a Facebook post of an ex-Gobus on a DC service, claiming that Callinan have acquired them. Not sure how true.



  • #2181
    devnull
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 11,973 Mod ✭✭✭✭devnull


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123670181#Comment_123670181

    Nothing I have heard with this regard.

    Would be surprised if Callinan bought them directly, now ComfortDelGro (who own the CityLink and GoBus brands and subcontract the operation to) might be a more likely purchaser, but if that was the case ComfortDelGro would make an announcement to their investors of the deal, and they haven't done so and there has been nothing filled with the CRO yet in terms of ownership / director changes of the holding company.



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  • #2182
    Jameslee23
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 160 ✭✭Jameslee23


    Does Callahan now own Dublin Coach not sure how true it is



  • #2183
    devnull
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 11,973 Mod ✭✭✭✭devnull


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123720990#Comment_123720990

    There is absolutely no evidence to back up this rumour.



  • #2184
    Jameslee23
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 160 ✭✭Jameslee23


    IMG_0475.jpeg

    this all I could find



  • #2185
    dublinman1990
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 9,212 ✭✭✭dublinman1990


    I can't find anything about Callinans buying up operations of Dublin Coach anywhere on Google. A tweet from a random person on X is not going to make it true either. I will take it that this rumour is complete rubbish until others say otherwise.



  • #2186
    Glaceon
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 3,232 ✭✭✭Glaceon


    I was sent a snippet from the print version of The Times (UK) over the weekend about this.

    Bus trailblazer plots a change in direction

    Brian Carey

    The bus industry pioneer John O’Sullivan is believed to be in talks about a tie-up with the Galway bus company Callinan Coaches.

    O’Sullivan operates the Big Green Bus franchise while Callinan operates one of the largest private bus fleets in the country, with 80 vehicles.



  • #2187
    devnull
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 11,973 Mod ✭✭✭✭devnull


    At the moment Callinan are being contracted to do some work for Dublin Coach, but that is the limit of the arrangement at the moment.

    It makes me wonder, especially with the word franchise being used, if O'Sullivan will contract the operation out to Callinans but still own the brand, the way that CityLink contract the operation to Callinans.



  • #2188
    LiamaDelta
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 953 ✭✭✭LiamaDelta


    I say the word franchise was used loosely, though I did think the same. It isn't a franchise it's a brand, but those words are often misused in describing similar activities.

    I'd say its more likely to be some sort of merger/buyout. BGB gets its hands on access to a fleet and drivers and Callinans get access to developed routes. It probably gives them both scale and volume to be more attractive to an international buyer.



  • #2189
    devnull
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 11,973 Mod ✭✭✭✭devnull


    Seen some documents going around that suggest there actually may be something in this and it will be properly discussed with staff on Monday. Not been able to verify this though.



  • #2190
    mikeybhoy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,755 ✭✭✭mikeybhoy


    It's official. Callinan's buy Dublin Coach. https://www.clare.fm/news/ennis-to-dublin-bus-service-operator-acquired-by-galway-company/



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  • #2191
    bk
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 23,722 Mod ✭✭✭✭bk


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123761976#Comment_123761976

    This is great news!

    From a passenger perspective Callinan's are a great operator, they have probably the best fleet of coaches in the Country, mostly lovely VanHool's including overdeckers, with great leg room and facilities and they always seem to be well maintained and clean.

    If they bring this fleet and level of quality to Dublin Coach, people on these routes won't know themselves.

    I do wonder what it means for Callinans relationship with Citylink? Will they continue to operate all of those Citylink services? In particular the Citylink Eireagle service between Limerick and Dublin, which overlaps with the DC routes.

    I'm also curious will they keep the Dublin Coach brand or re-brand?



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