BusConnects Dublin - Bus Network Changes Discussion

They are free to compete for contracts, but I suspect that the current reality of the industry challenges of recruiting staff and the lack of resources such as depots meant that Dublin Bus didn’t bid for the latest ODMA contract.

First of all, GAI couldn’t bid for the main Dublin Bus contract - that’s a direct award by the NTA.

The only contract up for grabs was the ODMA contract, which includes service expansion as more BusConnects phases are implemented, including more radial routes being operated under the ODMA contract so that both contracts expand in a similar manner.

I do really think that it has far more to do with the reality of four more phases of BusConnects to implement over the next couple of years, three of which each require upwards to 200 additional staff to be recruited. That’s a big ask for one company.

I think that Dublin Bus simply took a decision to focus on that this time around and when the contract comes up next time around then maybe they will be in a better position to put in a bid for it.

10 EWs have been added to the operational fleet. There will be more added to Harristown during the year, as the grid and charger installation permits.

I wouldn’t expect any significant progression in other Dublin depots until later in 2027 due to the ongoing national grid power supply issues.

There are still about 180 buses in storage that are destined for Dublin and Galway and that will increase again as more buses are in build currently at Wrights.

This thread explains more

Bizarrely without any advance notice, route 161 has been extended to terminate at Balally LUAS from today, where a new stop is provided.

It will operate via the Dundrum by-pass southbound and Dundrum Main Street northbound, but will no longer serve the terminus at Dundrum LUAS.

There are minor changes to some departure times in both directions.

https://www.goaheadireland.ie/services/7778021/161

• Due to a route extension on the 161 we will now service stops 7781( Dundrum Luas) 7715,7716,7717 and 8374 from Rockbrook to Balally and stops 8374,2841,2865 and 2866 ( Dundrum Luas )from Balally to Rockbrook.
  Stop 2825 Dundrum Luas is no longer in service.

No it doesn’t, as that has no effect on the existing bus terminus for now.

In any case, there has only been a consultation on the layover scheme which finished at the start of December - the results of that have not been published yet, so I don’t know how you’re working out that any construction work was due to have started.

There will have to be a further consultation on the planned closure of the existing bus terminus and I expect there to be a lot of resistance to that.

Any changes in Dundrum are not needed until the A Spine phase happens, and that won’t likely be until the second half of 2027.

I still think that you would hear something from local councillors first and I've not seen anything about it yet.

As for the terminus, the problem is that they are not planning for a proper bus plaza.

The plan is to move the L25 (and likely 74) terminus further along the bypass, as part of the layover scheme, and the A2/A4 will have a first pick up on Taney Road, with the final set down on Dundrum Main Street. The existing terminus area is planned to become a civic plaza with a landmark building, potentially incorporating a new library.

That's what the revised layover locations outside Fernbank apartments, and on the Upper Churchtown Road are designed to facilitate.

So we will end up with a completely scattered set of bus stops with significant walks between some of the routes, with no proper facilities - as it is there are no bus shelters at any of the stops around Dundrum apart from the 14 terminus, the inbound stop outside Dundrum Church (hardly used) and the westbound stop on Upper Churchtown Road. That's just disgraceful considering the numbers using the stops.