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The Dublin Coach Experience

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    #872
    soundman45
    Registered Users Posts: 310 ✭✭soundman45


    Its a great company though if you have a D licence. If all else in your driving career fails you can always pick up a job with them.


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    #873
    road_high
    Registered Users Posts: 19,385 ✭✭✭✭road_high


    Wondering was that Coach driver caught 9 tines over the limit on the M7 one of the Dublin coach ones? Looked a bit like one of their mini buses!


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    #874
    ayux4rj6zql2ph
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,001 ✭✭✭ayux4rj6zql2ph


    road_high wrote: »
    Wondering was that Coach driver caught 9 tines over the limit on the M7 one of the Dublin coach ones? Looked a bit like one of their mini buses!

    It's a Mercedes Sprinter but I can't clearly make out the colour of it, either way it's a P45.


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    #875
    Odyssey 2005
    Registered Users Posts: 21,065 ✭✭✭✭Odyssey 2005


    colm_mcm wrote: »
    Was behind a 2009 this morning in Limerick, not sure if it was tye Vanhool Astromega they got from Scotland, but it looked in amazing condition for the age.

    This one ?. Broke down on Fisher st in Doolin last Sat. Was there for about 8 hrs. Some ball of shîťé


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    #876
    ayux4rj6zql2ph
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,001 ✭✭✭ayux4rj6zql2ph


    Odyssey 2005 wrote: »
    This one ?. Broke down on Fisher st in Doolin last Sat. Was there for about 8 hrs. Some ball of shîťé

    First one is a Setra, likely to be Ex Aircoach, the one behind is indeed a Vanhool Astromega.

    Those 2004 Setra's are junk.


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    #877
    Odyssey 2005
    Registered Users Posts: 21,065 ✭✭✭✭Odyssey 2005


    Roberto Square Hangman wrote: »
    First one is a Setra, likely to be Ex Aircoach, the one behind is indeed a Vanhool Astromega.

    Those 2004 Setra's are junk.

    The vanhool is also JUNK. The vh calved were she is,was there causing mayhem for hours on end. Manuel came on the setra,inched by and stopped to transfer the pax,causing double the mayhem. He was sent down to the pier to turn around and when he came back thats where he PARKED...
    You couldn't make it up..


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    #878
    Odyssey 2005
    Registered Users Posts: 21,065 ✭✭✭✭Odyssey 2005


    Transferring passengers


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    #879
    Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime
    Registered Users Posts: 3,964 ✭✭✭Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime


    Odyssey 2005 wrote: »
    The vanhool is also JUNK. The vh calved were she is,was there causing mayhem for hours on end. Manuel came on the setra,inched by and stopped to transfer the pax,causing double the mayhem. He was sent down to the pier to turn around and when he came back thats where he PARKED...
    You couldn't make it up..

    Look, as a rule of thumb,

    If it's green with wheels, it's junk.

    I wouldn't like to be a commuter on these vehicles for work because the question wouldn't be what time will I get to work it, it's will I get to work at all !


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    #880
    patrickc
    Registered Users Posts: 7,874 ✭✭✭patrickc


    there's an interesting post on facebook from a bus pictures thread.

    basically saying that the drivers for the most part break the speed limit and that they don't know how it's done with tacos etc.


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    #881
    ayux4rj6zql2ph
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,001 ✭✭✭ayux4rj6zql2ph


    patrickc wrote: »
    there's an interesting post on facebook from a bus pictures thread.

    basically saying that the drivers for the most part break the speed limit and that they don't know how it's done with tacos etc.

    The fuse is pulled from the ecu disabling the limiter


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    #882
    john boye
    Registered Users Posts: 1,492 ✭✭✭john boye


    patrickc wrote: »
    there's an interesting post on facebook from a bus pictures thread.

    basically saying that the drivers for the most part break the speed limit and that they don't know how it's done with tacos etc.

    Eating tacos whilst speeding does sound pretty risky alright


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    #883
    patrickc
    Registered Users Posts: 7,874 ✭✭✭patrickc


    reports of one of the coaches doing 140kph. I know I've been over taken by one while I was doing 110


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    #884
    ayux4rj6zql2ph
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,001 ✭✭✭ayux4rj6zql2ph


    john boye wrote: »
    Eating tacos whilst speeding does sound pretty risky alright
    Would ya like fries with that :pac:
    patrickc wrote: »
    reports of one of the coaches doing 140kph. I know I've been over taken by one while I was doing 110

    I would well believe it, the owner is an ex Bus Eireann mechanic so would know all the strokes on top of being the ex owner of Aircoach which he formed in 1999 before selling in 2005.


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    #885
    patrickc
    Registered Users Posts: 7,874 ✭✭✭patrickc


    Roberto Square Hangman wrote: »
    Would ya like fries with that :pac:


    I would well believe it, the owner is an ex Bus Eireann mechanic so would know all the strokes on top of being the ex owner of Aircoach which he formed in 1999 before selling in 2005.

    no wonder they're fecked or on fire so much, pushing an engine like that all the time.


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    #886
    ayux4rj6zql2ph
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,001 ✭✭✭ayux4rj6zql2ph


    patrickc wrote: »
    no wonder they're fecked or on fire so much, pushing an engine like that all the time.

    Those coaches were fcuked by the time they joined the DC fleet, most of them had several million miles from their Aircoach or Stagecoach days and are on their last legs anyway, minimal expenditure to try and maximise the profit.


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    #887
    devnull
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 11,584 Mod ✭✭✭✭devnull


    Roberto Square Hangman wrote: »
    Those coaches were fcuked by the time they joined the DC fleet, most of them had several million miles from their Aircoach or Stagecoach days and are on their last legs anyway, minimal expenditure to try and maximise the profit.

    Aircoach is a hard slog for any vehicle, bearing in mind they operate all their services, 24 hours a day, offer the same timetable 7 days a week, 364 days a year with very little respite for the vehicles, which is pretty unique for Ireland.

    Would I be right in thinking that Dublin Coach do all of their maintenance in house? That's normally the case for companies who would take second hand vehicles on, whereas the likes of Aircoach who only purchase/lease new, always seem to contract maintenance out to the manufacturer as part of the transaction.


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    #888
    ayux4rj6zql2ph
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,001 ✭✭✭ayux4rj6zql2ph


    devnull wrote: »
    Aircoach is a hard slog for any vehicle, bearing in mind they operate all their services, 24 hours a day, offer the same timetable 7 days a week, 364 days a year with very little respite for the vehicles, which is pretty unique for Ireland.

    Would I be right in thinking that Dublin Coach do all of their maintenance in house? That's normally the case for companies who would take second hand vehicles on, whereas the likes of Aircoach who only purchase/lease new, always seem to contract maintenance out to the manufacturer as part of the transaction.

    I'm an ex Aircoach driver, I can attest to what you are saying as being 100% accurate.

    Thank god for the Mercedes Benz engines of the day and the Volvo ones now, you can be sure a DAF engine wouldn't have been that reliable :pac:

    Yes all work in done in Knockmitten. Not that they are very good at it.

    The newer coaches appear to be on a long term lease for Belfast etc.


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    #889
    devnull
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 11,584 Mod ✭✭✭✭devnull


    The Belfast Aircoach fleet were procured through Dennison Commercials, as opposed to the rest that were procured through Irish Commercials, although in reality, both of those will do work for Aircoach and I believe there is also a Volvo dealer in Cork who will also be doing work for them should the need required.

    Those Setra's were certainly supported by Mercedes when they were with Aircoach, since I saw a Mercedes Benz 24 hour service van call out to them a few times when they broke down.


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    #890
    TallGlass
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,935 ✭✭✭TallGlass


    Some of the coaches seem to bomb along the inside lane of the M50. Very rarely see a HGV do this. You can see why they dont if you ever seen it. The coach looks seriously unstable.


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    #891
    Matthew Gleeson
    Registered Users Posts: 168 ✭✭Matthew Gleeson


    patrickc wrote: »
    Roberto Square Hangman wrote: »
    Would ya like fries with that :pac:


    I would well believe it, the owner is an ex Bus Eireann mechanic so would know all the strokes on top of being the ex owner of Aircoach which he formed in 1999 before selling in 2005.

    no wonder they're fecked or on fire so much, pushing an engine like that all the time.

    Agreed. I’ve experienced them as a passenger. Milling down the fast lane. To be fair it’s a bit of fun but has to take its toll.


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    #892
    Matthew Gleeson
    Registered Users Posts: 168 ✭✭Matthew Gleeson


    patrickc wrote: »
    Roberto Square Hangman wrote: »
    Would ya like fries with that :pac:


    I would well believe it, the owner is an ex Bus Eireann mechanic so would know all the strokes on top of being the ex owner of Aircoach which he formed in 1999 before selling in 2005.

    no wonder they're fecked or on fire so much, pushing an engine like that all the time.

    Agreed. I’ve experienced them as a passenger. Milling down the fast lane. To be fair it’s a bit of fun but has to take its toll.


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    #893
    WishUWereHere
    Registered Users Posts: 2,275 ✭✭✭WishUWereHere


    Roberto Square Hangman wrote: »
    I'm an ex Aircoach driver, I can attest to what you are saying as being 100% accurate.

    Thank god for the Mercedes Benz engines of the day and the Volvo ones now, you can be sure a DAF engine wouldn't have been that reliable :pac:

    Yes all work in done in Knockmitten. Not that they are very good at it.

    The newer coaches appear to be on a long term lease for Belfast etc.

    Had reason to drive around Knockmitten during the week. The number of 'shells' and buses on their ankles is disgraceful, and surely an embarrassment to whoever is involved with DC. Also, I noticed lots of embedded oil patches on the roadside there.....How are they getting away with this, one can only wonder.


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    #894
    ayux4rj6zql2ph
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,001 ✭✭✭ayux4rj6zql2ph


    WishUWereHere wrote: »
    Had reason to drive around Knockmitten during the week. The number of 'shells' and buses on their ankles is disgraceful, and surely an embarrassment to whoever is involved with DC. Also, I noticed lots of embedded oil patches on the roadside there.....How are they getting away with this, one can only wonder.

    Seen it myself, those were scenes which were common in Bus Eireann depots over 20 years ago, since the safety,health and welfare at work at 2005 I would have thought the practice was long gone, but I witnessed it for myself in recent years, cowboy outfit is a polite description, Their staff turn over is unsurprisingly high as well.


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    #895
    Old diesel
    Registered Users Posts: 5,786 ✭✭✭Old diesel


    I can't understand how the ex owner of aircoach changed his approach from running new high end Setras at aircoach to running heaps of dung with this outfit.

    It's a real turn off to trying the service.

    It looks more appetising to see with rivals - Vanhools and Volvo 9700s with new/late registrations.

    What are they thinking


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    #896
    ayux4rj6zql2ph
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,001 ✭✭✭ayux4rj6zql2ph


    Old diesel wrote: »
    I can't understand how the ex owner of aircoach changed his approach from running new high end Setras at aircoach to running heaps of dung with this outfit.

    It's a real turn off to trying the service.

    It looks more appetising to see with rivals - Vanhools and Volvo 9700s with new/late registrations.

    What are they thinking

    He basically bought his own Setra’s For a second time, after they were long beyond their sell by date though.


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    #897
    WishUWereHere
    Registered Users Posts: 2,275 ✭✭✭WishUWereHere


    Roberto Square Hangman wrote: »
    He basically bought his own Setra’s For a second time, after they were long beyond their sell by date though.

    I live in Newbridge, and anytime we are going on a European holiday we used always use DC. However 2 years ago we were left standing on the roadside waiting for our bus, which eventually arrived 55 minutes late, middle of July, and no A/C and as the 'bus' was packed it felt like a sauna inside the bus.

    We never use DC now as we are **** scared we might miss our flight - perhaps this bloke ( owner of DC ) is in cahoots with Dublin Airport parking authorities?


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    #898
    XPS_Zero
    Registered Users Posts: 910 ✭✭✭XPS_Zero


    Why are you shocked? Business mans job is to make a profit, at any cost. The only reason they don't do it in a way more cut throat way is the whole social market economy thing we do in Europe (take a look at the US or worse, Asia, for what happens when there are no rules in place to restrain them). The entire incentive structure of the market is there to race to the bottom and if there is no rules there to stop them nobody should be shocked that they'll do it. Go look up what McDonalds was paying before the minimum wage was introduced here.



    Then, as others have pointed out, those restraining rules are not great, the bus regulation system needs to change it's a little warped.


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    #899
    Truckermal
    Registered Users Posts: 6,048 ✭✭✭Truckermal


    I always follow this thread, anyway coming in the N7 Friday morning heading to the Airport I passed one of them in traffic! I chuckled and thought amazing he's moving and at that all his sidelight including rear lights started flickering on and off...:D:D:D


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    #900
    patrickc
    Registered Users Posts: 7,874 ✭✭✭patrickc


    I was going to come on here and praise a 142 Touismo driver today, he stuck to the 60kph and drove well for about 1km!
    He then tore up through the roadworks, he must of been bored and accelerated on! He left his right indicator on for definitely 2 km, people didn't know whether to go around him or not, he nearly caused an accident where he went into the right lane and a car who was about to overtake him had to jam on.

    One rear light and one front headlight was out of action

    I noticed as he overtook me that there was a printed white note on the door saying seat belts must be worn, perhaps for the roller coaster ride you get with DC!


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    #901
    ayux4rj6zql2ph
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,001 ✭✭✭ayux4rj6zql2ph


    patrickc wrote: »
    I was going to come on here and praise a 142 Touismo driver today, he stuck to the 60kph and drove well for about 1km!
    He then tore up through the roadworks, he must of been bored and accelerated on! He left his right indicator on for definitely 2 km, people didn't know whether to go around him or not, he nearly caused an accident where he went into the right lane and a car who was about to overtake him had to jam on.

    One rear light and one front headlight was out of action

    I noticed as he overtook me that there was a printed white note on the door saying seat belts must be worn, perhaps for the roller coaster ride you get with DC!

    He had a good day at work then?


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