BusConnects Dublin - Big changes to Bus Network

G1 from Red Cow today 16:15 didn't show up or left 3 min sooner. The next bus for a 16:27 service came at about 16:17-16:18. That's quite tight for this time of the day. There should be at least 20 min at minimum for a layover, so I guess a part of it was eaten due to traffic. I'm note sure how many minutes it is actually given. I'd say, need more time for layovers... But it's just a once off sample.

Apparently the revised strategy is; shore up existing services with new recruits over the coming months, roll out of Western orbitals is to start in May/June, roll out of South orbitals by September and F spine by November, including 24hr timetable. If recruitment picks up, 2024 will be the year of the biggest changes, perhaps 3 spines and inner orbitals rolled out in 2024. In any scenario the network review will still be going on well into 2025 perhaps even 2026 or 7 in more pessimistic scenarios. The whole thing sounded a bit 'god willing', I got the sense that there's very little the NTA or bus companies can really do at this stage as there's way too many external factors in play. It does sound like recruitment is improving though, which is positive.

More talk of quick build interventions in advance of the cbcs, mostly in the inner suburbs or 'urban villages' as they are now called for some reason. No firm dates or specific actions. DCC as always doesn't want to do anything, afraid of literally any form of criticism.

Do you happen to know if the Western Orbitals rollout is to include the W2 as well? If so, what would happen to the Ballyfermot section of the 76?

As far as I know yes and I don't know what's happening to the 76

These small interventions are vital to the project and can be done cheaply, particularly the bus gates, its just that there's no bottle to tackle the pro car people.

The proposed kilmainham bus gate is also crucial to improving the movement of emergency services accessing St James, especially when the new children's hospital opens.

And of course there doesn't seem to be any movement on enforcement which is one way we could drastically improve the existing service quickly with no planning or funding constraints but there's no political will to fine law breakers in this city/country.

I recall reading an article from Dublin Live a while back about the W6 being split up into 2 routes for a whole year before it effectively becomes the full W6 route from Maynooth to Tallaght.

There was a road bridge located in between Newcastle and Hazelhatch which could only accommodate one way traffic on that bridge.

I cannot believe that I am hearing that this part of the Western Orbital phase will be going out first ahead of the Southern Orbitals this year.

On the Southern Orbitals side of things; there is actual work going on for the past few days to install the 4 new bus stops for the 74 route on Ballinteer Road since Monday/Tuesday.

Is there any new work beginning soon about installation of new bus stops for the Western Orbitals very soon or would they be needed at all.

I will bet you any of the residents living in Ballinteer will not be happy to hear that the 74 is now not going to be rolled out in that area until September 2023.

The interchange isn't going to be of much use until they relocate the stop for the C busses and build the new overpass.

Is the W8 Maynooth to Tallaght route shelved for the time being?

Thank you, it'll be interesting to see how this works. I know there are double decker buses crossing the HH bridge daily bringing kids from Athgoe and Newcastle to school in Celbridge, so hopefully this service is a success

Makes sense, I presume then it will be Tallaght -> Newcastle -> Adamstown, which will open a lot of routes for Newcastle people. Just visualising the Hazel Hatch road, especially the bend near the concrete factory, there will be a fair bit of work needed to get the required space. Luckily there's a lot of green space around there.

"and the old stops will be no more."

Just to point out, the old stops will still be in place and be used by the 26 (and I presume the 76), since they still pass by them on the way to/from the new interchange.

The G2, L51 & L53, however, will go direct to the interchange and will no longer use the old stops.

Good thing then that most of the on-stop timetables were never updated to show the Saturday plus schedule then 😁