Dublin Coach Experience Discussion Thread

Nigel Fairservice · 03-11-2019 9:22pm

road_high wrote: »

Kilkenny is fairly poorly served by public transport so these incidents are inevitable. Was on a random Sunday train lately to Dublin midday and it was full from Kilkenny- driver was on the blower to passengers to take all bags off seats. Could badly do with more trains and bus options to from Dublin in particular

I always thought it was odd there was a 4 hour gap in the train service between Kilkenny and Dublin, 3 pm to 7 pm or something like that. It rules out the option of the train home for anyone from Carlow but working in Kilkenny. Your only option to Dublin between those times is the bus.

road_high · 03-11-2019 9:47pm

Nigel Fairservice wrote: »

I always thought it was odd there was a 4 hour gap in the train service between Kilkenny and Dublin, 3 pm to 7 pm or something like that. It rules out the option of the train home for anyone from Carlow but working in Kilkenny. Your only option to Dublin between those times is the bus.

There’s massive gaps all over the timetable. Late evening return from Dublin, one early morning commuter service. Part of the problem is the stupid layout and location of kk station which is a dead end originally built as part of the now closed Marlborough line. Kilkenny is only an hour and half from Dublin on the train, it needs more services

belfast stephen · 03-11-2019 10:39pm

The 171 mercs on the 300 route should be going on the cork route with the 181 Reg going on the 300 route as belfast is getting new coaches in the new year and they wil be somthing different for the belfast service

Jamie2k9 · 03-11-2019 10:49pm

Nigel Fairservice wrote: »

I always thought it was odd there was a 4 hour gap in the train service between Kilkenny and Dublin, 3 pm to 7 pm or something like that. It rules out the option of the train home for anyone from Carlow but working in Kilkenny. Your only option to Dublin between those times is the bus.

They had a 17.35 out of Kilkenny to Dublin for a few years, it carried very few and was scrapped. The priority now should be a 09.00 out of Waterford to Dublin.

Dublin Coach have showed them there is a lot of demand for Kileknny-Waterford as well.

ExoPolitic · 03-11-2019 11:06pm

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

They had a 17.35 out of Kilkenny to Dublin for a few years, it carried very few and was scrapped. The priority now should be a 09.00 out of Waterford to Dublin.

Dublin Coach have showed them there is a lot of demand for Kileknny-Waterford as well.

Very hard for the train to compete with Dublin Coach from Kilkenny to Waterford, I believe it is just 5 euro each way and far more frequent, and stops in Waterford in more convenient locations.

road_high · 03-11-2019 11:09pm

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

They had a 17.35 out of Kilkenny to Dublin for a few years, it carried very few and was scrapped. The priority now should be a 09.00 out of Waterford to Dublin.

Dublin Coach have showed them there is a lot of demand for Kileknny-Waterford as well.

There really should be an early morning train into Waterford before 9.00am. Another crazy gap. If passing loops are the constraint install more. The Waterford line has huge potential as we can see from the current passenger numbers which seem to have risen fast despite the gaps

road_high · 03-11-2019 11:11pm

ExoPolitic wrote: »

Very hard for the train to compete with Dublin Coach from Kilkenny to Waterford, I believe it is just 5 euro each way and far more frequent, and stops in Waterford in more convenient locations.

The few times I got the train to Waterford there seems to be a nice few passengers to and from Kilkenny. The location is bit of a pain but could be improved with a pedestrian bridge over the Suir

Jamie2k9 · 03-11-2019 11:15pm

Dublin Coach going to WIT is a major draw for them but IE had years to implement a service which could have worked and CIE co-operation could have a bus serve the station morning/even to transfer students.

Students don't need to move from Kilkenny to Waterford for college, Dublin Coach have a good schedule that allows them to study and have a social life outside college.

They still carry a nice bit of traffic by train.

Jamie2k9 · 10-11-2019 10:26am

Had to pick up a gear box yesterday at Red Cow from another coach. One way of avoiding courier costs...

Truckermal · 14-11-2019 7:15pm

M50 southbound completely fcuked this morning with one of them broken down.

JeffK88 · 15-11-2019 12:05pm

Truckermal wrote: »

M50 southbound completely fcuked this morning with one of them broken down.

The M50 exists to be constantly Fcuked

JeffK88 · 22-11-2019 7:04am

Just passed what looked to be a burnt out DC Double Decker on Newlands Cross.

GBX · 22-11-2019 10:12am

JeffK88 wrote: »

Just passed what looked to be a burnt out DC Double Decker on Newlands Cross.

"Overnight firefighters extinguished a coach fire on the #N7 Naas Road inbound at Newlands X. 3 fire engines were sent to the scene from Tallaght & Dolphins Barn stations #Dublin #fire #SDCC"

https://twitter.com/DubFireBrigade/status/1197804201356791808

Vic_08 · 22-11-2019 10:59am

Another day, another Dublin Coach incident.

It's funny how Stagecoach have managed to run a large fleet of these Astromegas for years without them breaking down constantly or self-immolating.

It is long past time that commercial bus operators are subject to proper oversight from their licencing authority. DC are one of the worst of them but it shouldn't be left up to the operators whim to run essential public services however they feel like it with no consequences for poor service or lax maintenance, safety and legal compliance.

If Dublin Bus, Bus Eireann or Go-Ahead Ireland had as many incidents as these cowboys they'd be on the receiving end of fines and threats to withdraw contracts. If they had incidents equivalent to the relative size of their fleets to DC it would be front page news territory and demands for them to be taken off the country's roads immediately.

0lddog · 22-11-2019 12:42pm

Even if the licencing authority stands back would have expected DC's insurers to be all over them.

Perhaps no cover for fire ?

Muller1991 · 22-11-2019 1:14pm

Its no wonder the vehicles they have are burning out on them.

Most of the fleet that goes up in flames where possibly on the way out when DC purchased them.

Correct me if I'm wrong but to hand I think a lot of the Setras they had where previously with Aircoach (They more than likely had millions of miles on the clock).

I'd be inclined to think it would be the same with the Double deck coaches they bought from UK owners.

On a side note I've also seen them parked at different termini for more than half an hour with the engine running , Surely this isn't best practice ?

thelad95 · 22-11-2019 1:22pm

How can they possibly be let continue to have these clapped out pieces of ****e going up and down our country's motorways. Only a matter of time before someone is killed.

AndrewJRenko · 22-11-2019 3:08pm

GBX wrote: »

"Overnight firefighters extinguished a coach fire on the #N7 Naas Road inbound at Newlands X. 3 fire engines were sent to the scene from Tallaght & Dolphins Barn stations #Dublin #fire #SDCC"

https://twitter.com/DubFireBrigade/status/1197804201356791808

Tweet deleted? Unusual for DFB...

questionmark? · 23-11-2019 1:19am

Dublin coach broken down on N25 other night. Hazards on well when I say on only working on one side on the back! Least the front hazards both worked and it wasn't on fire!

soundman45 · 23-11-2019 4:06pm

Some facebook pages that reported it such as Naas Ball also removed the post, wonder what's going on there.

road_high · 23-11-2019 5:55pm

soundman45 wrote: »

Some facebook pages that reported it such as Naas Ball also removed the post, wonder what's going on there.

Wonder is it some gentle coaxing from DB themselves? The comments sections are always rife when another one goes up in smoke.

25-11-2019 4:46pm

Was on Dublin Coach last Saturday, went all the way to Ennis and back. WiFi no good either way. Ennis - Dublin 6 pm is just that bit edgy, from Kildare village too.

_Kaiser_ · 26-11-2019 9:58pm

Muller1991 wrote: »

Its no wonder the vehicles they have are burning out on them.

Most of the fleet that goes up in flames where possibly on the way out when DC purchased them.

Correct me if I'm wrong but to hand I think a lot of the Setras they had where previously with Aircoach (They more than likely had millions of miles on the clock).

I'd be inclined to think it would be the same with the Double deck coaches they bought from UK owners.

On a side note I've also seen them parked at different termini for more than half an hour with the engine running , Surely this isn't best practice ?

Yep, the ex-Aircoach and UK buses were well worn by the time DC took possession. It's been discussed here a lot as the reason behind the poor condition and reliability of these vehicles. That and what seems to be very poor maintenance and constant operation under DC - have a look in the pictures thread on the Bus Enthusiasts sub forum here. The last page or two has plenty of pictures of buses rotting outside their depot.

The engine running constantly was suggested as being because some of them might not start again!

WishUWereHere · 09-12-2019 9:01pm

One of their coaches broken down tonight on M50 NB just after the toll, causing long tailbacks.

patrickc · 16-12-2019 10:22pm

I was behind 227 an 04 setra going into Kilkenny today. The smoke coming off it when it accelerated was woeful. It did not have it's rear right light working and that's been like that at least 3 weeks as I regularly see this on this route.

punisher5112 · 17-12-2019 12:25am

patrickc wrote: »

I was behind 227 an 04 setra going into Kilkenny today. The smoke coming off it when it accelerated was woeful. It did not have it's rear right light working and that's been like that at least 3 weeks as I regularly see this on this route.

Madness as that's to have a walk around daily and that would be a huge defect which in turn should ground the bus.....

Obviously they couldn't give a fluck

Joker2019 · 17-12-2019 12:32am

punisher5112 wrote: »

Madness as that's to have a walk around daily and that would be a huge defect which in turn should ground the bus.....

Obviously they couldn't give a fluck

Any reputable bus operation with a proper maintence department wouldn't assign a driver with a defective bus in the first place. They shouldn't be relying on a walk checks around check to spot serious defects. The walk around check should only be used to spot minor things like a blow headlight.

tempnam · 17-12-2019 12:35am

I never use this service so have no experience of it.... if I want to go from Naas to Dublin after a night out this Friday 20th Dec, is the timetable reliable?

punisher5112 · 17-12-2019 1:37am

Joker2019 wrote: »

Any reputable bus operation with a proper maintence department wouldn't assign a driver with a defective bus in the first place. They shouldn't be relying on a walk checks around check to spot serious defects. The walk around check should only be used to spot minor things like a blow headlight.

These things can happen, I do one each morning before going out.

Some people doing the check for you don't have a clue though...

Wedding bus when it was in the garage was going around at least 3 months with no working Brake lights on one side.

I knew this as I'd see it out and had reported it previous.

I had it one day and knew it was faulty, drove to check bay, got all thumbs up as in all good.....

I said are you sure, go back and check whatever side it was they still didn't understand....

Got maintenance they were like oh and I said sure been like that months.... It was taken off the road and was still stripped in the shed 4 hours later.... These were LED so not a bulb change.

With DC it's obvious it's all put on the driver but I know myself I wouldn't drive it out the gate....

WishUWereHere · 17-12-2019 6:06am

tempnam wrote: »

I never use this service so have no experience of it.... if I want to go from Naas to Dublin after a night out this Friday 20th Dec, is the timetable reliable?

I am from Newbridge we used to always use DC when flying out of Dublin Airport, but we stopped using them after once missing our flights due to late arrival in the airport because the coach was an hour late picking us up.

So, if I was advising You, I would say a resounding NO.

0lddog · 27-12-2019 10:56am

Cant figure out if

https://twitter.com/DubFireBrigade/status/1210316116041568261
belongs on this thread

What do y'all think ?

punisher5112 · 27-12-2019 11:37am

0lddog wrote: »

Cant figure out if

https://twitter.com/DubFireBrigade/status/1210316116041568261
belongs on this thread

What do y'all think ?

Wonder what went wrong there???

Kaisr Sose · 27-12-2019 12:28pm

0lddog wrote: »

Cant figure out if

https://twitter.com/DubFireBrigade/status/1210316116041568261
belongs on this thread

What do y'all think ?

Very odd looking scene. Hope everyone is OK.

punisher5112 · 27-12-2019 1:01pm

Looks like he pulled out spinning the 2 cars, had a better look. I would also say 30km/h speed limit wasn't been adhered to...

91wx763 · 02-01-2020 12:55pm

Yesterday.

A lovely run from Dublin Airport on JJ Kav, safe and pleasant driver, a reasonable vehicle a 2018 Merc, (personally I would preferred their 09 Setra parked in front !!!).

Red Cow, Dublin Coach 04 Setra broken down with the tailgate open and the off side grille up (crazily unsafe) and a mechanic jumping around like a frog nearly getting himself knocked down. Blue Aircoach paint visible inside the grille.

The Quay Waterford, 2 hours later, same MO again, another 04 Setra !!! And a driver/mechanic pouring something from a plastic lemonade type bottle into the engine.

Just another day on DC I suppose.

Dravokivich · 02-01-2020 1:20pm

The key to delivering a service is consistency!

Odyssey 2005 · 11-01-2020 12:21pm

I am currently on a DC from Waterford to KK. To say it is the greatest ball of shyte would be an understatement. You would need earphones with the constant very loud droning noise. There is a drummer in the luggage hold. Thump..thump thump just like a bass drummer keeping beat. You can feel the thump through the floor up into the seat.
The driver is on the phone since we left Waterford 15 mins ago,.

WishUWereHere · 11-01-2020 1:40pm

Odyssey 2005 wrote: »

snip

The driver is on the phone since we left Waterford 15 mins ago,.

Hands free? Bluetooth, which if is so, would mean everyone on the bus can hear the conversation?

punisher5112 · 11-01-2020 1:50pm

WishUWereHere wrote: »

Hands free? Bluetooth, which if is so, would mean everyone on the bus can hear the conversation?

Not with an ear piece which would be fully legal.

punisher5112 · 11-01-2020 1:51pm

Odyssey 2005 wrote: »

I am currently on a DC from Waterford to KK. To say it is the greatest ball of shyte would be an understatement. You would need earphones with the constant very loud droning noise. There is a drummer in the luggage hold. Thump..thump thump just like a bass drummer keeping beat. You can feel the thump through the floor up into the seat.
The driver is on the phone since we left Waterford 15 mins ago,.

I'd be putting in a very strong complaint and I'd also be contacting the carriage office about the safety non standards of the vehicle.

Odyssey 2005 · 11-01-2020 1:56pm

WishUWereHere wrote: »

Hands free? Bluetooth, which if is so, would mean everyone on the bus can hear the conversation?

Hows your Polosh /Lithuanian?

He was on a wired earpiece, which is also illegal

Odyssey 2005 · 11-01-2020 1:59pm

punisher5112 wrote: »

I'd be putting in a very strong complaint and I'd also be contacting the carriage office about the safety non standards of the vehicle.

Are you new here ?

Do you seriously think that DC give a twopenny fuk about safety standards ?

punisher5112 · 11-01-2020 2:13pm

Odyssey 2005 wrote: »

Are you new here ?

Do you seriously think that DC give a twopenny fuk about safety standards ?

Not new but if it's like that it could be a serious safety issue.

I wouldn't drive it and others shouldn't either.

Caquas · 11-01-2020 2:14pm

I was left stranded in the lashing rain at the Red Cow Roundabout at midnight just before Christmas. Luckily there was a taxi so I got out in one piece, but at a price.

When I complained, I got a total runaround. Now let’s see if the regulator has any teeth.

thelad95 · 11-01-2020 2:15pm

Anyone familiar with the Kilkenny service would have seen an 04 setra broken down in the middle of the junction after the ormonde road stop. Not a single driver or mechanic to be seen anywhere.

What was beautifully ironic was that the driver obviously tried to put the hazards on but only the right tail light indicator was working so in theory it looked like the bus was indicating to pull back out which is all the more confusing.

Had to drive back into town later (around four hours after) and the bus was still there.

Odyssey 2005 · 11-01-2020 2:32pm

thelad95 wrote: »

Anyone familiar with the Kilkenny service would have seen an 04 setra broken down in the middle of the junction after the ormonde road stop. Not a single driver or mechanic to be seen anywhere.

What was beautifully ironic was that the driver obviously tried to put the hazards on but only the right tail light indicator was working so in theory it looked like the bus was indicating to pull back out which is all the more confusing.

Had to drive back into town later (around four hours after) and the bus was still there.

I also notice that they have changed their route into the city. They come down the Waterford rd,through the lidl roundabout, left onto upper new street and turn right onto ormond rd. Upper New St is totally unsuitable for large vehicles. There is also a primary school there. Bonkers.

Odyssey 2005 · 11-01-2020 2:35pm

punisher5112 wrote: »

Not new but if it's like that it could be a serious safety issue.

I wouldn't drive it and others shouldn't either.

I most certainly wouldn't drive it. There is a safety issue,the thump could be both heard and felt by everyone on the bus(not fit to be called a coach).

Vic_08 · 11-01-2020 2:42pm

Odyssey 2005 wrote: »

I most certainly wouldn't drive it. There is a safety issue,the thump could be both heard and felt by everyone on the bus(not fit to be called a coach).

You are obviously aware of the issues with this company and still use them though.

WishUWereHere · 11-01-2020 2:57pm

Vic_08 wrote: »

You are obviously aware of the issues with this company and still use them though.

In defense of the OP, not sure how he/she was to know a ‘driver’ was going to spend 15 minutes on his/her cellphone prior to leaving Waterford? Or to be aware of the noise issues?

Odyssey 2005 · 11-01-2020 3:57pm

Vic_08 wrote: »

You are obviously aware of the issues with this company and still use them though.

I was stuck for an unexpected trip from WD to KK. If I travel I almost always drive or if not its JJ Kavanagh

Dublin Coach Experience Discussion Thread

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