Dublin Coach Experience Discussion Thread

devnull · 24-04-2019 7:59pm

belfast stephen wrote: »

I have been told that Dublin coach have sold there City Tour and they are being painted red not sure who has bought it. also talks are on going with Volvo bus and coach about new coaches but there are few minor things to sort out

Haven't heard anything myself.

May well be that it becomes the CitySightseeing franchise for Dublin, since the transitional period from CitySightseeing to Big Bus Dublin is almost at an end and after that there will be no connection with the two.

City Sightseeing and Big Bus are rival franchises generally but there has been a transitional period since the Dulway sightseeing business was bought out by Big Bus Dublin, since the contract for Dulway to provide services to City Sightseeing had some time to run.

belfast stephen · 28-04-2019 12:20pm

Dublin Coach sold all the open tops to extreme Ireland. That’s were their going red as they have the franchise now for city sightseeing i understand new tours are starting 1st of May all re branded under city sightseeing Dublin doing the old cityscape route

devnull · 30-04-2019 5:21pm

Just seen one of their 2004 Neoplans making a very unhealthy noise as well as an engine roar as well as battered as hell wetl worn rear body and paint work.

Then a merc turns up in need of a good few new panels or a bodyshop to sort them out as it has dents and bits chipped away in a good few places.

Muller1991 · 01-05-2019 9:03am

Was that at the red cow by any chance ? Seen one of the 04 Neoplans struggling to go up the off ramp from m50 towards the red cow yesterday.

devnull · 01-05-2019 10:17am

Muller1991 wrote: »

Was that at the red cow by any chance ? Seen one of the 04 Neoplans struggling to go up the off ramp from m50 towards the red cow yesterday.

Yeah. Was on the Luas at the time. Did seem to be moving pretty slowly but didn't see it for long enough to properly judge.

Muller1991 · 01-05-2019 10:44am

More than likely the same one then. It certainly didn't look road worthy from where I was driving.

_Kaiser_ · 01-05-2019 11:26am

Muller1991 wrote: »

More than likely the same one then. It certainly didn't look road worthy from where I was driving.

Most of them are fairly battered looking, even the newer ones.

The green paint job probably doesn't help as they look dirty and grimy most of the time too

devnull · 04-05-2019 3:05pm

belfast stephen wrote: »

Dublin Coach sold all the open tops to extreme Ireland. That’s were their going red as they have the franchise now for city sightseeing i understand new tours are starting 1st of May all re branded under city sightseeing Dublin doing the old cityscape route

Spoken to a very good contact in the tourism industry who believes that City Sightseeing have concluded a deal with Dublin Bus to sell tickets for their tour which will continue to be branded with the DoDublin name.

There's also talk of Dublin Bus expanding their DoDublin operation for tours with some new services.

p_haugh · 05-05-2019 1:05pm

devnull wrote: »

Spoken to a very good contact in the tourism industry who believes that City Sightseeing have concluded a deal with Dublin Bus to sell tickets for their tour which will continue to be branded with the DoDublin name.

There's also talk of Dublin Bus expanding their DoDublin operation for tours with some new services.

Just saw a DoDublin AV/AX on Parnell Square that has a "City Sightseeing Tickets accepted here" sign on the nearside beside the door, so seems that contact was Correct.

devnull · 05-05-2019 1:33pm

p_haugh wrote: »

Just saw a DoDublin AV/AX on Parnell Square that has a "City Sightseeing Tickets accepted here" sign on the nearside beside the door, so seems that contact was Correct.

That's a big coup for Dublin Bus, they have their own brand and the brand that until recently was used as their biggest competitor all under one roof, it will be tough for Big Bus to compete with that and I can't see three open top tours being viable with a strengthened DB operation.

With the oldest fleet, the least comprehensive service etc, I really can't see CityScape being anything other than a poor investment for Extreme Ireland truth be told unless they have a lot of cash to spend or something really innovative up their sleeves.

road_high · 05-05-2019 4:15pm

Another mad Dub Coach experience during the week coming back from the Airport....all was fine until we passed the Red Cow N7 Junction by mistake, comes up the next junction and realises his mistake...slams on the brakes and skids the bus (large double decker) across into the hard shoulder (at speed)...comes to a dead stop in the gravel, proceeds to reverse the bus back to the Ballymount junction-all the while various other cars peeping and flashing lights at this lunatic! He got it up the junction and back over to the Red Cow Luas stop. This is insanity for a professional bus company- do they get any training at all?

JeffK88 · 05-05-2019 4:31pm

road_high wrote: »

Another mad Dub Coach experience during the week coming back from the Airport....all was fine until we passed the Red Cow N7 Junction by mistake, comes up the next junction and realises his mistake...slams on the brakes and skids the bus (large double decker) across into the hard shoulder (at speed)...comes to a dead stop in the gravel, proceeds to reverse the bus back to the Ballymount junction-all the while various other cars peeping and flashing lights at this lunatic! He got it up the junction and back over to the Red Cow Luas stop. This is insanity for a professional bus company- do they get any training at all?

I'd be reporting him to the company straight away. Pretty sure he will be sent walking.

punisher5112 · 05-05-2019 7:13pm

In Dundrum nothing has changed they will sit 30 to 40 minutes engine running spewing fumes out onto anybody waiting and into other buses waiting.....

Shocking company and so disrespectful.

devnull · 05-05-2019 7:26pm

punisher5112 wrote: »

In Dundrum nothing has changed they will sit 30 to 40 minutes engine running spewing fumes out onto anybody waiting and into other buses waiting.....

Probably because some of the Setra's they used on those runs are 15 years old now and were very well used when Aircoach got rid of them a good few years ago and if they stopped them they might have problems starting them again.

Stephen15 · 05-05-2019 7:37pm

The cityscape website is still up if they sold the buses then how come the website is still up. Perhaps Extreme Ireland are planning to move the buses somewhere else to Cork, Galway, Limerick or even up north to Belfast or Derry. Cork doesn't have a City Sightseeing operation and is growing a tourist destination for example so it could be that.

Jamie2k9 · 05-05-2019 7:46pm

Stephen15 wrote: »

The cityscape website is still up if they sold the buses then how come the website is still up. Perhaps Extreme Ireland are planning to move the buses somewhere else to Cork, Galway, Limerick or even up north to Belfast or Derry. Cork doesn't have a City Sightseeing operation and is growing a tourist destination for example so it could be that.

Cork does.

Stephen15 · 05-05-2019 8:32pm

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

Cork does.

It has hop on/off tours but not under the City Sightseeing franchise as far as I'm aware.

Stephen15 · 05-05-2019 9:55pm

devnull wrote: »

That's a big coup for Dublin Bus, they have their own brand and the brand that until recently was used as their biggest competitor all under one roof, it will be tough for Big Bus to compete with that and I can't see three open top tours being viable with a strengthened DB operation.

With the oldest fleet, the least comprehensive service etc, I really can't see CityScape being anything other than a poor investment for Extreme Ireland truth be told unless they have a lot of cash to spend or something really innovative up their sleeves.

After reading into it further it may only be a temporary arrangement in order to allow Citysightseeing to continue to sell tour tickets for Dublin on their website until the new franchise is off and running.

belfast stephen · 05-05-2019 11:13pm

Not the market for an other open top tour in Belfast

john boye · 05-05-2019 11:14pm

Stephen15 wrote: »

The cityscape website is still up if they sold the buses then how come the website is still up?

Based on how they look after their fleet I can't imagine they're any better with updating their site.

Old diesel · 06-05-2019 11:09am

I know some will say "but they are getting new stuff in etc".

But how is this outfit being allowed keep licence and NTA routes.

The maintenance standards should be stopping the nonsense Dublin Coach think is acceptable.

I've been on 15 to 20 year old coaches with small operators as a passenger and had a pleasant experience.

Particularly worthy of mention was the 1985 MAN chassis coach in 2001 and the 1999 Volvo/Plaxton in 2014.

But that's the difference between an operator with pride in what they do - standards, wanting to run a decent condition bus just because personal pride wont allow anything else.

(Edit) And Dublin Coach who seem to think anything will do.

They give public transport a bad name and I wish other operators could boot them out the door or deliver competition that forces Dublin coach to get rid of the heaps

punisher5112 · 06-05-2019 11:19am

Old diesel wrote: »

I know some will say "but they are getting new stuff in etc".

But how is this outfit being allowed keep licence and NTA routes.

The maintenance standards should be stopping the nonsense Dublin Coach think is acceptable.

I've been on 15 to 20 year old coaches with small operators as a passenger and had a pleasant experience.

Particularly worthy of mention was the 1985 MAN chassis coach in 2001 and the 1999 Volvo/Plaxton in 2014.

But that's the difference between an operator with pride in what they do - standards, wanting to run a decent condition bus just because personal pride wont allow anything else.

(Edit) And Dublin Coach who seem to think anything will do.

They give public transport a bad name and I wish other operators could boot them out the door or deliver competition that forces Dublin coach to get rid of the heaps

His business model is get routes and eventually sell the lot off...

devnull · 06-05-2019 11:33am

Old diesel wrote: »

I know some will say "but they are getting new stuff in etc".

But how is this outfit being allowed keep licence and NTA routes.

The maintenance standards should be stopping the nonsense Dublin Coach think is acceptable.

I've been on 15 to 20 year old coaches with small operators as a passenger and had a pleasant experience.

Particularly worthy of mention was the 1985 MAN chassis coach in 2001 and the 1999 Volvo/Plaxton in 2014.

But that's the difference between an operator with pride in what they do - standards, wanting to run a decent condition bus just because personal pride wont allow anything else.

(Edit) And Dublin Coach who seem to think anything will do.

They give public transport a bad name and I wish other operators could boot them out the door or deliver competition that forces Dublin coach to get rid of the heaps

The problem with Dublin Coach is that they've expanded too quickly too soon in the last few years, they are always looking to add new services the inevitably gets the new vehicles, which means very little of the new vehicles result in the oldest ones getting replaced when really they should have been suring up their existing services before adding more services.

Those 2004 Neoplans were very heavily worked on the Oxford Tube and other Stagecoach operations and those 2004 Setras from Aircoach were operating on the toughest work in Ireland in an operation that runs 24 hours a day and 364 days a year to the same timetable. Their former operators replaced said vehicles because they had a good few million kms on their clocks and obviously they wanted to ensure they provide a reliable service. Those coaches were nowhere near in the condition to stand up to the hard life they have had with DC though.

The Belfast route is a very interesting case study on them as well, operating with brand new coaches at €10 return at first, giving free tickets away, at the same time as a rival from Dublin who built the market up and at the same time almost from the same stop in Belfast with vehicles being replaced after just 12 months and apparently shortly to be replaced again. Them winning that bus war would be a very bad thing for the industry because Aircoach, Bus Eireann and Translink have higher standards, like many of the other private operators.

Dublin Coach always struck me as a bit of an operator that was trying to do things quite cheaply to have lower fares on the competition to attract people in, in the hope that they could make a killing by selling parts of the business up once they have the market and customer numbers, so the new owner could then go in and put a lot of investment in and already have the customers.

devnull · 16-05-2019 9:11pm

Dublin Coach were supposed to commence service on 8th May 2019 on route 727 Clongriffin - Clare Hall - Clonshaugh Business Park - Dublin Airport but their services have not yet commenced.

Does anyone know what is happening there?

L1011 · 16-05-2019 9:23pm

Does the NTA feel that every Dublin suburb -> airport route has to have a Boeing model number (well, the former DB 748 was a Hawker Siddeley) or will they move on to Airbus in a while?

Stephen15 · 16-05-2019 9:41pm

devnull wrote: »

Dublin Coach were supposed to commence service on 8th May 2019 on route 727 Clongriffin - Clare Hall - Clonshaugh Business Park - Dublin Airport but their services have not yet commenced.

Does anyone know what is happening there?

Peculiar alright sounded to me like they were trying to bring back the AerDart only difference was that it is going to Clongriffin instead of HJ and serving Clonshaugh. Which is a surprise to me for a private operator considering the private company running the AerDart failed with that venture.

john boye · 16-05-2019 9:58pm

L1011 wrote: »

Does the NTA feel that every Dublin suburb -> airport route has to have a Boeing model number (well, the former DB 748 was a Hawker Siddeley) or will they move on to Airbus in a while?

The 748 could pass for a Boeing too though! They'll run out of Boeings eventually. There has been a couple of Airbus numbers used in the past on short-lived non-airport routes, the 300 and the 321.

L1011 · 17-05-2019 8:19am

Stephen15 wrote: »

Peculiar alright sounded to me like they were trying to bring back the AerDart only difference was that it is going to Clongriffin instead of HJ and serving Clonshaugh. Which is a surprise to me for a private operator considering the private company running the AerDart failed with that venture.

Port tunnel roadworks and limited non-rail originating traffic killed AerDart, this one at least has more obvious traffic generators on route

Muller1991 · 17-05-2019 9:48am

Does anyone know what type of bus they will be using on this service ? I Seriously hope it wont be one of the Neoplans, Would seem very peculiar using a large coach for such a short route.

Odyssey 2005 · 17-05-2019 10:04am

It probably broke down on it's way out of the depot on day one

bk · 17-05-2019 12:17pm

john boye wrote: »

The 748 could pass for a Boeing too though! They'll run out of Boeings eventually. There has been a couple of Airbus numbers used in the past on short-lived non-airport routes, the 300 and the 321.

Yep, the 747-8 sometimes gets shortened to 748.

Ironically 747's are rarely seen in Dublin Airport any more, other then the buses that is!

WishUWereHere · 18-05-2019 8:05pm

devnull wrote: »

Dublin Coach were supposed to commence service on 8th May 2019 on route 727 Clongriffin - Clare Hall - Clonshaugh Business Park - Dublin Airport but their services have not yet commenced.

Does anyone know what is happening there?

That is one hell of a service, every 15 minutes from 04h00. There enough demand for that?

Stephen15 · 18-05-2019 9:32pm

WishUWereHere wrote: »

That is one hell of a service, every 15 minutes from 04h00. There enough demand for that?

I'd imagine the PVR would be fairly low as it's fairly short probably only 5 or 6 buses needed.

Thrashssacre · 19-05-2019 10:52am

Are they really gonna use coaches for a 20 minute hop across Dublin?

Stephen15 · 19-05-2019 11:09am

Thrashssacre wrote: »

Are they really gonna use coaches for a 20 minute hop across Dublin?

I'd say they'd probably use their Citaros that they use for Quickpark shuttles on it. They sometimes use them on their 750 Dundrum-Airport route and their 308 route in Limerick.

WishUWereHere · 19-05-2019 11:57am

Thrashssacre wrote: »

Are they really gonna use coaches for a 20 minute hop across Dublin?

In essence this route really is only a trip up Oscar Traynor. Can see serious traffic jams when along comes the breakdowns:rolleyes:

91wx763 · 21-05-2019 12:03am

Somewhat shocked to hear an ad on WLR pushing Waterford Cork 9 times a day......

Stephen15 · 31-05-2019 10:42pm

belfast stephen wrote: »

Dublin Coach sold all the open tops to extreme Ireland. That’s were their going red as they have the franchise now for city sightseeing i understand new tours are starting 1st of May all re branded under city sightseeing Dublin doing the old cityscape route

Yep now in Citysightseeing livery by the looks of things

https://www.facebook.com/358944580870075/posts/2101524406612075/?sfnsn=mo

devnull · 07-06-2019 10:39pm

Dublin Coach will be rebranding all their airport services under the name "Airbus" starting in the next week or so and there is also talk of a rebrand of some of their other operations as well.

The new name hasn't gone down well with either Aircoach or Dublin Bus from what I've heard.

Stephen15 · 07-06-2019 10:59pm

devnull wrote: »

Dublin Coach will be rebranding all their airport services under the name "Airbus" starting in the next week or so and there is also talk of a rebrand of some of their other operations as well.

The new name hasn't gone down well with either Aircoach or Dublin Bus from what I've heard.

Website here

https://www.airbus.ie/#about

patrickc · 08-06-2019 12:55pm

The 04 Neoplan was getting worked on in Portlaoise yesterday, an hour later Corcorans was towing it when I came back that way. There can't be much life left in it.

devnull · 08-06-2019 1:00pm

patrickc wrote: »

The 04 Neoplan was getting worked on in Portlaoise yesterday, an hour later Corcorans was towing it when I came back that way. There can't be much life left in it.

Still a few of them still in service, along with the 2004 Setras from what I've seen.

p_haugh · 08-06-2019 1:14pm

Saw their mini bus with the retractable roof pulling into Dundrum just off the Airport - Dundrum service last week, madness!

patrickc · 08-06-2019 3:40pm

devnull wrote: »

Still a few of them still in service, along with the 2004 Setras from what I've seen.

I regularly see the setras particularly on the M9 route, hadn't seen many Neoplans lately.

WishUWereHere · 08-06-2019 7:16pm

patrickc wrote: »

I regularly see the setras particularly on the M9 route, hadn't seen many Neoplans lately.

Drive up to Knockmitten and see the remains of plenty of them on the roadside.

They must have no shame leaving their relics gathering rust.

Matthew Gleeson · 20-06-2019 4:16pm

WishUWereHere wrote: »

Drive up to Knockmitten and see the remains of plenty of them on the roadside.

They must have no shame leaving their relics gathering rust.

They’re storing loads at quickpark at the airport. No idea if any are still on the roads!

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime · 20-06-2019 5:21pm

Dublin coaches are up for sale. Seen a few 142 regd Mercedes coaches being sold

Not sure what else is in the stock pile

devnull · 20-06-2019 5:57pm

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime wrote: »

Dublin coaches are up for sale. Seen a few 142 regd Mercedes coaches being sold

Not sure what else is in the stock pile

Where did you see it advertised out of curiosity?

Laughable that they're selling 2014 coaches when they've spent the last few years running many of their services on vehicles well past their best from 2004.

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime · 20-06-2019 6:47pm

devnull wrote: »

Where did you see it advertised out of curiosity?

Laughable that they're selling 2014 coaches when they've spent the last few years running many of their services on vehicles well past their best from 2004.

I notice it's a UK company selling them but here you go anyways

Reg plates are on them in images so can be checked and have been checked. Dublin coaches no longer !

Jamie2k9 · 20-06-2019 7:03pm

Anyone know how much the NTA are paying them for FTP customers?

Dublin Coach Experience Discussion Thread

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