Dublin Coach Experience Discussion Thread

punisher5112 · 13-03-2018 1:33pm

The vanhool would be in ok shape.

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime · 13-03-2018 1:34pm

Has anyone had any trouble with Dublin coach services not showing up at all ?

I ask because our company has taken on over 20 drivers from Dublin coach but also another company is taken over 40 drivers from Dublin coach (go ahead)

I'm just waiting to see if this will have an impact on services not having drivers

soundman45 · 13-03-2018 3:58pm

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime wrote: »

Has anyone had any trouble with Dublin coach services not showing up at all ?

I ask because our company has taken on over 20 drivers from Dublin coach but also another company is taken over 40 drivers from Dublin coach (go ahead)

I'm just waiting to see if this will have an impact on services not having drivers

Don't think go ahead have recruited any drivers yet let alone 40 from any one company.

aaakev · 13-03-2018 4:20pm

soundman45 wrote: »

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime wrote: »

Has anyone had any trouble with Dublin coach services not showing up at all ?

I ask because our company has taken on over 20 drivers from Dublin coach but also another company is taken over 40 drivers from Dublin coach (go ahead)

I'm just waiting to see if this will have an impact on services not having drivers

Don't think go ahead have recruited any drivers yet let alone 40 from any one company.

Not due to start until November so id say your right

Odyssey 2005 · 13-03-2018 4:46pm

Sabre0001 wrote: »

Does Dublin Coach run as per normal on St Patrick's Day?

I'd say the tow-truck companies around the country are praying that Dublin Coach are running (Or not) on st Patrick's day.

JeffK88 · 14-03-2018 8:41pm

I wonder if Flixbus would have any interest in taking over any routes. Similar low cost model although much ..much better fleet.

finnharpsboy · 15-03-2018 7:04pm

WishUWereHere wrote: »

Drove past their depot in Knockmitten on Friday and the place looked like a scrap yard.

Bus out on the road with the whole front gone from underneath the windscreen.

Apologies for the large pics, if someone knows how to make them smaller please help me out and tell me how to

Was passing myself today..... if there are that many buses parked up, how are they making money :eek:

ayux4rj6zql2ph · 15-03-2018 7:28pm

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Odyssey 2005 · 15-03-2018 7:38pm

Are they parked on a public road ?. How the fluk are they allowed get away with that?.
That looks like the most inept company in the country. Not even the slightest bit of pride. Trump would be better off calling that place a sith-hole.

ayux4rj6zql2ph · 15-03-2018 7:41pm

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Odyssey 2005 · 15-03-2018 7:43pm

Prisoner 6753 wrote: »

It's in an industrial estate to which the public have full access, so i would say it is a public road as there is no warnings that i can remember saying 'you are now entering private property'

Shocking looking outfit.

ayux4rj6zql2ph · 15-03-2018 7:48pm

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finnharpsboy · 15-03-2018 7:51pm

Odyssey 2005 wrote: »

Are they parked on a public road ?. How the fluk are they allowed get away with that?.
That looks like the most inept company in the country. Not even the slightest bit of pride. Trump would be better off calling that place a sith-hole.

The buses in the 1st picture are parked in a dead end but there is access to the back of Harris Trucks there.

The second picture they are on the main road, cause a constant headache especially for trucks if they are trying to pass at the same time.

bk · 15-03-2018 8:32pm

finnharpsboy wrote: »

Was passing myself today..... if there are that many buses parked up, how are they making money :eek:

Not at all defending them, but every major bus and coach company has a few older coaches parked up as standby's to fill in if another breaks down or extra demand comes up. Plus a few would always be out for maintenance.

Go to any Dublin Bus depot between the morning and evening peaks and you will see a wall of yellow as only 40% of their fleet operates off peak. Even on-peak they still have a bunch of old buses sitting around as backups or waiting to be sold on, etc.

BTW If this is an industrial estate, then it is most likely a private road, most industrial estates are, even if it isn't sign posted as such.

finnharpsboy · 15-03-2018 9:15pm

bk wrote: »

Go to any Dublin Bus depot between the morning and evening peaks and you will see a wall of yellow as only 40% of their fleet operates off peak.

At least they aren't parked on the main road causing hassle for trucks and others trying to make their way around

Not 100% certain but I think Western Industrial Estate is a public one.

Even during the recent snow the roads in that estate were gritted and cleared, where the roads in the industrial estate I work in on the opposite side of the road were not.

Stephen15 · 15-03-2018 10:18pm

Here's the place on Google Streetview outside you can an ex Aircoach Setra with a bit of type holding it together looks to be a 'new' delivery to their "state of the art fleet".

https://goo.gl/maps/a1tMMit3NJK2

devnull · 15-03-2018 10:31pm

That one has since been repainted white, think it was the last Setra they had from Aircoach, C47.

The Aircoach depot looks a more civilised affair!

patrickc · 15-03-2018 11:41pm

I was on a BE bus today which was stopped at the Red Cow and couldn't move while the DC 09 ex megabus was loading up as he wasn't parked in the bay properly. The BE driver was muttering that this is the same every time and they never park properly.

I was watching the bus negotiate the roundabout in front of us to where they park it was fairly tight, the driver looked like he was finding it hard to manoeuvre it. they're a fair big machine.

punisher5112 · 15-03-2018 11:48pm

patrickc wrote: »

I was on a BE bus today which was stopped at the Red Cow and couldn't move while the DC 09 ex megabus was loading up as he wasn't parked in the bay properly. The BE driver was muttering that this is the same every time and they never park properly.

I was watching the bus negotiate the roundabout in front of us to where they park it was fairly tight, the driver looked like he was finding it hard to manoeuvre it. they're a fair big machine.

As for usual any plans or engineer they never create enough safe space....

Fine for cars but big buses need room.

WishUWereHere · 17-03-2018 6:40pm

Odyssey 2005 wrote: »

Shocking looking outfit.

Can't even get uniformity on the green.....bad reflection on the company.

Patser · 18-03-2018 11:09pm

Seeing reports that their Ennis depot is in fire, with at least 1 new Tourismo gone in the blaze. Pictures up on Facebook

devnull · 18-03-2018 11:11pm

Patser wrote: »

Seeing reports that their Ennis depot is in fire, with at least 1 new Tourismo gone in the blaze. Pictures up on Facebook

Do you have a link?

Patser · 18-03-2018 11:16pm

devnull wrote: »

Do you have a link?

No, I'm not on Facebook, but in work here 2 others were showing me the pics and comments on their phones. I know not great to post vague hearsay, but figured others here with interest might see the same.

Stephen15 · 18-03-2018 11:29pm

Here's the link

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10211655668970393&id=1326811727

ayux4rj6zql2ph · 18-03-2018 11:35pm

This post has been deleted.

GhostyMcGhost · 23-03-2018 2:40pm

Won't be just buses breaking down

https://www.kildarenow.com/news/dublin-coach-firm-fined-drivers-not-taking-rest-periods/214763

bebeman · 23-03-2018 4:22pm

Was it the NTA that approved this Dublin Coach to operate?
Wont look good for the NTA if they did sign off on this shambles, what standards are private operator held too, DB/BE would be hung drawn and quartered for half of what i read in this discussion.

Truckermal · 23-03-2018 5:31pm

GhostyMcGhost wrote: »

Won't be just buses breaking down

https://www.kildarenow.com/news/dublin-coach-firm-fined-drivers-not-taking-rest-periods/214763

Two more broken down this week as well!

devnull · 23-03-2018 7:06pm

GhostyMcGhost wrote: »

Won't be just buses breaking down

https://www.kildarenow.com/news/dublin-coach-firm-fined-drivers-not-taking-rest-periods/214763

That's the second time they've been fined in front of them in recent months for issues in relation to adhering to regulations.

bebeman wrote: »

Was it the NTA that approved this Dublin Coach to operate?
Wont look good for the NTA if they did sign off on this shambles, what standards are private operator held too, DB/BE would be hung drawn and quartered for half of what i read in this discussion.

The difference is the NTA are paying Dublin Bus to provide a service and contracting them so that would give them more power whereas the others are licensed operators. However it's not unreasonable to suggest that it would be possible to write into licensing guidelines that an operators record in relation to the Road Safety Authority should be taken into account.

Also on commercial routes I think it's unfair that the operators who play by the book always are being subjected to intense competition from Dublin Coach on some routes and being undercut. Whilst it's good to see them getting fined, the question has to be that as the fines are not exactly massive, if they are really big enough to act as a proper deterrent.

Operators in breach of drivers’ hours requirements are also profiting from undercutting compliant operators and contributing to unfair competition in the road haulage industry.

That's a big issue for me too with this whole situation and instead of just fining non-compliant operators a small amount of money we should be threatening to revoke or limit their road passenger operating license.

AlekSmart · 23-03-2018 8:28pm

devnull wrote: »

That's the second time they've been fined in front of them in recent months for issues in relation to adhering to regulations.

The difference is the NTA are paying Dublin Bus to provide a service and contracting them so that would give them more power whereas the others are licensed operators. However it's not unreasonable to suggest that it would be possible to write into licensing guidelines that an operators record in relation to the Road Safety Authority should be taken into account.

This is exactly the time-honoured situation in the United Kingdom,where the Traffic Commissioners perform a second line of compliance monitoring and dispense significant panalties for such non-compliance....However,we are,as a society,somewhat averse to this type of punishment based regulation...;)

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/traffic-commissioners

Also on commercial routes I think it's unfair that the operators who play by the book always are being subjected to intense competition from Dublin Coach on some routes and being undercut. Whilst it's good to see them getting fined, the question has to be that as the fines are not exactly massive, if they are really big enough to act as a proper deterrent.

A significant part of the issue here,is the number of Operators "Playing by the Book",both on Service and Coaching work,may be FAR lower than you expect.

That's a big issue for me too with this whole situation and instead of just fining non-compliant operators a small amount of money we should be threatening to revoke or limit their road passenger operating license.

To be fair,this issue exists across the Judicial spectrum in Ireland,with,almost a degree of regard given,to those who can amass triple digit convictions across many different areas of the Law.

joegriffinjnr · 26-03-2018 2:08pm

Word on the street is Dublin Coach are at loggerheads with the DAA again.

Sabre0001 · 26-03-2018 2:25pm

Feel like a bit of an idiot (and a bit aggrieved at the same time). Arrived at the bus stop in Limerick yesterday to see a few different buses - some heading to Dublin, but no bright green bus. Time was ticking on, and eventually an orange Darby O'Gill bus pulled off and only then did I notice the 300 number on it. Sure enough it was the Dublin Coach in an off-brand bus. Thankfully it was a nice day, so standing around in the sunshine for half an hour wasn't too bad, but time and money lost...

Going to have to check buses more carefully in the future.

Sabre0001 · 26-03-2018 2:27pm

As for an experience that's on them, spent 2.5 hours shuddering one journey recently because the bus was a bit rickety. Thankfully didn't break down, but felt like it could fall apart at any moment!

devnull · 26-03-2018 6:14pm

Sabre0001 wrote: »

Feel like a bit of an idiot (and a bit aggrieved at the same time). Arrived at the bus stop in Limerick yesterday to see a few different buses - some heading to Dublin, but no bright green bus. Time was ticking on, and eventually an orange Darby O'Gill bus pulled off and only then did I notice the 300 number on it. Sure enough it was the Dublin Coach in an off-brand bus. Thankfully it was a nice day, so standing around in the sunshine for half an hour wasn't too bad, but time and money lost...

Darby O'Gill is part of the Dublin Coach group, they also have some in blue and one in white as well as the yellow ones.

joegriffinjnr wrote: »

Word on the street is Dublin Coach are at loggerheads with the DAA again.

About what? Parking in the Coach Park or the car park stuff?

_Kaiser_ · 27-03-2018 11:31am

Witnessed one of their double deckers nearly tear the front off an SUV in front of me this morning on the N7 because of the aggressive lane-hopping of its driver.

Did call them and report it though.. do the NTA have any responsibility here though? Given the frequency I see their buses at this kinda thing it might make more of an impression on them.

punisher5112 · 27-03-2018 2:59pm

_Kaiser_ wrote: »

Witnessed one of their double deckers nearly tear the front off an SUV in front of me this morning on the N7 because of the aggressive lane-hopping of its driver.

Did call them and report it though.. do the NTA have any responsibility here though? Given the frequency I see their buses at this kinda thing it might make more of an impression on them.

Report to traffic watch they tend to take it very serious if reported.

Vic_08 · 27-03-2018 4:57pm

_Kaiser_ wrote: »

Witnessed one of their double deckers nearly tear the front off an SUV in front of me this morning on the N7 because of the aggressive lane-hopping of its driver.

Did call them and report it though.. do the NTA have any responsibility here though? Given the frequency I see their buses at this kinda thing it might make more of an impression on them.

They have done Sweet NTA about the constant breakdowns, wheels coming loose, fires and multiple tacho/working hour violations so safe to say they will do nothing about a driving complaint either.

In Britain an outfit this bad would have been in front of a Traffic Commissioner by now and based on the fate of similar cowboys would probably have had their Operator licence revoked or severely restricted by now.

It is obvious that there is effectively no oversight or consequences for running a substandard public bus service in this country. NTA do nothing more than hand out the licences, once you have that bit of paper you can do whatever you like from running no service at all to putting the public at risk through illegal and dangerous practices with no fear of any sanction on the licence.

JeffK88 · 30-03-2018 9:17am

Is the new K coach service operated by Dublin Coach by any chance or a division of them. There're using the old Aircoach now DC setras. They are getting some working for an old coach.

patrickc · 31-03-2018 12:39am

JeffK88 wrote: »

Is the new K coach service operated by Dublin Coach by any chance or a division of them. There're using the old Aircoach now DC setras. They are getting some working for an old coach.

http://www.glenwhelantravel.com

this seems to be k coach

dashcamdanny · 31-03-2018 11:52am

_Kaiser_ wrote: »

Witnessed one of their double deckers nearly tear the front off an SUV in front of me this morning on the N7 because of the aggressive lane-hopping of its driver.

Did call them and report it though.. do the NTA have any responsibility here though? Given the frequency I see their buses at this kinda thing it might make more of an impression on them.

Stand and watch all the Dublin Coaches as they enter the restricted speed limit on the N7 roadworks. They go through the 60kph limit at full speed. not just a bit over. Nearly double the limit.

No way I would ever step foot into one of those coaches . Monkeys driving.

bebeman · 31-03-2018 11:55am

dashcamdanny wrote: »

Stand and watch all the Dublin Coaches as they enter the restricted speed limit on the N7 roadworks. They go through the 60kph limit at full speed. not just a bit over. Nearly double the limit.

No way I would ever step foot into one of those coaches . Monkeys driving.

This is what the NTA want.
The usual suspects will defend this, as its not CIE

devnull · 31-03-2018 11:56am

dashcamdanny wrote: »

_Kaiser_ wrote: »

Witnessed one of their double deckers nearly tear the front off an SUV in front of me this morning on the N7 because of the aggressive lane-hopping of its driver.

Did call them and report it though.. do the NTA have any responsibility here though? Given the frequency I see their buses at this kinda thing it might make more of an impression on them.

Stand and watch all the Dublin Coaches as they enter the restricted speed limit on the N7 roadworks. They go through the 60kph limit at full speed. not just a bit over. Nearly double the limit.

No way I would ever step foot into one of those coaches . Monkeys driving.

Question is though how much is down to drivers and how much is down to management? The recent articles in relation to the road safety authority would suggest there are not just issues with drivers themselves.

bebeman · 31-03-2018 1:34pm

devnull wrote: »

Question is though how much is down to drivers and how much is down to management? The recent articles in relation to the road safety authority would suggest there are not just issues with drivers themselves.

The NTA signed of on this cowboy outfit, does not fill one with confidence.

devnull · 31-03-2018 1:43pm

bebeman wrote: »

The NTA signed of on this cowboy outfit, does not fill one with confidence.

The NTA issued licenses for the routes wholly in the ROI yes - but the vast majority of the issues post date these licenses being issued. The opinion of Dublin Coach in the eyes of customers 2-3 years ago was much better than it is now - they had people literally begging them to serve them.

The Department of Transport has devolved road safety responsibility to the Road Safety Authority so this is the party that would be responsible for ensuring safety on our roads, shown by the fact they have prosecuted Dublin Coach on a number of accounts recently.

However certainly the laws need to be changed so the likes of the RSA can impose proper and meaningful penalties on such operators rather than the paltry ones which they have imposed on Dublin Coach so far. A system like they have in the UK as Vic has outlined would be far better.

tabbey · 31-03-2018 2:15pm

dashcamdanny wrote: »

Stand and watch all the Dublin Coaches as they enter the restricted speed limit on the N7 roadworks. They go through the 60kph limit at full speed. not just a bit over. Nearly double the limit.

Unfortunately so do all the other vehicles.

Ten years ago I received penalty points for driving at 80 km/h on the N7 roadworks east of RedCow. Again the temporary speed restriction was 60km/h.

Not wanting to experience the same penalty yesterday, I got into the slow lane and gently decelerated to about 75km/h, but the drivers behind were not amused.

_Kaiser_ · 31-03-2018 2:59pm

tabbey wrote: »

Unfortunately so do all the other vehicles.

Ten years ago I received penalty points for driving at 80 km/h on the N7 roadworks east of RedCow. Again the temporary speed restriction was 60km/h.

Not wanting to experience the same penalty yesterday, I got into the slow lane and gently decelerated to about 75km/h, but the drivers behind were not amused.

The problem with these particular roadworks (as someone who drives that road daily myself), is the limit is imposed too early on the city-side and is artificially low for the current conditions - with minimal actual works happening on the main line most of the time, a limit of 80/90 would currently be more suitable.

The result is that trying to stick to the 60.. or even 70ish.. is an extremely stressful and frustrating experience, added to by the other traffic shooting past and trying to get into your back seat (tailgating).

It's taking far longer to do these works than it should but that apparently is down to how the contracts (more accurately payment installments for them) have been designed.

Stephen15 · 31-03-2018 3:01pm

devnull wrote: »

The NTA issued licenses for the routes wholly in the ROI yes - but the vast majority of the issues post date these licenses being issued. The opinion of Dublin Coach in the eyes of customers 2-3 years ago was much better than it is now - they had people literally begging them to serve them.

The Department of Transport has devolved road safety responsibility to the Road Safety Authority so this is the party that would be responsible for ensuring safety on our roads, shown by the fact they have prosecuted Dublin Coach on a number of accounts recently.

However certainly the laws need to be changed so the likes of the RSA can impose proper and meaningful penalties on such operators rather than the paltry ones which they have imposed on Dublin Coach so far. A system like they have in the UK as Vic has outlined would be far better.

The RSA are another useless top heavy government body. The work of them could be done be done by the DoT and AGS. Another organisation that only exists to create more bereaucracy and give out more overpaid jobs.

WishUWereHere · 31-03-2018 3:52pm

dashcamdanny wrote: »

Stand and watch all the Dublin Coaches as they enter the restricted speed limit on the N7 roadworks. They go through the 60kph limit at full speed. not just a bit over. Nearly double the limit.

No way I would ever step foot into one of those coaches . Monkeys driving.

Not only that, but I have also seen them doing their 'thing' in the outside lane.

On the speeding, it's not only DC, I have also seen aircoach ( i think they are the blue coaches, right? ) also going full tilt.

WishUWereHere · 31-03-2018 3:58pm

_Kaiser_ wrote: »

The problem with these particular roadworks (as someone who drives that road daily myself), is the limit is imposed too early on the city-side and is artificially low for the current conditions - with minimal actual works happening on the main line most of the time, a limit of 80/90 would currently be more suitable.

The result is that trying to stick to the 60.. or even 70ish.. is an extremely stressful and frustrating experience, added to by the other traffic shooting past and trying to get into your back seat (tailgating).

It's taking far longer to do these works than it should but that apparently is down to how the contracts (more accurately payment installments for them) have been designed.

You touch on a couple of issues here Kaiser:

1) The speeding -As a driver who also is a daily user of the N/M 7 I see there is now a flashing sign stating already 68 prosecutions have been issued. I wonder where the Gardaí/gatso's can park/hide? Totally agree with You on the 60KPH limit.

2) Just why is there only daylight work happening here? I'm not driving this weekend but I bet there is no work being done? This road is so critical for all users, it should be a 24/7 operation.

WishUWereHere · 31-03-2018 4:00pm

joegriffinjnr wrote: »

Word on the street is Dublin Coach are at loggerheads with the DAA again.

Reason being?

Dublin Coach Experience Discussion Thread

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