The Dublin Coach Experience

While I completely agree with that I fail to see why only urban networks should benefit from a single integrated network.

Do small town, rural dwellers or those travelling longer distances who already have a poor service not deserve to benefit from a single ticketing regime rather than having to be at the whim of commercially based fare structures that only exist to provide profit to operators?

Where I live I have

1. Locallink scheduled route about 30min walk away 4 times/day
2. Bus Eireann PSO 30 min walk away in other direction 4 times/day
3. Commercial operator A 10 min drive away 6 times/day
4. Commercial operator B same 10 min drive 8 times/day
5. Other Locallink service 15 min drive 6 times/day

None of these have any integration, either fares or timetables. a return journey just to a directly served destination has to be done with the same operator or there is a massive fare penalty from buying single tickets, a journey to somewhere further afield just becomes quickly so convoluted with fare/operator mix that it is just not worth the bother. That doesn't even account for the scenario of a missed connection where operator A's responsibility to a passenger missing a departure on operator B is zero, "different company, not our problem pal" drive off and potentially leave passengers stranded.

Every city seems to have areas which there is no PSO route for.

In Galway its the north end of Knocknacarra: huge new estates that BE had zero interest in serving. Vs similar older estates in the east of the city that have three routes going to/thru.

And Athenry which had a shyte PSO and train service. A fully commercial service started, and they now have the only nite-bues in county.

PSOs were useful in covid because they gave a mechanism for the government to make services continue. But they seem to stifle innovation and customer focus. There must be a better way.

And existing licensing should be enough to force integrated timetables, at least.

Since it has been over a month since the 307/308 was suspended in Limerick. Would Dublin Coach have other suspensions lined up for the remainder of their network in the near future?

I assume the passengers who would have used these routes frequently before they were suspended are still very bitter and frustrated with Dublin Coach's decision to not run them through their area.

astonishing is an understatement.

Stick the footage up in the dashcam thread in the motors forum.

Beware that while the coach driver's actions will be judged so will yours if, for example, you were middle lane hogging as so many M50 drivers do constantly forcing others to lane change constantly to overtake while driving correctly in the left lane..

Speed limit for coaches is 100kph and there is nothing wrong with changing lanes on a motorway at speed as long as it it done safely.

Wish I had the footage. Must invest in a decent dash cam.

I wasn't middle lane hogging at all. Nothing annoys me more to be honest. The bus in question was moving from the middle lane to the outside lane as mentioned in my previous post. AFAIK bus and coaches are not allowed be in those lanes, unless for overtaking purposes.

and? it's irrelevant ultimately and is just more deflection and whataboutery.

I often thought that- I’d hate to be a woman left alone there. You’d notice woman on their own looking a bit anxious for the bus to come- and I can’t say I blame them

has it restarted though?

I’m sure that they are struggling with drivers like everyone else? The express to Belfast was a great service when it ran. I saw it very well loaded anytime I saw it up close.

Building back up their core routes along the M7 was always going to be the first priority. I actually saw an M1 express branding on one in Kildare yesterday, so it might make a return when they can get the buses and drivers in place.

Aircoach has not returned its full service yet either.

The green bus, while not the best, does a great job and offers a low cost alternative which is what people want. If that involves a change of bus or a couple of quick stops, then so be it.

Would DC have the coaches/drivers to even restart Belfast? I doubt it. Used it once and it’s probably the fastest Belfast Dublin service. Was a lot handier than the train tbh