Dublin Coach Experience Discussion Thread

thelad95 · 05-09-2017 4:35pm

I was on the Cork service last week and there was a massive crack and hole in the windscreen. This bus left Dublin at 10pm and the driver said there was nobody in head office to answer the phone so a replacement wouldn't be possible. Bad joke of a company at times.

_Kaiser_ · 05-09-2017 4:49pm

soundman45 wrote: »

Look at YouTube video of dublin coach speeding on outside lane of three lane section of N7 approaching Naas I think.

I've seen DC vehicles at this alright... they're also pretty aggressive when changing lanes in heavy traffic.

Called them once as a coach was lane-hopping at speed and then diverted off at the Naas exit only to rejoin on the other side in an attempt to skip the bottleneck as the lanes drop from 3-2 (southbound). After bullying his way in front of a car, I rang them about it but they didn't seem too bothered tbh.

Certainly wouldn't inspire me to use the service anyway.

Weepsie · 05-09-2017 4:58pm

_Kaiser_ wrote: »

I've seen DC vehicles at this alright... they're also pretty aggressive when changing lanes in heavy traffic.

Called them once as a coach was lane-hopping at speed and then diverted off at the Naas exit only to rejoin on the other side in an attempt to skip the bottleneck as the lanes drop from 3-2 (southbound). After bullying his way in front of a car, I rang them about it but they didn't seem too bothered tbh.

Certainly wouldn't inspire me to use the service anyway.

Should have called traffic watch

mixery · 05-09-2017 6:12pm

thelad95 wrote: »

I was on the Cork service last week and there was a massive crack and hole in the windscreen. This bus left Dublin at 10pm and the driver said there was nobody in head office to answer the phone so a replacement wouldn't be possible. Bad joke of a company at times.

Friday evening I've passed a DC coach coming into Dungarvan - going real slow, hazard lights on, half way in the hard shoulder, with a growing queue of cars behind it.
All these instances would definitely put one off using their services.

punisher5112 · 05-09-2017 6:15pm

Those coaches were a great machine but when they have 3million or more miles on them and the state of disrepair I can't actually believe they can actually pass a cvrt(doe).

Quackster · 05-09-2017 6:19pm

mixery wrote: »

Friday evening I've passed a DC coach coming into Dungarvan - going real slow, hazard lights on, half way in the hard shoulder, with a growing queue of cars behind it.
All these instances would definitely put one off using their services.

Unfortunately where there is no viable alternative, beggars can't be choosers.

Hopefully the end-goal is to sell up to the likes of Citylink.

10-09-2017 8:16pm

Well I had another experience.

The bus arrived into Burgh Quay about 20 minutes late. It was one of the crappy Setra 415s again. No toilet on a bus doing a 4 hour journey! We had to stop at Kildare Village for a toilet stop as well as an extended stop in UL. Also passed by a parked Setra in Newcastle West, I later found out that it had broken down previously and some of the passengers that boarded our bus had come from it.

I chose Dublin Coach because the timetable claimed a 10:05 arrival into Abbeyfeale. But it was near enough to 11pm by the time we got there. I would have been only slightly worse off getting the 17:05 Heuston to Tralee train and a lot more comfortable.

Never again!

boardsuser1 · 20-09-2017 8:26pm

Seen on flickr.

It says it all about them really.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/scottishpullman/36665231680/in/photostream/

joegriffinjnr · 20-09-2017 10:07pm

Cork Truck Driver wrote: »

Seen on flickr.

It says it all about them really.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/scottishpullman/36665231680/in/photostream/

30, yes 30 brand new Mercedes coaches joing the fleet shortly, hopefully this will wipe out all them battered Setras. As for them other double decks <snipped>... I really dont know how they are still on the road.

boardsuser1 · 20-09-2017 10:08pm

joegriffinjnr wrote: »

30, yes 30 brand new Mercedes coaches joing the fleet shortly, hopefully this will wipe out all them battered Setras. As for them other double deck deathtraps.... I really dont know how they ate still on the road.

All leased no doubt?

bleary · 20-09-2017 10:14pm

On one now. Grand comfortable on time and cheap. I think the service is great really . No complaints

boardsuser1 · 20-09-2017 10:16pm

bleary wrote: »

On one now. Grand comfortable on time and cheap. I think the service is great really . No complaints

A Setra?

Quackster · 20-09-2017 10:31pm

bleary wrote: »

On one now. Grand comfortable on time and cheap. I think the service is great really . No complaints

Service is often perfectly fine. Problem is things just go to **** way too regularly.

punisher5112 · 20-09-2017 10:34pm

bleary wrote: »

On one now. Grand comfortable on time and cheap. I think the service is great really . No complaints

If its a new bus I would certainly like to think its good and no complaints but the fleet are in absolute disrepair.

How a cvrt test can be passed is beyond me.

boardsuser1 · 20-09-2017 10:36pm

punisher5112 wrote: »

If its a new bus I would certainly like to think its good and no complaints but the fleet are in absolute disrepair.

How a cvrt test can be passed is beyond me.

CVRT kicks in at 1 year old.

devnull · 20-09-2017 10:37pm

I got the impression by the age of their fleet and the general condition of it, along with the cancellations and delays, that they must not have been awash with finances so I'm very surprised that they have been able to fund 30 new coaches, even if it is on a lease.

That seems to suggest that perhaps the issues with the fleet were not down to a lack of finance after all which makes it all the more perplexing wy it has felt so unloved for the last 12-18 months since they clearly must have some resources.

thelad95 · 21-09-2017 1:54am

There's a significant implicit cost to the continuous no shows/breakdowns/massive delays that the company may have decided that they would be better off investing in a decent, reliable fleet instead of all these persistent problems.

I can't help but feel that the Cork/Waterford/Kilkenny/Dublin M9 route will still have the crappy old setras. It seems to be the route they care about the least.

punisher5112 · 21-09-2017 6:09am

Cork Truck Driver wrote: »

CVRT kicks in at 1 year old.

I was talking about anything older not the new ones.

devnull · 21-09-2017 9:53am

thelad95 wrote: »

There's a significant implicit cost to the continuous no shows/breakdowns/massive delays that the company may have decided that they would be better off investing in a decent, reliable fleet instead of all these persistent problems.

Indeed but leasing 30 brand new Mercedes Tourismo coaches cannot be cheaper than that, especially when you recognise that they were barely spending anything on the older coaches or so it seemed from the state some of them were in.

bk · 21-09-2017 12:52pm

devnull wrote: »

Indeed but leasing 30 brand new Mercedes Tourismo coaches cannot be cheaper than that, especially when you recognise that they were barely spending anything on the older coaches or so it seemed from the state some of them were in.

If they really do have 30 new coaches ready to deliver, then they most of ordered them over a year ago. Perhaps they cut back on maintenance, etc. to help pay for these new coaches.

devnull · 21-09-2017 1:39pm

bk wrote: »

If they really do have 30 new coaches ready to deliver, then they most of ordered them over a year ago. Perhaps they cut back on maintenance, etc. to help pay for these new coaches.

There's no way they are owned, they'd be paying over €10m and the last accounts for Dublin Coach logged showed them in a poor financial position.

bk · 21-09-2017 1:45pm

devnull wrote: »

There's no way they are owned, they'd be paying over €10m and the last accounts for Dublin Coach logged showed them in a poor financial position.

Even if leasing, I'd assume they would have had to put money down ahead of them arriving, at least a deposit. I'd assume a deposit on 30 new leased coaches would be significant money?

Cut back on maintenance, to help pay for the deposit, based on the assumption that new coaches won't need as much maintenance. Just a theory.

boardsuser1 · 21-09-2017 1:48pm

Anyone know what the cost of leasing those things is?

devnull · 21-09-2017 2:02pm

bk wrote: »

Even if leasing, I'd assume they would have had to put money down ahead of them arriving, at least a deposit. I'd assume a deposit on 30 new leased coaches would be significant money?

Cut back on maintenance, to help pay for the deposit, based on the assumption that new coaches won't need as much maintenance. Just a theory.

Their auditor in their last accounts was scathing about their financial situation basically saying that they had a very precarious position in relations to assets net liabilities, unless they had an investor put money into the company, it would seem impossible that they paid for them new.

The cost of a Panther to Aircoach spec was said to be approx €290,000 and the Panther isn't even the top model in the Plaxton Range, I would say at the very very least Dublin Coach would be paying €350,000 a coach for two axle average spec Tourismos, add more for three axles and a higher spec.

JCX BXC · 30-09-2017 8:08pm

http://www.limerickleader.ie/news/home/273632/passengers-have-lucky-escape-as-bus-catches-fire-in-limerick.html

Real Dublin coach experience there.

boardsuser1 · 30-09-2017 8:20pm

JCX BXC wrote: »

http://www.limerickleader.ie/news/home/273632/passengers-have-lucky-escape-as-bus-catches-fire-in-limerick.html

Real Dublin coach experience there.

Surprised this hasn’t happened to some of the Setra’s.

That bus was a Mercedes Benz Citaro.

L1011 · 30-09-2017 11:07pm

How many have DC lost to fire now?

Also, how does a service called Dublin Coach go down with locals running Limerick City services?

Shpudnik · 01-10-2017 12:19am

L1011 wrote: »

How many have DC lost to fire now?

Also, how does a service called Dublin Coach go down with locals running Limerick City services?

It's never called Dublin Coach it's always "The green bus"

punisher5112 · 01-10-2017 12:22am

Cork Truck Driver wrote: »

Surprised this hasn’t happened to some of the Setra’s.

That bus was a Mercedes Benz Citaro.

It has many were lost even when with air coach.

That was a well used vehicle also it was no where near new.

Shpudnik · 01-10-2017 12:23am

punisher5112 wrote: »

It has many were lost even when with air coach.

That was a well used vehicle also it was no where near new.

2003 I believe.

JCX BXC · 01-10-2017 12:24am

Should there not at least be some sort of strict regulation on these buses? I don't want to be sitting on something that could burst into flames at any moment!

punisher5112 · 01-10-2017 12:35am

JCX BXC wrote: »

Should there not at least be some sort of strict regulation on these buses? I don't want to be sitting on something that could burst into flames at any moment!

A burst pipe or fuel line.

Could happen even on something new.

Most newer fleets are equipped with extinguish equipment in engine bay but may not put it out.

They don't tend to just explode as most will show signs before going up.

punisher5112 · 01-10-2017 12:36am

Shpudnik wrote: »

2003 I believe.

Most of that model seem to be around 07 to 09.

It could well be 03 and as said well used.

devnull · 01-10-2017 12:44am

punisher5112 wrote: »

It has many were lost even when with air coach..

One Aircoach 2004 Setra went up in Leopardstown but it was repaired.

The 2003 ones left Aircoach in something like 2009, some turned up in the UK whilst others were exported to Cyprus of all places but most of them were never spotted again after Aircoach withdrew them following new deliveres.

All but one of the 2004 ones ended up with Dublin Coach, some may now be withdrawn. Not sure what happened to the other one, it's possible it ended up in the UK on a new reg or had an issue deemed beyond economical repair

Shpudnik wrote: »

2003 I believe.

Looks like a later generation of the Citaro than that to me by the shape of it.

The only non articulated Citaros I've seen operating for Dublin Coach in Limerick have always been 2007 or 2009. When I was there at the start of September I saw a 2009 one operating alongside 2003 artics.

punisher5112 · 01-10-2017 1:08am

devnull wrote: »

One Aircoach 2004 Setra went up in Leopardstown but it was repaired.

The 2003 ones left Aircoach in something like 2009, some turned up in the UK whilst others were exported to Cyprus of all places but most of them were never spotted again after Aircoach withdrew them following new deliveres.

All but one of the 2004 ones ended up with Dublin Coach, some may now be withdrawn. Not sure what happened to the other one, it's possible it ended up in the UK on a new reg or had an issue deemed beyond economical repair

Looks like a later generation of the Citaro than that to me by the shape of it.

The only non articulated Citaros I've seen operating for Dublin Coach in Limerick have always been 2007 or 2009. When I was there at the start of September I saw a 2009 one operating alongside 2003 artics.

Air coach lost a few more setras then that.

One went in ballinteer at their newish now not terminus also.

devnull · 01-10-2017 1:28am

punisher5112 wrote: »

Air coach lost a few more setras then that.

One went in ballinteer at their newish now not terminus also.

Not sure about the 2003 Setras, they left in 2009, not sure if they lost any of them,

They had 20x 2004 according to here. Looking through RTOL.ie I can see that Dublin Coach have 18 of them on their books now so that leaves two missing, one which is this one, no idea what happened to the other, could have been lost I guess.

...__... · 03-10-2017 4:12pm

I pass by there depot every day
The Vanhools look nice but those king longs need to be torched for the insurance.
just walk by any day you can have your very own piece of bus memorabilia just lying on the road!

punisher5112 · 03-10-2017 6:51pm

Very true the king longs look desperate.

If they actually maintained them and fixed cosmetics they may look OK.

I do like the lights down the side when some are actually working.

boardsuser1 · 03-10-2017 7:00pm

punisher5112 wrote: »

Very true the king longs look desperate.

If they actually maintained them and fixed cosmetics they may look OK.

I do like the lights down the side when some are actually working.

King Long's are a fine machine.

Drove one for 2 days and loved it.

...__... · 04-10-2017 1:41pm

I was in a few a while back and they were good but lately theyre falling apart.
Id still buy one to convert to a camper though

punisher5112 · 04-10-2017 4:03pm

If it were me the green would go.,.. Such a rotten colour.

boardsuser1 · 04-10-2017 4:04pm

punisher5112 wrote: »

If it were me the green would go.,.. Such a rotten colour.

+1

Even the yellow they use for other brands is horrible.

04-10-2017 5:15pm

They're almost universally known as "the green bus" though, particularly outside Dublin. So it's part of the brand at this stage.

thelad95 · 04-10-2017 5:41pm

In all honesty, buses are such big vehicles, anything apart from white just looks ghastly.

As others have said, say "the green bus" anywhere and people know what you're talking about.

john boye · 04-10-2017 5:46pm

Karsini wrote: »

They're almost universally known as "the green bus" though, particularly outside Dublin. So it's part of the brand at this stage.

Albeit, a brand which doesn't appear to have a very good rep.

Quackster · 04-10-2017 7:47pm

john boye wrote: »

Albeit, a brand which doesn't appear to have a very good rep.

Alas, the fact I can travel Tralee/Red Cow for €15 means I tend to overlook the less than impressive experiences I've had with them!

thelad95 · 05-10-2017 1:28am

Just reading some TripAdvisor reviews and the overriding problem everywhere and the main gripe customers have is the lateness of the coaches. If you look on their site, the times are completely and utterly unrealistic and do nothing to allow for morning/evening traffic which they know is an issue.

If the timetables were actually realistic, people can make proper plans and know what they're dealing with but when they see that a coach is supposedly meant to arrive at say 11:40 but doesn't show up until 12:35 due to a combination of traffic and unrealistic expectations, then this doesn't really bode well when you have a flight to catch or business of some sort to conduct in Dublin.

tabbey · 05-10-2017 10:07am

punisher5112 wrote: »

If it were me the green would go.,.. Such a rotten colour.

Not at all, the green is lovely.

I only travelled on DC once, I enjoyed the experience, but that was for leisure, so cannot comment on reliability.

boardsuser1 · 05-10-2017 10:09am

tabbey wrote: »

Not at all, the green is lovely.

I only travelled on DC once, I enjoyed the experience, but that was for leisure, so cannot comment on reliability.

What was the coach and the year of it?

Was it old or modern?

punisher5112 · 05-10-2017 10:31am

tabbey wrote: »

Not at all, the green is lovely.

I only travelled on DC once, I enjoyed the experience, but that was for leisure, so cannot comment on reliability.

If it were a different shade of green, its snot green its hidious.

Dublin Coach Experience Discussion Thread

Comments