Dublin's 24h bus services

Midnight_EG · 01-12-2020 10:18pm

Who says being a spare driver is crap? It's grand where I am tbh?

L1011 · 01-12-2020 10:21pm

Midnight_EG wrote: »

Who says being a spare driver is crap? It's grand where I am tbh?

All the marked in drivers trying to defend why they "deserve" that structure due to the years of spare do; just look at threads here going back decades.

Without marked in there would be no spare - everyone would have fair rosters.

Midnight_EG · 01-12-2020 10:25pm

L1011 wrote: »

All the marked in drivers trying to defend why they "deserve" that structure due to the years of spare do; just look at threads here going back decades.

Without marked in there would be no spare - everyone would have fair rosters.

It's only the fellas here 15 plus years that complain... Harking back to ye old times when they could double shift

GT89 · 01-12-2020 10:49pm

L1011 wrote: »

Further reason to get rid of the Victorian marking in system.

Screw over the newer staff and have them think it's a good thing because they might get to be the screwer not the screwee in a decade and a half. If there was no marking in the early career awful shifts would not exist.

I'd like to see a study about the safety risks of giving the experienced staff fixed routes versus giving the inexperienced variable ones too. All standard systems knowledge would see that as an awful idea

Forlock tugging "repsect your betters!" stuff that any union worth paying for should oppose with every fibre of its being is all that's ever given as an attempted coherent argument of support

From my limited knowledge the reason why there are so many spare drivers is because on most routes there are more duties than there is room for marking in positions. There is also senior spare drivers who get more favourable hours than junior spare drivers.

Also conditions for spare drivers have improved in recent years I believe for example spare drivers are now given 48hrs notice of what shift they working which was 24hrs notice I believe. There is also 4 day weeks now for spare drivers if they choose. Btw I do not work for Dublin Bus I am only going off the information I've heard on this website and others.

I'm not sure how having drivers driving different routes is a safety risk once proper route training is done. To the best of my knowledge most drivers would be trained to operate on all routes in their depot whether they be marked in or spare.

Also giving more senior staff more favourable hours is common practice in most public transport operators the world over. Even when I worked in Dunnes Stores senior staff got the more favourable shifts.

L1011 · 01-12-2020 11:13pm

DB management were sending out details to local reps today claiming this was going ahead as planned - https://www.newstalk.com/news/dublin-to-get-third-24-hour-bus-route-in-time-for-christmas-1115490?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1606858275

p_haugh · 01-12-2020 11:17pm

L1011 wrote: »

DB management were sending out details to local reps today claiming this was going ahead as planned - https://www.newstalk.com/news/dublin-to-get-third-24-hour-bus-route-in-time-for-christmas-1115490?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1606858275

Just came on to share this but seems you beat me to the punch

GT89 · 01-12-2020 11:27pm

How many people are travelling on the 24hr routes since the start of covid. Most of the buses I'm seeing around my area are not carrying much more than 2 or 3 passengers after 8pm. Of course there are still plenty of people going to work early in the morning mind you.

p_haugh · 01-12-2020 11:32pm

I'd imagine the 39a would still have a decent load due to the industrial areas around Blanch

ax586 · 01-12-2020 11:35pm

I'm a junior spare in Summerhill and loving it the only difference is senior spare driver are on a rolling 5 week rota and juniors are on a rolling 10 week rota..I've being getting great shifts this week but next week I could get bad ones it's part of the job.

bk · 02-12-2020 1:12pm

GT89 wrote: »

How many people are travelling on the 24hr routes since the start of covid. Most of the buses I'm seeing around my area are not carrying much more than 2 or 3 passengers after 8pm. Of course there are still plenty of people going to work early in the morning mind you.

Plenty of staff working shifts in hospitals too.

There may not be carrying many at the moment, but they are still a badly needed public service IMO.

And hopefully with the vaccines coming fast now, most of this Covid impact will be over by summer and we will be back to normal packed buses.

I'm very glad that the transport sector has been fully supported through Covid and that innovations like 24/7 buses weren't foolishly stopped, because of a temporary downturn in numbers. These are very important projects and I feel they are building a truly high quality public transport service that the public can rely on at any time of the day.

dfx- · 02-12-2020 5:05pm

L1011 wrote: »

All the marked in drivers trying to defend why they "deserve" that structure due to the years of spare do; just look at threads here going back decades.

Without marked in there would be no spare - everyone would have fair rosters.

Who cares about fair rosters? Who cares about any roster of any company?

punisher5112 · 02-12-2020 5:07pm

dfx- wrote: »

Who cares about fair rosters? Who cares about any roster of any company?

Well I find it strange someone that doesn't do it can have so much say on it....

GT89 · 02-12-2020 5:12pm

bk wrote: »

Plenty of staff working shifts in hospitals too.

There may not be carrying many at the moment, but they are still a badly needed public service IMO.

And hopefully with the vaccines coming fast now, most of this Covid impact will be over by summer and we will be back to normal packed buses.

I'm very glad that the transport sector has been fully supported through Covid and that innovations like 24/7 buses weren't foolishly stopped, because of a temporary downturn in numbers. These are very important projects and I feel they are building a truly high quality public transport service that the public can rely on at any time of the day.

It's just a general observation I'm making. Atm most buses I'm seeing are running around with around about 7 or 8 passengers with some peak services running to or near to the capacity to allow allow for social distancing during Level 5 lockdown during the day but in the evening their even quieter probably more now it's back to Level 3.

Last Christmas I believe some of the departures on the 15 and 41 were running at full capacity. I cannot see there being any capacity issues on 24hr routes this year even with the limited capacity.

Personally I think they should hold off on anymore 24hr routes for another couple of months until we get a clearer picture on how the restrictions and return to normality will be once the vaccine starts to be rolled out. If hospitality and the airport is back up and running then they should push ahead with making more routes 24hrs.

p_haugh · 03-12-2020 12:56am

https://www.dublinbus.ie/News-Centre/General-News/Way-more-trips-Even-better-service/

Officially announced by Dublin bus now - 39a is going 24 hours along with improvements to some other routes. Interesting to note they're beginning to phase out the "city center only" last services

Midnight_EG · 03-12-2020 2:45am

p_haugh wrote: »

https://www.dublinbus.ie/News-Centre/General-News/Way-more-trips-Even-better-service/

Officially announced by Dublin bus now - 39a is going 24 hours along with improvements to some other routes. Interesting to note they're beginning to phase out the "city center only" last services

It's an NTA thing, they want terminus to terminus 11:30 departures instead of holding in town. The 'marked in' fellas hate the fact :pac:

Dravokivich · 03-12-2020 12:48pm

L1011 wrote: »

All the marked in drivers trying to defend why they "deserve" that structure due to the years of spare do; just look at threads here going back decades.

Without marked in there would be no spare - everyone would have fair rosters.

My dad's been on the buses long enough to get marked in, but opted against it mainly because he didn't like the attitude they tended to have and becuase someone was still going to have to drive the bus anyway.

The issue with rosters in DB isn't whether or not someone is marked in. It's how the progress from early to late starts. My dad was working lates the start of this week, with a rest day yesterday. He's on first car today.

Midnight_EG wrote: »

It's only the fellas here 15 plus years that complain... Harking back to ye old times when they could double shift

You must be on a very kind shift rotation.

Midnight_EG · 03-12-2020 1:05pm

Dravokivich wrote: »

You must be on a very kind shift rotation.

Not particularly, I'm just smart enough to know that for what we actually do, it's not worth complaining about.

Dravokivich · 03-12-2020 1:09pm

Midnight_EG wrote: »

Not particularly, I'm just smart enough to know that for what we actually do, it's not worth complaining about.

Yeah, someone needs to drive the bus for sure. But I don't think the aggressive change in start times that I see my dad go through, should be kept going. There's no reason it can't be reviewed with a much more staggered approach to ease going from a late shift to an early shift (vice versa).

Midnight_EG · 03-12-2020 2:57pm

Dravokivich wrote: »

Yeah, someone needs to drive the bus for sure. But I don't think the aggressive change in start times that I see my dad go through, should be kept going. There's no reason it can't be reviewed with a much more staggered approach to ease going from a late shift to an early shift (vice versa).

Well there's an agreement on marking ins that they do the first and last cars, so they chose it

punisher5112 · 03-12-2020 3:02pm

Midnight_EG wrote: »

Well there's an agreement on marking ins that they do the first and last cars, so they chose it

Not anymore, lots of changes and the spare gets the better duties now for lates on some roads including lat workout which were all taken from the marked in previous....

I started there was no following, no long term sick cars or blocks or any of that and neither was there text of over 24 hour before dutyetc etc....

Dravokivich · 03-12-2020 3:14pm

Midnight_EG wrote: »

Well there's an agreement on marking ins that they do the first and last cars, so they chose it

The problem isn't whether or not 1 does a first car or last car. It's how quick your shift can transition from a last car to a first car and vice versa. There was only 1 rest day between them.

Midnight_EG · 03-12-2020 3:27pm

Dravokivich wrote: »

The problem isn't whether or not 1 does a first car or last car. It's how quick your shift can transition from a last car to a first car and vice versa. There was only 1 rest day between them.

Still get that as spare though, usually works out at the other end

Dravokivich · 03-12-2020 3:30pm

Midnight_EG wrote: »

Still get that as spare though, usually works out at the other end

It shouldn't be happening like that though, it needs to step up and step down, instead of just swinging from one to the other.

bk · 03-12-2020 5:08pm

Midnight_EG wrote: »

It's an NTA thing, they want terminus to terminus 11:30 departures instead of holding in town.

Makes a lot of sense, from a passenger perspective. I've always said 11:30 or really 11:00 to 11:15 depending on route if only going into the City Center, is far too early.

Crazy when you are at a 9ish movie showing and you could still miss the last bus!

Really not good enough for a European capital city and this is separate from the new 24/7 routes, really it applies to all routes.

cgcsb · 03-12-2020 5:35pm

Under BusConnects wasn't the plan to have all last departures at 00:00 with the exception of 24/7 routes. I think in a post vaccine Summer of 2021 we're going to see a real boom in the night time economy, the government should use this time to reform licensing laws and allow for 6am closing times for clubs with music and 3am for bars.

lucernarian · 08-12-2020 7:49pm

Midnight_EG wrote: »

It's an NTA thing, they want terminus to terminus 11:30 departures instead of holding in town. The 'marked in' fellas hate the fact :pac:

Are marked in drivers not more likely to work early morning duties anyway?

AlekSmart · 08-12-2020 11:47pm

Dravokivich wrote: »

My dad's been on the buses long enough to get marked in, but opted against it mainly because he didn't like the attitude they tended to have and becuase someone was still going to have to drive the bus anyway.

The issue with rosters in DB isn't whether or not someone is marked in. It's how the progress from early to late starts. My dad was working lates the start of this week, with a rest day yesterday. He's on first car today.

You must be on a very kind shift rotation.

Your Dad,from that description is on a "mixed week" as in Late Monday, Relief Tuesday (Finish between c.2000 - 2230) REST Wednesday Early Thurs & Fri leading into his Long Weekend (Off Sat,Sun,Mon)

It may be that your Dad worked his Rest Day,but this is voluntary,subject to availability and minumum hours of rest between duties.

I'm as yet unfamiliar with any 100% acceptable shift pattern,including Monday to Friday 0900-1700,but the current spread of differing duties and the further development of night services is bringing significant change with it.

The relevance of "attitude" is beyond my ability to explain,as it has little to do with shift-patterns or even work itself,but lies fairly and squarely in the realm of individual personality.

I work on a daily basis alongside 40 year staff members who are the salt of-the-earth,and immediately next,interact with 4 month staff who are chock full of "attitude"......This situation,by the way,can be totally reversed the following day with two different individuals.

Work imitates Life itself,but front-line Public Transport work,brings with it an absolute requirement to be adaptive,resourceful and resilient...and then you get to the public

AlekSmart · 08-12-2020 11:50pm

Midnight_EG wrote: »

Still get that as spare though, usually works out at the other end

Almost universally true,but stuff that "works out" rarely gets much more than a disinterested nod....;)

Midnight_EG · 09-12-2020 12:05pm

AlekSmart wrote: »

Almost universally true,but stuff that "works out" rarely gets much more than a disinterested nod....;)

5 workouts since last Monday, it's certainly working out :pac:

p_haugh · 17-12-2020 9:33am

When the 39a was announced as going 24 hours, it was mentioned the 39n would be going away with other routes covering it - well it was never officially stated in any service updates (most likely due to nitelink not running for the foreseeable future). Out of curiosity I was checking the nitelink map to see if they had removed it yet, and I saw that they silently mentioned on the nitelink map that the 70n has been altered slightly to cover areas previously served by the 39n.

devnull · 17-12-2020 10:09am

Some places are actually losing a Nitelink service as the areas on the 39n not served by the 39a have not all been merged into other Nitelink routes unless there are more changes to come.

GT89 · 17-12-2020 12:34pm

devnull wrote: »

Some places are actually losing a Nitelink service as the areas on the 39n not served by the 39a have not all been merged into other Nitelink routes unless there are more changes to come.

Maybe they'll make those decisions once the Nitelink is back up and running

ongarboy · 17-12-2020 6:22pm

Got a 39A at around midnight on Essex Quay Tuesday night. Surprisingly busy whilst maintaining the 50% COVID occupancy and considering it was only a Tuesday night which wouldn't have as many festive punters. I think the general public and many shift workers on this route's catchment area will embrace this new service!

Paying approx €3 instead of up to €30 to go home late on a non weekend night is such a treat!

xper · 02-02-2022 12:44am

Thread bump.

Anyone know what are the current plans for further 24 hour routes? Is it now a case of introducing them as each spine is rolled out or might some key routes like the 16 or 46A go 24 hours beforehand?

p_haugh · 02-02-2022 2:33am

I'd imagine the spine-by-spine approach is the case, but I hope not. Would rather not have to wait until at least June 2023 for more of the N11 routes to be made 24 hours!

dublinman1990 · 02-02-2022 3:53am

I think the recent talk of the new green & yellow NTA poles going up on part of the N11 might be indicating to us that there could be a very big announcement for the 46A by the NTA to happen very soon. If the S route rollout for BC Dublin is not happening until September this year; it would make a lot of sense that the 46A could go to 24 hours service within a matter of weeks.

LXFlyer · 02-02-2022 9:37am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118568800#Comment_118568800

I would say so too I'm afraid - all of it requires extra drivers and I can only see it happening in tandem with the BusConnects phased rollout.

ITV2 · 02-02-2022 1:36pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118568869#Comment_118568869

haven't a word on the 46a going 24/7 yet. (I drive it). If I do I'll post it here.

bikeman1 · 02-02-2022 1:41pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118568582#Comment_118568582

I don't think the 16 would be one of the 24 hour routes, at least in the early stage? The 16 has the 41 on the Northside on most of its route (excluding Beaumont) and then the southside end has the 15 to Terenure. Too much duplication.

46A or 145 has to be a big contender, along with the 40 and something like the 77A. You would be starting to cover huge swathes of main corridors with those routes.

LXFlyer · 02-02-2022 1:57pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118568869#Comment_118568869

Nothing to do with it I’m afraid. They’re rolling the green heads out elsewhere too.

People are putting the cart before the horse here.

I don’t see any routes going to 24 hours outside of the BusConnects phased rollout due to the fact that they need additional drivers and they are being funded as part of the BusConnects rollout.

AngryLips · 02-02-2022 2:51pm

Why isn't the H spine 24hr?

LXFlyer · 02-02-2022 3:18pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118570551#Comment_118570551

Maybe funding wasn’t provided?

cgcsb · 03-02-2022 12:37am

If they made the 46a 24h it'd have to mean a 24hr O bus post busconnects, which makes a lot of sense

xper · 03-02-2022 12:55am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118570175#Comment_118570175

Indeed, I think the 16 would have made a much better launch route than the 41 for 24h service. Most of the southern half of its route covers a huge residential area that has no coach operator to the airport (Ballinteer excepted pre-covid) and is a very expensive taxi ride away.

bk · 03-02-2022 11:47am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118573684#Comment_118573684

The counter argument would be that lots, if not most, Airport staff live in Swords. Ideally both should be 24/7. Perhaps an interlinked schedule and frequency like the multiple C route night buses.

thomasj · 03-02-2022 1:04pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118574726#Comment_118574726

Funny you mention that. I was just thinking that with the A2 serving airport but not swords and A4 serving Swords but not the Airport , there will need to a nightbus on the corridor to link the 2 overnight unless they crazily decide to make one of the local routes 24h.

LXFlyer · 03-02-2022 3:36pm

A combined night time A2 and A4 service from Dundrum via Ballinteer to Swords via the Airport every 30 mins would be the obvious solution in that example.

People just need to think a little outside the box here.

Night time services are often combinations of daytime routes elsewhere.

I wouldn’t focus solely on the airport either. These services are ultimately about providing night time workers with affordable public transport across the city.

bikeman1 · 03-02-2022 5:57pm

Being a regular user of the early morning 41's to the airport, they are very well used by people heading to all places. While a lot get off at the airport, equally as many stay on past the airport and this is at 04:30-06:30 in the morning.

People are boarding and alighting all along the route. It is correct to say it is not all about the airport. That being said, anyone with a 24 hour bus to the airport should still have one post any changes.

beachhead · 03-02-2022 6:06pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/110278060#Comment_110278060

Aircoach is no longer a 24 hour service(and no plans to change that) to the airport-maybe on provincial routes but Dublin city locations.The other 2 are probably part time as well.

LXFlyer · 03-02-2022 6:46pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118576986#Comment_118576986

A combined A2 and A4 at night will deliver both of those and a 24 hour service to much of South Dublin that doesn’t have one. That’s what I expect to happen.

Dublin's 24h bus services

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